March 2010 - Posts
The Times and Microsoft have teamed up to form a website called Spelling Bee. www.timesspellingbee.co.uk
There is a section called Mini Bees that is suitable for primary aged children to use. There are a range of activities and games to play to help children improve their spelling. Why not let parents know about this resource or even link to it from your school website.
We're having a bit of trouble with the games tab on the top right-hand-side of the Kent ICT site. If you find that it is not working please follow this link instead:
http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/content/games/index.htm
I am sorry for any trouble caused.
James
Take a digital image and make it talk? Easier than you might think. CrazyTalk 6 is an easy and powerful tool for generating talking characters from an image or photo and facial animation for video, websites and widget. Many schools are using to bring photos alive in projects across Kent.
http://www.taglearning.com/productdetails/Crazy+Talk+6.html
The software retails at £34 per licence but UK schools can buy it at the special £12.55 (ex.vat) per licence. Please note this offer is for the standard version (not the more expensive pro version)
Would you like to buy Crazy Talk this term at the special price of £12.55?
Schools should place their orders by emailing Matt at m.williams@blieducation.com
Closing date: Friday 30 April
Mandy:)
Congratulations to St.Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Northfleet Gravesend for achieving the ICT Mark. Well done to all the staff for their efforts and especially the ICT Leader for collating all the evidence together.
“Kent Bird Watch 2010 Ask an Expert Day”
Thursday 1st April 2010
Dear Colleague
No, this is not a hoax! Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils will have the opportunity on Thursday 1st April 2010 to ask questions and interview RSPB Education Officers from across the region. For schools taking part in Kent Bird Watch 2010 this is the chance for pupils to learn about:
Birds in Winter
Classifying birds by observable features
What birds like to eat?
Habitats – Viewing birds outdoors
Hanging bird boxes
How can my school take part?
During the day there will be three Flashmeeting sessions. Each session will last one hour and involve two Environmental Officers. To take part in the activity complete and return the booking form to Lucy Henderson (Maidstone 1 Leading ICT Teacher) by Monday 22nd March 2010. Full details about how to join the Flashmeeting web conference will be forwarded to all participating schools by Monday 29th March 2010.
Click here to download booking form
For more information about Kent Bird Watch 2010 contact:
Phil Bracegirdle (ASK ICT Hands on Support Consultant)
E-mail: Philip.bracegirdle@kent.gov.uk
It has been available for years, but this online, or downloadable Flash activity, originally from MAPE helps you think of a good place to site an owl nestbox you may need to enable ActiveX in internet explorer to make it work. 
To help pupils feed birds during the winter click on the link below to view the Vidcast made by David James (RSPB Education Officer.) Created using the FlashMeeting Memo Board it is full of good ideas about what to feed birds at this time of year.
Click here to replay the vidcast - Feeding Birds in the Winter (duration: 18 mins)
For information about how to use your class Interactive Whiteboard during a FlashMeeting session click here.
It only takes a few minutes to discover how you can engage all your class sharing their ideas in a web conferencing session.
For more information about using the FlashMeeting Memo Board contact:
Phil Bracegirdle - ASK ICT Hands on Support Consultant
E-mail: philip.bracegirdle@kent.gov.uk