Kent ICT Blog

The Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum

2009-01-06T17:29:00Z

For those of us already convinced of the educational value of ICT, the interim report makes very welcome reading. The following extracts provide a flavour of the Review’s comments on ICT in the Primary curriculum: “The Review’s remit insists that literacy, numeracy and ICT must be prioritised. Primary schools must make sure that the best professional practice is brought to bear on teaching these essential skills directly, with ample opportunities for children to use and apply them across the curriculum...(read more)

Primary ICT Twilights (ITNs)

2009-01-06T09:54:00Z

The Primary ICT Improving Together Networks (ITNs) provide an invaluable opportunity for ICT Subject Leaders and Leading ICT Teachers to receive advice, guidance and updates on local and national initiatives. The agenda for meetings this term includes: Update on the Kent Theme approach for ICT skills and assessment Learning Platforms/Kent Learning Zone updates Future ICT courses and conferences E-safety Accreditation for engaging in the Becta Self review framework Hands on Support projects taking...(read more)

Learning Platforms & VLEs: How can they be used in the Foundation Stage & KS1?

2009-01-05T15:11:00Z

For those unsure about how to start using Learning Platforms / VLEs with younger children, Fiona Aubrey-Smith (Head of Education, UniServity) offers the following ideas Phonics : Wiki Wordbanks Assessment for Learning / Plenary : children respond to their outcomes through podcast Maths: Counting in... quizzes (also useful for keyword spelling, phonic graphemes etc.) Student Speak : Sound Recorded ‘Worry Box’ Talking Stories for book week – writing for an audience / feedback Bean Diary : Growth blogging...(read more)

AccessApps: 50 open source and freeware programmes

2009-01-02T13:40:00Z

Access Apps , a collection of over 50 open source and freeware programmes that can be run from a USB stick, has won the 2008 Scottish Open Source Award for Education Excellence. Worth a look. "AccessApps will run without needing to install anything on a computer and provide a range of e-learning solutions to support writing, reading and planning as well as visual and mobility difficulties." http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/accessapps/...(read more)

Geography Christmas Quiz

2008-12-16T23:07:00Z

" Sharing is caring " Many thanks to Alexandra Chapman from Hartsdown Technology College , Margate, for producing this excellent end-of-term PowerPoint quiz, and sharing it with us. The Geography Christmas quiz takes about an hour to complete, so you may wish to move answer slides to the end of each round if you have shorter lessons and wish to "mark as you go". Click on the snowman (both on the questions or the answers) to take you back to a menu of the various rounds. There...(read more)

Myst in Swale

2008-12-11T13:28:00Z

If there are any teachers who are unable to join the Kent launch of the Myst project in Paddock Wood on 19th January, you would be welcome to join us in Urban Swale on Tuesday 6th January , at Fulston Manor School , Sittingbourne . Tim will be introducing his work in the same way, just at a different venue. We have not had the uptake we hoped for, so places are being made available more widely. The day is free to Kent teachers, but supply cover is only available if you are in an Urban Swale school...(read more)

New online resource for school rebuilds

2008-12-10T16:29:00Z

A new website to support school and local authority leaders involved in the Primary Capital Programme and Building Schools for the Future processes is now live. The Future website provides resources and news, and access is free. Go to http://future.ncsl.org.uk/...(read more)

2Create A Story - publishing online

2008-12-10T08:52:00Z

Karl Newman from Sevenoaks Primary sent me a link that I just had to share! Three children from Karl's Year One class had been using 2Create A Story to write about 'Sam The Spaceman'. They used a USB microphone to record their voices. Once they had finished they saved their work and ticked a box labelled 'SWF copy'. This gave them a Flash version of their story, (.swf file in the same folder as the saved 2Create A Stry file). Karl then put it on the school website. http://www...(read more)

Hands on Support Agreements

2008-12-03T17:10:00Z

Leading ICT Teachers and Hands on Support Providers will be aware that all HoS activity should be recorded for monitoring and evaluation purposes. When planning local HoS provision, HoS Providers should conduct a prior assessment of needs and at the outset jointly complete a HoS Agreement with each teacher / school they support. HoS Agreements are now available in both paper and electronic formats. The online Hands on Support Agreement is available at www.kenttrustweb.org.uk?hosactivity . Use of...(read more)

Using external websites in lessons

2008-12-03T13:33:00Z

Please may we remind all schools of the following: Children should always be supervised by a responsible adult when using the Internet. Teachers should evaluate any websites fully before they use them with their students. This includes websites going to be shown on the interactive whiteboard as well as websites accessed directly by the pupils. Often this will mean checking the websites, search results etc just before the lesson. Remember at all times, what may be considered a safe site today might...(read more)

Course places still available for January

2008-12-03T09:26:00Z

There are still a few places available for the following ICT courses in January: 08/01/2009 – E-Safety in the Primary School (Stour Valley) 14/01/2009 - Using ICT to Enhance Learning and Teaching in Science at Key Stage 2 (Oxford Rd) 28/01/2009 – Enhancing Learning and Teaching by using ICT in the Foundation Stage (Stour Valley) For more information on the course content visit www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/news/courses or www.kenttrustweb.org.uk?asktraining Alternatively contact Maryan Wyles on 01622 203800Ext...(read more)

Mail exchange with the USA

2008-12-02T17:08:00Z

I teach first grade (6 yr. olds) in Alabama (United States). Each year the other first grade teacher and I (eight total) do a Christmas Around the World project. Each teacher takes a country or part of the world and we learn about the traditions, etc. of that country. They make a little student passport where they travel classroom to classroom learning about the different countries. This year I'm thinking of doing England. Would you be interested in some sort of mail exchange? Our last day of...(read more)

Social Networking

2008-11-28T10:51:00Z

Teachers accessing social networking sites for personal use during school hours " A primary school teacher accused of spending hours on the internet during class time, using social network sites including Facebook, has been found guilty of professional misconduct." Read the full article here Should teachers have Facebook and other Social Networking pages? There have been a number of incidences in the press where pupils (and parents) have been able to access their teachers Social Networking...(read more)

Christmas Teaching Resources

2008-11-27T14:03:00Z

Christmas Activities, lesson plans and other useful websites. www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/festivals/xmas.htm Quick Links Advent Calendar World Advent Calendar Build a snowman Textease Christmas Resources Origins of Christmas Christmas Clip art Over 30 graphics including dividers, a few religious clip art, Santas, reindeers, candy canes, bundles of wrapped gifts... www.rochedalss.eq.edu.au/xmas/clipart.htm...(read more)

Weather around the World update

2008-11-27T13:36:00Z

Forty schools from around the world are taking part right now in " Weather around the World ." www.segfl.org.uk/microsites2/view_project.php?id=95 Many of the schools have already published work on their project web pages including: Peponi House Kenya , Brattåsskolan, Sweden , Pembury Primary , Whitstable Community College , Christchurch Junior, Ramsgate , ZS Rudna Czech Republic , Szkola 707 Poland , Kenton College Preparatory School Kenya , Bower Grove, Dalat International School Malaysia...(read more)

Safeguarding for an Online World: e-Safety in Schools Conference

2008-11-25T14:42:00Z

KCC and Kent Police are hosting a further e-Safety Conference at Kent Police College, Maidstone on 21 January 2009 . The conference is aimed at Kent and Independent Primary, Special and Secondary Schools, Headteachers, Police Officers, e-Safety & Child Protection Co-ordinators and ICT Co-ordinators Places are limited and there is a charge of £50 per person to cover the cost of refreshments and speakers. For more details please see the conference flyer below. To book a place please complete and...(read more)

Kent ICT Leading Teachers Conference

2008-11-20T18:02:00Z

A big thank you to Russell Prue and everyone else who contributed to another successful Kent Leading ICT Conference. Everyone who attended came away with lots of new and exciting ICT ideas to share with schools right across Kent. The official Kent Leading ICT Conference website is the only place where delegates can down presentations and resources. The address is on the postcard handed out to all delegates at the end of the conference. If you have mislaid yours please contact Maryan Wyles. As always...(read more)

Website of the Week - Spelltube

2008-11-19T19:12:00Z

Spelltube www.spelltube.co.uk " Spelltube brings the weekly spelling list into the technological age. " Spelltube is a fun spelling website that allows teachers to assign video-based spelling lists to their pupils. At present it is aimed at KS2 pupils but it is hoped to extend this at a later date. Spelling videos have been created for each of the 3000+ words in the National Spelling Bank, from which teachers can generate and assign a word list to their Key Stage 2 pupils. Memorable characters...(read more)

ICT Mark Success

2008-11-18T09:07:00Z

Many congratulations to St Teresa's Catholic Primary School in Ashford. It is the latest school in Kent to be awarded the ICT Mark and is the first school in the AS1 Partnership to achieve this prestigious award. Well done to everyone at the school! Oh and good luck with Ofsted today!...(read more)

Primary Framework iwb resources

2008-11-14T11:29:00Z

A group of Herefordshire teachers have produced some high quality interactive whiteboard Promethean flipchart resources to support the teaching of Literacy within the Renewed Primary Framework. www.cs.herefordshire.gov.uk/ See also our IWB pages with resources for all makes of boards www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/ict/IWB/...(read more)

Safer Internet Day - 10th February 2009

2008-11-13T13:27:00Z

To mark European Safer Internet Day, schools can download a pack of resources including brand new stand alone KS2 and 3 assemblies (which will be launched on the day). CEOP will be also be signposting to all the resources schools will need for SID 2009 including those focussed on cyberbullying and other issues. Go to http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers/sid09.aspx , register and CEOP will keep you up-to-date with developments. You will be able to download the resource pack early February 2009. If...(read more)

Next Generation Learning campaign website

2008-11-13T08:24:00Z

Becta has unveiled the new Next Generation Learning campaign website, as part of its drive to parents, learners and employers to get the most out of technology in education. The website is a key resource to find out more about the innovative and exciting ways that technology is already being used by some schools and organisations to improve engagement, motivation and results. Exemplar schools include John Cabot Academy in Bristol, where students are using their PSPs (PlayStation Portables) in PE...(read more)

Website of the Week - Learn your tables

2008-11-12T20:44:00Z

Learn Your Tables www.learnyourtables.co.uk Learnyourtables is an advert free site where pupil's can practice individual tables and take online assessments for both individual tables (18 question tests) and mixed tables (40 question tests). Click on a table in the green rectangle and then one of the options in the white boxes. The software was going to be added to the main set of SUMS Maths activities, the recent winner of a NASEN prize - see their main www.sums.co.uk website. When the Learn...(read more)

Leading ICT Teacher Conference - 20th November

2008-11-10T16:07:00Z

We are pleased to announce that Mike Temple will be addressing the conference next week. Mike is an independent consultant from The Life Skills Company specialising in the areas of behaviour management and ICT. His background includes: 13 years in special education the last 6 years as Head of ICT he is an Advanced Skills Teacher he has spent 4 years within ASK working in both ICT and behaviour management From the early days of “Talking Worksheets” through to the “Edublogs Tutorials” and “Open Resource...(read more)

New National Strategies Website

2008-11-09T22:43:00Z

Visit the revised National Strategies website. http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/...(read more)

Weather around the World planning session

2008-11-07T21:22:00Z

Kent's 'Weather around the World' runs from Monday 24th November to Friday 5th December 2008 To find out more about the forthcoming “Weather around the World” fortnight you are invited to attend a training meeting at Ashford Oaks Primary School on Wednesday 19th November 2008 from 3.15 – 5.00 p.m . The meeting is an opportunity for all involved in the Weather Watch project to meet the Project Team, find out more about planned events and learn more about using ICT to support this project...(read more)

Weather Watch Update

2008-11-03T22:12:00Z

Taking place this week Taking place between Monday 3rd - Friday 7th November is our photographic competition. Click on the links below to see some of the digital images posted by Gerard O'Sullivan and students at Homewood School, Tenterden. We hope over the coming weeks (as we approach Christmas) to add many more images from schools registered in the project. Ideally we would welcome receiving at least 10 images from every school. http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery2446-.html http://www.segfl.org...(read more)

Bonfire Night Resources

2008-11-02T18:18:00Z

Virtual Fireworks over well known places in Kent www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/festivals/fireworks/ Dover Castle fireworks Fireworks exploding over Dover Castle Could be used to inspire creative writing/poems - includes a wordbank Information about Bonfire Night and traditions surrounding this special day www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Guy.html Gunpowder Plot Game Test your knowledge of the Gunpowder Plot with this interactive quiz. Answer the questions against the clock to track down the fizzing...(read more)

Metal Detectors

2008-10-27T11:40:00Z

There's a new metal detectors page on Kent NGfL. It includes instructions for how to use the metal detector and downloadable .pdf files for printing. http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/metalDetector Ideas include shape bingo, bear bingo, phonemes on shells and ordering numbers to 20. Watch out for metal in your tables and chairs. These ideas are best used on the floor....(read more)

Ideas for Computer Clubs

2008-10-22T08:22:00Z

Plea from a Kent teacher: " I'm setting up a computer club for my school but was looking for ideas to include. If you have any projects or sessions that have been really successful in your school please can you leave a comment. Thank you. " Ideas submitted on a previous post about Computer clubs Free Computer Clubs for schools http://www.cc4g.net/ Practise Touch Typing using the BBC site or other software. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ The Teaching Ideas website has an article...(read more)