e-Update
December 2004
Welcome to the first edition of e-Update, the new monthly electronic
bulletin from the Buckinghamshire ICT Curriculum Support Team.
The purpose of this bulletin is to keep you informed with the latest
developments in ICT.
The information in e-Update has been taken from a variety of sources
including ICTSN, ICT Advice and Becta. Details on how to subscribe to
these and other sources of information can be found at the end of e-Update.
This first edition is being sent to all schools in Buckinghamshire.
It can also be found on the Buckinghamshire ICT Curriculum Support Team's
website at http://www.bucksict.org.uk/e-update
To receive future editions of e-Update, you will need to subscribe.
To do this, click on the link on the home page of the Buckinghamshire
ICT Curriculum Support Team's website at http://www.bucksict.org.uk.
If you have any comments on e-Update, please send them to adickson @ bucksgfl.org.uk
General News
New advice for primary and secondary schools
http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/corporate.cfm?section=8&id=3365
The following new publication and CD-ROMs are free to order from Becta
Publications (http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/publications/)
Effective use of ICT in subject teaching - Primary - available now.
The activities on this CD-ROM are based on evidence of what works, and
are drawn from the experiences of real teachers. They offer the opportunity
for learners not only to practise, develop and extend their ICT capability,
but also to apply and develop it in the context of other subjects. Each
activity is graded to ensure that it links in a real way with the skills
and techniques that the learners have been taught. The activities illustrate
how ICT can be used to introduce the lesson, form part of the main teaching
activity or be included in the plenary. (Note: A copy of these CD-ROMs
should have already been sent to all Bucks Primary Schools by the LA.)
Digital Alchemy: Using digital video assets across the curriculum
- available now.
As previously reported in the newsletter, this free CD-ROM offers advice
and guidance on using digital video assets to support subject learning
and teaching.
Signposts to safety
Available from mid October this latest internet safety publication
from Becta is aimed at teachers of pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4.
Containing background information relating to safety issues, plus
advice and guidance for teachers, it signposts appropriate opportunities
within the ICT, PSHE and citizenship curricula where internet safety
messages can be taught. Additionally it signposts free online teaching
resources from a range of organisations to help support lessons.
Effective use of ICT in subject teaching
This free CD-ROM is packed with examples of effective practice will
be available at Christmas. Teachers will find essential activities
showing where and how ICT can enhance teaching and learning in their
subject. Each activity includes a lesson outline and is mapped against
the National Curriculum and QCA schemes of work. 'Why we are using
ICT' explains the benefits ICT brings to the activity and all the
resources required to teach the activity are provided on the CD-ROM.
The resources are supported by evidence and research about what good
ICT in subject teaching looks like. Examples of the work of Becta
award winners are also included with video case studies, hints and
tips covering curriculum topics, and technical help.
Schools get caught up in the net
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=875746
ParentMail was launched by Peterborough businessman Paul Hughes and
IT technicians Martin Temple and Bob Morley. ParentMail (http://www.parentmail.co.uk)
is a website that schools can post messages to parents on, to keep
them up-to-date with the latest school trips, staff changes and newsletters.
It will even tell parents if their child's school will be closed because
of bad weather. Schools pay a small subscription charge to the website
in return for posting as much information as they want, sent by text
or e-mail, on to its pages. Parents can then access the information
once they register free to the site and there is the option of signing
up to the site's text message service, which will send messages directly
to parents' mobile phones. The first school in the country to adopt
ParentMail was The King's School, in Park Road, Peterborough. Note:
Manor Farm Junior in High Wycombe also use ParentMail. Contact Nick
Waldron, Headteacher for further details.
Firefox browser takes on Microsoft
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3993959.stm
Microsoft's Internet Explorer has a serious rival in the long-awaited
Firefox 1.0 web browser with the release of the first full version
of Firefox managing to drum up a respectable amount of pre-launch fervour.
Fans have banded together to raise cash to pay for an advert in the
New York Times announcing that version 1.0 of the browser is available.
The release of Firefox 1.0 on 9 November might even cause a few heads
to turn at Microsoft because the program is steadily winning people
away from the software giant's Internet Explorer browser. The software
has been gaining praise and converts, not least because of the large
number of security problems that have come to light in Microsoft's
Internet Explorer.
ICT Advice website services
ICT Advice are pleased to inform you that the first issue of our new-look
publications are now available at http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/newsletters.
ICT in Primary Magazine
This new termly e-magazine features news, reviews and articles focusing
on the use of ICT in primary schools. There are subject-specific
features, as well as a section for primary ICT co-ordinators and
others involved in whole-school ICT deployment. You can subscribe
to the entire magazine, or just to the sections which are of interest
to you. By subscribing, you will receive an email alert to let you
know when the latest issue is available and what you can look forward
to reading about.
ICT in Secondary Magazine
Like its primary counterpart, our secondary e-magazine brings news,
feature articles, reviews and events about using ICT in the classroom
each term. It also has a section for ICT co-ordinators. In addition,
however, there is a section focusing on 14-19 education. The subject-specific
section of the new secondary publication is broken down by curriculum
area, where you can find inspiration and advice about learning and
teaching using ICT in your subject. As with the primary publication,
you can subscribe to the full magazine or to any of the individual
subject or other sections.
ICT Advice Alert
This newsletter continues to bring news of developments in ICT Advice
services, an update on new content published on the ICT Advice site,
and information from other areas of Becta in which school practitioners
might be interested.
You can download print-friendly versions of individual pages, sections and entire magazines for use offline.
Subscription to these publications is strictly opt-in, so even if you have registered to receive ICT Advice newsletters (including the ICT Advice Alert and the Teachers Online Newsletter) in the past you will need to visit the new subscription service page to let us know which publications you wish to receive. There is no charge for this service, and you can choose to subscribe to as many sections as you wish.
As well as these e-publications, the subscription page gives you the opportunity to try out two new services from ICT Advice:
Direct2U
This service is aimed at primary teachers, who can subscribe to receive
ICT in subject lesson plans emailed directly to their mailboxes every
week. You can choose to receive plans for a single year group or
key stage, or for all years from 1 to 6. The classroom activities
featured will fall into six subject groups: English; maths; science;
history and art; geography and MFL; RE, music, PE, D&T and ICT.
A different group will be the focus of each week's activities.
Ask an Expert theme alerts
This quarterly alerting facility will let you know by email what themes
are being planned for the ICT Advice Ask an Expert service.
Subscription to these publications is strictly opt-in, so even if
members have previously registered to receive ICT Advice newsletters
(including the ICT Advice Alert and the Teachers Online Newsletter)
in the past they will need to visit the new subscription service page
at
http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/index.php?section=ab&catcode=registration to let Becta know which publications they wish to receive. There is
no charge for this service, and members can choose to subscribe to
as many sections as they wish. The only details you will be required
to give are a valid email address and your choice of publications.
You will be able to manage all your subscriptions from this page simply
by re-entering the email address with which you subscribed.
Picture Perfect - New image and video banks from Sherston
James Bayliss at Sherston Software writes:
Sherston's new Digital Video Clips and Class Images CD-ROMs for PC
and Mac (including OS X) are two brand new collections of high-quality,
copyright-free photographs and video clips designed to put the sparkle
back into lessons and give teachers more time to teach. Providing stimulating,
curriculum-focused tools for education, these versatile CD-ROMs for
Key Stage One and above are also ideal for use in pupil projects, classroom
displays, PowerPoint presentations, websites and much more. The four
titles available in the Class Images CD-ROM range are: On the Farm,
At the Zoo, Along the Coast and The Vikings. Each of the four CD-ROMs
contains 200 photographs with high, medium and low resolution versions
of each picture. The three titles available in the Digital Video Clips
range are: Animals and Wildlife, Environments and Elements. Bringing
a media buzz to the classroom, each of the three Digital Video Clips
CD-ROMs contain over 90 high-quality videos. Ideal for whiteboard presentations,
class discussions and multimedia work, digital video is the perfect
way to introduce children to new topics in a visually stimulating way.
Simple and fun to use, these clips are guaranteed to add a dramatic
edge to projects and presentations.
More information can be found at http://www2.sherston.com/index.htm.
abc-CD Special Edition makes literacy accessible to all
James Bayliss at Sherston Software writes:
The abc-CD Special Edition is a brand new updated version of a Sherston
bestseller that combines the quality of the much-loved Talking Animated
Alphabet with a range of essential new features and activities. Presented
by Alphabod, a helpful character who talks children through their progress
in an encouraging way, it is designed to help young children develop
their knowledge of the shapes, sounds and names of the alphabet, and
also includes an extensive range of features to aid inclusion and support.
Perfect for non readers, the CD features four activities, entertaining
morphing letter animations and full narration. As well as a new Letter
Names activity, there is also a very useful teacher Demonstration Mode
that is ideal for use with interactive whiteboards. Bringing a popular
classic up-to-date and providing scope for whole class teaching, the
new interactive whiteboard features can be configured to any whiteboard
or monitor and allow quick access to letters and associated speech.
More details including pricing can be found at http://www2.sherston.com/ipw/newipw/home.asp?prodid=4
Qwizdom
John Sutton at Interactive Education writes:
Interactive Education, an ICT solutions provider for schools and colleges,
has recently launched an exciting and innovative new product entitled
Qwizdom Interact. This powerful teaching, recording and assessment
tool enables a teacher to both deliver content and receive instant
formative assessment during a lesson as well as being able to generate
summative assessment in a wide variety of formats which can be printed,
e-mailed or exported to where it is required.
Adrian Morris from Bishop Chaloner School quotes:
"
The best thing we've ever spent money on" referring to the new
Qwizdom Interact system that he has recently purchased from Interactive
Education for use in his Geography Department. "Using this new
system has added a new and exciting dimension to lesson content delivery
with the added facility of being able to carry out instant and accurate
formative and summative assessment both for groups and individual pupils."
Pupils are engaged, motivated and inspired through the use of individual pupil handsets with the ability to respond to a wide range of question formats including yes/no, true/false, multiple choice and survey. The company's Educational Consultants who come from qualified teacher backgrounds cover all areas of the UK. They are happy to present this new and innovative product and show teachers how to integrate it as a teaching and learning tool within their lessons. Comprehensive training and full technical support is offered following purchase as the company is committed to ensuring that schools use the expertise provided by the consultant to maximise the impact of Qwizdom within the learning environment.
John Wasteney Lead ICT consultant in Leicestershire LA is carrying
out a research project sponsored by the Bill Tagg Bursary through Naace
in association with Nottingham Trent University. This research is focussed
on the use of Qwizdom in the classroom. For further information please
contact
benvitta@interactive-education.co.uk.
Announcing the Special Needs Fringe 2005
Alison Littlewood (alison.l@inclusive.co.uk) at Inclusive Technology
writes:
The Special Needs Fringe, sponsored by Inclusive Technology and Special
Children Magazine, takes place at the Olympia Hilton from 12 - 14 January
2005. Two minutes away from the BETT Show, the Fringe offers a specialist
atmosphere, free refreshments and somewhere to sit and chat with colleagues.
The exhibition, now in its fifth year and known for its specialist
focus, will once again feature a wide range of special needs technology
providers, such as Inclusive Technology, Crick, Traxsys, QED and Mayer-Johnson
from the USA. Specialist suppliers of communication aids, sensory rooms,
dyslexia software and products to support people with sensory impairments
will also be represented, as will several advisory services. AMDi is
launching the new Tech/Touch at the event, a high tech dynamic display
communication aid. Sherston will be launching Interactive Photo Cards,
a new series of basic language skills programs. The Fringe once again
has a free ICT seminar programme in the Olympia Hilton 's conference
rooms, featuring special guest speakers. Anyone who visits the registration
desk will have the chance to win one of three fantastic prizes, consisting
of hardware and software sponsored by Inclusive Technology. For further
information see http://www.inclusive.co.uk/exhibitions
A new technology news service from Becta
TechNews is a new technology news and analysis service aimed at the
education sector. It concentrates on emerging technologies and other
technology news that will help readers stay informed about relevant
technology developments, trends and issues. Each issue is divided
into four main areas: Networking and Wireless; Hardware; Multimedia;
Software and Internet. Each area has a news section and a longer
analysis piece, which highlights the impact and likely future direction
of a particular technology. The first issue will be published on
26th November. It will then be available once every half-term from
January 2005. To subscribe to the free TechNews service and have
each issue sent to you by email please complete the registration
form at http://lists.becta.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/technews
Free copy of SwitchIt!
Alison Littlewood at Inclusive Technology writes:
As a special Christmas present for customers, we will give a free copy
of SwitchIt! Christmas software with every order placed during December
2004. Inclusive's popular SwitchIt! programs help people to develop
their ability to use switches and to demonstrate an understanding of
language concepts. They provide learning opportunities that are both
accessible and pitched at an appropriate level. Each is accessible
using a mouse, single switch, two switches, a touch screen or IntelliKeys
and is customisable to meet the needs of different learners. SwitchIt!
Christmas has all the fun of the festive season in on-screen flash
cards, picture builds and stories. For details contact Inclusive Technology
on 01457 819790 or see http://www.inclusive.co.uk.
Primary News
Easiteach Down-Under
Julian Chronicle at RM writes:
I've been contacted by a junior school in Western Australia who have
started to use Easiteach, particularly for literacy. As they are one
of the few schools down under who have seen Easiteach, they would like
to make contact with UK schools who are using it successfully to exchange
ideas etc.
If this is something you would be interested in, please email me on jchronicle@rm.com and I'll pass on contact details.
Making Fractions More Fun You DO the Maths...
Melissa Gerbaldi at Logotron writes:
Visual Fractions is ideal for use by the teacher or pupil on an interactive
classroom whiteboard. The software comes with a rich palette of visual
maths objects that can be dynamically connected together and their
properties varied with just a point and click. With the software
as a central focus, you can 'drag and drop' live fraction objects
onto your screen, then connect them together to demonstrate important
visual relationships and mathematical behaviour, which can often
be hard for pupils to grasp. The clever part comes when you apply
the toolkit of objects to visually reinforce teaching, using it as
a centre of mathematical discussion - Why does that happen? What
do you expect to happen if...? How could we show that...? What would
I need to do in order to show that...? Children will quickly see
the behaviour of fractions, decimal fractions, percentages, ratio,
picture fractions, group fractions and more, where they may have
struggled to understand with traditional methods. Ratio work, in
particular, is given a refreshing degree of clarity by Logotron Visual
Fractions. For further details on Logotron Visual Fractions and how
it will help deliver the National Curriculum visit our website at http://www.logo.com/cat/view/logotron-visual-fractions.html.
The Crystal Rain Forest V2
Sherston bestseller The Crystal Rain Forest is being relaunched!
The Crystal Rain Forest V2, a massively enhanced Key Stage 2 CD-ROM
for Problem Solving and Logo that perfectly matches today's curriculum
needs. This new version of The Crystal Rain Forest also homes in
on the increasing need for whole-class teaching, support and inclusion
in today's classroom. With an environmental message The Crystal Rain
Forest V2 includes three brand new activities, a new ending and new
Logo skills. As well as introducing Logo, The Crystal Rain Forest
V2 makes exploring angles, distances and estimation a walk in the
park (or forest!) by applying maths to problem solving situations.
For a sneak preview see http://www.crystalrainforestv2.co.uk which
features full narration and an exclusive look at the graphics. For
more information email: jbayliss@sherston.co.uk.
Secondary News
New PIC-Logicator Supports PICAXE Chips
Catherine Healey at Economatics (Education) Ltd writes:
Economatics have just announced the release of version 2 of their
well-established PIC-Logicator software. The new PIC-Logicator 2005
can be used to program PICAXE chips - bringing together the two most
popular educational PIC-programming products into one exciting package.
The software has been completely rewritten to incorporate new Windows
technology; providing an up-to-date look and feel, and making it
compatible with all modern school networks. It can now be used to
program the 8 pin PICAXE chips favoured for use in KS3 projects because
of their low cost and simplicity. Its ability to support more advanced
projects has been significantly enhanced, with new features to make
more use of a PIC chip's full potential, and a PIC-Logicator flowsheet
can now be converted automatically into a BASIC program. For those
who are comfortable with using a programmer, PIC-Logicator 2005 still
supports that approach. A significant part of the development is
the provision of free teaching materials and support, together with
a hardware manual on CD and teaching materials.
See the Economatics website for more information http://www.economatics.co.uk/education or contact our sales office email: education@economatics.co.uk.
New online revision aid launches for KS3 and GCSE students
Danielle Williams at Granada Learning writes:
More than 40,000 GCSE students signed up for online revision aid LettsRevise.com
last year. The site has now relaunched for 2005 exams with additional
features to aid revision and a new section created especially for the
Key Stage 3 SATs. The site, devised by Letts Educational, goes live
today as revision for GCSE mocks gets under way in the winter term.
The entire site is aimed at putting a bit of fun into revision, with
a quick-fire timed multiple choice quiz, using huge banks of questions
written by Letts Educational Success Guide authors. Following feedback
from last year's users, the quiz has been upgraded to allow GCSE students
to pick one subject to focus on or try a mix of any combination of
up to seven core GCSE subjects - English, Maths, French, Geography,
History, Science and ICT. Letts Educational has also added a timed
test for Key Stage 3 students. Year 9 students can choose questions
from one subject or from all three of those included in the SATs. Revisers'
test results are saved so they can track their progress and they can
even send the same test to a friend and see how they get on. Detailed
answer feedback tells them which answers were incorrect, as well as
highlighting the right answers. LettsRevise.com is free of charge and
is open to all GCSE and KS3 students. Registration is simple - follow
the instructions on-screen and you're ready to go. Please visit http://www.LettsRevise.com for a demonstration.
Websites of the Month
Here are the latest websites to have been approved by the National Grid for Learning. http://www.ngfl.gov.uk/whats_new.jsp?sec=6&cat=99&clear=y
Clever Clogs Games - http://www.cleverclogsgames.co.uk
The site details a series of sequential literacy games which provide
a flexible resource for Reception classes based on skills identified
in the Early Learning Goals and National Literacy Strategy. Sturdy
and beautifully illustrated, these are ideal for use by classroom
assistants. It is possible to order the products online.
CABE Education website - http://www.cabe-education.org.uk
The CABE Education website is for school teachers and other educators.
It contains information on projects, resources, events and funding
that engage young people in their built environment. Many of these
are tied to the national curriculum.
CATS Software - http://www.cats-edu.co.uk
This website sells educational software to teach specific curriculum
objectives in numeracy, literacy and science. Ideal for whole class
teaching on an interactive whiteboard, but just as effective as an
independent activity on a PC. (Links to online purchasing).
Spelling it Right - http://www.spelling.hemscott.net/
This website offers spelling help, advice and free worksheets from
an experienced English teacher and examiner.
Genetic Futures News - http://www.geneticfutures.com
On Genetic Futures News, Y Touring digitalised 5 of its original touring
plays, debates and resources. Aimed at students, teachers and the
general public, it is inspired by the ethical issues raised by current
biomedical research.
Food Hygiene and Safety - http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/foodhygieneandstandards
A comprehensive guide to food hygiene information for the workplace
and at home. In addition, information about food hygiene training
is available.
The Memory Store - http://clients.adartdesign.com/johnLewis/
The Memory Store is a new teaching resource, from the John Lewis Partnership
Archives. The site provides project sheets and a wide range of historical
source material for Key Stages 2 and 3.
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Subscription Details
Becta/ ICT Advice
To subscribe to the various publications, click here: http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/index.php?section=ab&catcode=registration
ICTSN
ICTSN membership is available to organisations that provide support
to schools. Schools are therefore not eligible for membership. Information
about ICTSN can be found at http://www.becta.org.uk/ictsn/index.cfm.
RM
To subscribe to the various RM newsletters, visit the RM website at
http://www.rm.com/Security/Login/FormsLogin.asp and register. If you
are already registered, log in and go to Email Subscriptions in My
Account.