I have gone on about this website since it went live and I really think it is a great resource for teachers to look at and gain some interesting ideas this week there are articles concerning the following:
Age 3 to 5; Early years, Let's Explore
Age 6 to 7; ICT, Lines and lists
Age 8 to 9; MFL, Place setting
Age 10 to 11; Maths, platonic solids
so if your are looking for ideas then go to
ICT Team
Welcome back everyone,
we hope you have had a great refreshing break and that you are ready for a new and exciting year. There are lots of things going on this year in the Authority but also in the wider world of technology. Just when you thought you were really cool with the 16Gb iPhone they bring along the 32Gb iPhone, The pace of hot minibooks is relentless with manufacturers trying their hardest to command the market. But really if we step back and look at it philosophically, it doesn't really matter that we are not the first to use the latest technology it is that we are using the technology effectively that really matters.
Make a New term's wish and look at the ICTOPUS site in fact sign up to it you will not be disappointed it has some good articles and hints and tips. This term they have put together some great little activities that will help you in your class. To Sign up click here
Download pdf here Activitiessept08.pdf
Now the other thing I would like you all to do is get involved in the Website I know I keep going on about it but it really is a great way to communicate, follow us on Twitter and you will get to know what we are doing and thinking sometimes remember we are here for you not the other way around so go on dive in! Get involved you know you want to.
The ICT Team
For those of you old enough to remember Granny's Garden and Flowers of Crystal we have a real treat. 4Mation have placed the audio stories from these games on their site as Mp3 files Trevor Carter helped them out as they had to take the audio from a reel to reel which he happened to have so he converted the audio for present day audiences.
We would like to use these stories and integrate them with the technology of today you can book a session at the Gateshead CLC where we can use the soundtracks with applications such as Photo-story using pupils drawings or animations using Digi-blues or 2animate. We will showcase pupils work on the website. If you are interested in using the CLC to create the stories then contact us to book a session. If you want to take part in this in the school then simply go to the 4Mation website and download the podcasts
This week in ICTopus
In lessons2go this week you will find:
3-5: Early Years � Marvellous minibeasts
5-6: Science � Sorting and using materials
6-7: Geography � School visits quiz
9-10: Maths � Exploring digital roots
goto
http://www.ictopus.org.uk
and register couldn't be simpler
ICT Team
On the 13th March 2008 the Gateshead City Learning Centre will be hosting the BBC School Report. This event is organised by the BBC Nationally to involve young people in creating the News. The BBC will involve news teams both Nationally and Locally.
The Gateshead City Learning Centre will be host to BBC Radio Newcastle and a reporter will be based in the Centre. We will also have a BBC journalist and hopefully a cameraman for the day. We have several people lined up to be interviewed through the day and some people we are waiting for confirmation. There are three schools involved in this project but we want to involve all schools in the experience. Therefore on the day we will have a team of young journalists looking at the school websites in Gateshead trawling for news it would be great if your school could look at uploading events and or news items relating to your schools so we can feature them and then use the comments facility on the School report website to alert the School Report team to news items and also contribute to the day through this. PLEASE use the comments facility below to feedback to us your thoughts and if you are able to participate in this event.
Many thanks
The ICT Team
100 free whiteboard resources from Crocodile Clips
This week, the people from Crocodile clips uploaded another 100 free electronics resources to the Yenka website. They are by the acclaimed author Dr Bill Philips:
http://www.yenka.com/freecontent/
Some more good news: these new resources, and the 700 for science and
mathematics we uploaded a fortnight ago, now use the full screen when
playing. This makes them ideal for use on interactive whiteboards.
The resources all come from our Absorb courses - Absorb Mathematics, Absorb
Physics and Absorb Electronics. The full courses also include a narrative
text, which explains each topic, and interactive questions. You can read
more about the full courses on:
http://www.crocodile-clips.com/Our_Products/Absorb_Courseware/
Students and teachers are encouraged to participate in a global campaign during 25 February - 8 March 2008, to observe and record the magnitude of visible stars as a means of measuring light pollution in a given location.
GLOBE at Night is an easy observation and reporting activity that takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete.
Students should be encouraged to participate with their parents or families in this global campaign
To get more information go to Globe at Night Project
I know some of you have signed up to ICTOPUS and are enjoying the benefits. For those who have not, here is a link from the latest offering which links to free violin downloads by Tasmin Little
ICTOPUS
Also on the same page there is access to a great clip library from the BBC Learning Zone. This is a great resource to look into as it "provides rich audio-visual material for use in primary and secondary schools and colleges. These short videos have been selected to match the curriculum; they can be used in many ways, from the stimulation and engagement of students to the delivery of very specific learning points." It is worth a download.
If you are making use of these resources add your comments and share with colleagues.
ICTteam
If you have not had a look at ictopus yet then shame on you :-))
If you are looking for some great ideas with a Christmas theme the look no further.
www.ictopus.org.uk you need to register (it's free) but you will then have access to all the resources that the site has made available.
Go on give it a try and then come back and send a comment sharing what you think with others.
The ictTeam
Many schools have now received their Shoo Fly software. We are holding a training event led by Vicki Cable from Shoo Fly in the Gateshead CLC on 22nd November 2007 EYFS Key Stage 1 in the morning and Key Stage 2 in the afternoon.
To book at place contact Gateshead CLC
tel: 0191 4602900
email: jbrookes@ictgateshead.org
BBC News School Report gives 12 and 13-year-olds from UK schools the chance to make their own TV, radio or online news at school and to broadcast it for real.
While the project is devised for this age group, students aged 11 to 14 may also take part.
Gateshead CLC is involved in this project and Mike Carter will be travelling to London on the 4th October to get more information.
To find out more information Click Here
If your school would like to take part contact Mike Carter via email with School Report as the Subject.
Here is a really simple website which provides an efficient way to voice opinions and declare interest in a particular topic.
Click on to writetothem and put in your postcode and follow the instructions on how to contact your parliamentary representative. Access to Government could not be easier.
ICT Team
Go to ictopus to register and get access to lesson plans and ideas across the curriculum. Some of the activities are those featured in the past through BECTa but there are some new ones as well.
ICT Team
New online service to support primary educators
Ictopus (ICT online primary user support) is a support service for
primary education. Anyone can sign up for the service (free of charge)
to receive a weekly six page printable magazine and a set of activity
suggestions. There will also be a regular newsletter or e-bulletin.
These resources (and more) will be archived on the ictopus website
www.ictopus.org.uk where there will also
be access to classroom activities, software and a variety of other
resources and projects. Ictopus builds on the Becta Direct2U service
and also, for those of you who may remember it, the legacy of MAPE
(Micros and Primary Education).
Each edition of the weekly magazine, 'Sharing Good Practice', will have
6 pages and will comprise case-study articles, top tips for using ICT
effectively in primary education, website recommendations and a variety
of teaching plans and other resources. It will be available as a
download in a printable format that could be displayed on a staff notice
board or coffee table, slotted into individual staff pigeonholes and
stored in a ring binder for future reference. It is proposed to have a
coherent theme for each edition and the overall focus is to be on
disseminating good practice.
The weekly activity ideas, 'Lessons2go', are a development of the
Direct2U activities. These lessons aim to provide ideas for the use of
ICT across the primary key stages and curriculum. The pick of the
original lessons will be updated, including the checking of web links
and inclusion of any new developments. A regularly updated index will be
available so that lessons can be found for different key stages,
subjects or year groups. This should assist key stage coordinators, ICT
coordinators and class teachers. Although aimed primarily at the school
user it is hoped that the resources will also benefit advisers, teacher
training tutors/mentors and parents.
In addition there will be an e-bulletin which will keep colleagues
up-to-date with all things ICT on a very regular basis, including links
to a 'website of the moment' as new and exciting things come to light.
Users will be able to sign up for each service individually. Resources
will be despatched to you as they are issued and will also be archived
on the website.
Ictopus is run by a group of primary teachers, university lecturers and
consultants who wish to support colleagues working in the field of
primary education. It aims to be flexible and adaptive to your needs and
to provide a forum for dissemination of the excellent practice currently
found in many schools.
The service launches in September 2007 but you can sign up for it right
now by visiting the website www.ictopus.org.uk
We would like to thank all our colleagues who have engaged with ICT this year. We have enjoyed working with you and look forward to working with you in September. Have a wonderful break and come back re-energised in September.
You may want to catch up with events at the Conference so you could go to
http://www.you-say.org and find out what people thought and remember you can also leave a comment.
ICT Team
Hi everyone
I visited this site again to find that they have added more activities for younger pupils. I think these activities are great for whiteboard use.
Why not revisit the site and try out the resources and then post your comments on the Weblog it would be great to get some feedback from you. So don't forget to click the comments link and have your say.
Visit the site at http://www.poissonrouge.com/
enjoy.
The resources are free but donations would enable more activities to be made.
DirectgovKids is a website for children from 5 to 11.
It aims to encourage children to think of themselves as young citizens with a range of rights and responsibilities. It invites children to explore a self-contained world, full of online games and activities.
To access the website Click Here
The Poetry Society is a membership-based and Arts Council England-funded registered charity, whose stated aims are to promote the study, use and enjoyment of poetry. It was founded in 1909 and is due to celebrate its centenary in 2009.
Many professional poets are members of the Society, although not all. Our membership is open to anyone. Many of our thousands of members around the world are teachers, librarians, booksellers, journalists - a wide range, in fact, of readers, writers and lovers of poetry.
To access the website CLICK HERE
Check out a new ictGateshead hosted weblog - INSEA. Travels and Teaching in South East Asia (Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam) as experienced by Katy Thompson and Joe Alexander.
This is a fascinating look at cultures widely different from our own. Katy and Joe have just begun teaching in Cambodia where in one school, the day starts with a visit from the ice-cream man! This is eye-opening stuff and worth a daily visit to learn more.
They need your help too. If you've got activity ideas they can use in the classroom then visit the site and use the Comments facility to share your expertise.
The site is updated regularly during the week with news, travelogues and some fab photos.
EducationCity.com, have agreed to make available an extended free trial of their
on-line product across the whole authority with a discount of 25% for
schools wishing to subscribe to the service.
Are there any teachers interested in working with the ICT team and Appian Way to produce resources
and lesson plans using the Timemaps Software.
If you are interested then contact Mike Carter via email. or add a comment to the comments box
There are loads more activities this year, bringing the total to nearly 20.
There are four topics: "Getting Ready for Xmas" is aimed at Reception. The two maths ones (Shopping and Shape'n'Space) are Year 2. The literacy based one is in Year 1.
Access the free collection at http://www.iboard.co.uk/christmas
for futher information about iboard products contact
Steve Rawlins at steve@iboard.co.uk
Here is a sneak preview of students from Ryton Comprehensive School practicing their performance piece for the Ryton festival. There are six clips, just click on the link below.
There will be a meeting of ICT Coordinators in February
There will be two dates for you to choose from
February 15th at Gateshead CLC at 16.00
February 16th at Heworth CLC at 16.00
We look forward to seeing you at one of the dates.
Moira
The HOS initiative for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3, is focused on helping you improve your teaching
and ultimately your students’ learning through the use of Information Communication
Technology (ICT).
A guidance document can be downloaded from
here
Cache Servers have been installed in all primary schools.
The server was installed in school as part of a Government initiative to enhance online learning. The server has content which can be unlocked by subscription, it also has resources from Granada Learning. The instructions show how the resources can be accessed within the school.
To download the content instructions Click here
To download the Teacher instructions Click here
Promethean will be offering a training day in the use of their Whiteboards on 15th November 2005 at Dryden PDC. It is an all day event with lunch provided. It is open to both Primary and Secondary colleagues as seperate rooms have been booked.
To register for this event you will need to download and return the booking form.
Please Click Here to register.
BT SCHOOLS AWARDS: Early Bird Prize Draw for a DV Camera closes on 14 October!
Have you applied for a Schools Award yet? If you haven’t, did you know that BT is rewarding up to 200 schools for their commitment to putting speaking and listening and the heart of everything they do? If you can prove this, you can win an award, even if you’ve won one before. All previous winners are eligible to enter again.
There’s up to £3,000 worth of benefits on offer, made up from:
£1,000 cash with no strings attached
a special communication skills roadshow
other in-kind benefits
All applications received by Friday 14 October will be entered into our Early Bird Prize Draw to win a digital video camera – so make sure you enter soon.
The online application form and an application guide containing everything you need to know can be found here
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 14 November, and don’t forget just by applying you will receive a free DVD and a personalised certificate of commitment to communication skills.
The BT Schools Awards Team
This HoS Matrix has been designed to help schools identify those staff who will benefit from Hands On Support for the embedding of ICT in teaching and learning.
Each member of staff needs to complete the matrix so that the school can gain an overview of the best ways to use their Hands On Support resources.
To access the HoS matrix Click here
If this link does not work go to http://matrix.ncsl.org.uk and choose HOS on the left of the screen then click HOS diagnostic. This should bring you to the correct web page.
We are planning to offer a course specifically for ICT Coordinators. We hope to begin the course next half term. It will consist of 60 hrs ( 2 full days, 4 twilights and 30 hrs assignment work) over three terms
The course will:
• develop ICT Co-ordinators’ expertise, knowledge and understanding within the context of current developments in ICT in education
• increase and improve networking between ICT co-ordinators
By the end of the course teachers will be able to co-ordinate the curriculum delivery of ICT in a school.
If you are interested in the course please Contact Janine Brookes: 0191 4995000 or email j.brookes@gateshead.org
The CyberCafe is an integral part of the Internet Proficiency Scheme developed to help teachers educate children on staying safe on the Internet. The scheme has been developed by Becta, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and aims to develop a set of safe and discriminating behaviours for pupils to adopt when using the Internet and other technologies.
Click here to access the site
The NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational safety resource that teaches kids and teens how to stay safer on the Internet. NetSmartz combines the newest technologies available and the most current information to create high-impact educational activities that are well received by even the most tech-savvy kids. Parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement also have access to additional resources for learning and teaching about the dangers children may face online. NetSmartz was created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
Click here to access the site. If you click Teens and scroll down to Tracking Teresa - this flash program explains the need to educate both Pupils and Parents about the Internet.
The Project is now ready to roll out to schools interested in taking part. The pilot schools report that the year 6 pupils are enjoying the tasks they have to undertake.
If you want your school to take part use the link below to send a request and we will remotely download the file and install it onto the schools server and create a link on the pupils desktop.
To request an install CLICK HERE and fill out the form.
Many thanks
The Curriculum ICT Team
A useful website for world religions
Click here
The content and information for the journeys project is now available and we will be getting it into schools as quickly as we can.
Just a gentle reminder that the last meeting of the group for this academic year will take place on Friday 1st July in the ICT Centre in Dryden. Caspian learning will demonstrate their software and all attendees will be given a demo disc to take away. We will also look at the Granada Learning tools that accompany the new Cache servers.
The session will begin at 1.30
iwb.org.uk is a rapidly growing bank of free to use tools and resources created for teachers who are teaching with an interactive whiteboard (IWB).
The resources include Flash files, Textease files, MSWord documents, MSPowerPoint files, MSExcel files, Active flipcharts, SMART files, webpages, links, photos, videos and more.
Click here to access the site
The last meeting of the group this term will take place on 1st. July 2005 in Dryden PDC at 13.30
We will demonstrate the Avantis caching server which is being rolled out to all schools incorporating the Granada Learning Tools.
We will also have a demonstration/training session with Caspian Learning. The Primary modules will be rolled out during this half term.
The training scheduled for 20th May and 8th June has been cancelled.
However, if you were planning to attend please contact Mike Carter by e-mail: m.carter@gateshead.org with some possible dates for training in your school. Supply cover to release staff will be paid for.
Click here
for access to this great site. Click on the Window to enter the gallery but explore the musical instruments as well.
If you would like to give feedback click on the comments link below.
Grammar for Writing resources in SMART notebook format.
There are resources here which are mapped to the booklet. All schools have a copy of the publication so reference on how to use the resouces can be gained from reading the booklet.
Click here
Great resources for the IWBIf you are not using whiteboards yet, it is still a good idea to get the
planning from the internet, as the unit plans are updated regularly. These ones have extra bubbles added to show where you could use ICT.
The resources cover:
Mathematics
Years 1 - 5 Annotated Unit Plans and problem solving materials
Year 6 - Springboard units and resources
Years 1 - 6 Resources - Excel files and teacher guidance
Literacy
Year 1 - Developing early writing
Year 2 - Developing early writing and planning exemplification
Year 3 - Grammar for writing and narrative plot
Year 4 - Grammar for writing and exemplification units
Year 5 - Grammar for writing and reading comprehension
To access them, go to:
http://www.nwnet.org.uk/pages/summ_pkg.html
At the end of last term Fiona from Learn Premium presented this product to the Content and Development group. Below there are details of how to access the service for a 30 day period.
Please could you give me some feedback by sending an email to m.carter@gateshead.org with the subject line:
Learn Premium.
Accessing learnpremium
To enable you to access your learnpremium free trial, you will require the
following log in details, which are unique to your LEA:
School ID: gatesheadlea Password: ne95ur
Step 1: Enter www.learnpremium.co.uk into your browser to access the site
Step 2: Enter your LEA ID and Password (above)into the log in boxed situated on
the right hand side of the page
Step 3: Click the ‘Go’ button
Step 4: The first time you use learnpremium, you will be asked to read,
understand and accept our terms and conditions of use**. Please read them
carefully as they govern your use of learnpremium and its service. By
clicking I accept at the bottom of the screen and accessing the
learnpremium home page, you are agreeing on behalf of your school to the
terms and conditions of use.
Step 5: Once you have accepted the terms and conditions of use you will be
taken to the learnpremium home page where you can be accessing the
materials
Step 6: Log out – To exit your learnpremium session, simply close your web
browser
There will be a meeting of the Content and Development Group in the ICT Centre in Dryden on the 20th May 2005 1.30 - 3.30.
A Transitional Project
All Gateshead schools are invited to participate in a curriculum extravaganza created around the Tall Ships.
We are working with a team of 15 people on an exciting and innovational Journeys transitional project.
Work began on the project in January and will continue for several months. We are writing the whole curriculum for year 6 for the last month of the school year - in line with QCA SoW and learning objectives for each subject. For year 7 we are developing a curriculum to cover maths, history, geography, technology and science. All areas of work are in line with national strategies and SoW for years 6 and 7.
The project is written around the Tall Ships, but will also reflect the pupils' own journey, from primary to secondary life. It will be delivered through ICT, in the form of an interactive ship's log with day to day subject based activities and problem solving tasks for pupils. The log will be brought to life through sound and video clips and the use of actors taking on roles of different crew members thereby demonstrating a day in the life of... a cabin boy... a captain etc.
Pupils will be involved in two different scenarios, the preparation of the ship at the quayside and the journey to southern Spain. They will help to purchase, organise and pack rations in the hold. They will plan routes and visit other countries on the journey.
The project would begin in schools on 23rd June and would run for 4 weeks, leaving the last week of term free for leaving activities. The Tall Ships will then visit the Tyne in the first week of the summer holiday, and the project will recommence in September with year 7 and run for 1 month.
Watch this space for more detail.
The Content and Development meeting on the 18th March in the ICT Centre 13.30 - 16.00. At 13.30 there will be a demonstration from Learn Premium an online subscription service.
To access the site Click Here
We have also invited Education City to outline what their online subscription service can offer. They will demonstrate from 14.30 - 3.30. look forward to seeing you in the ICT Centre at Dryden
Click here to access a website with mathematical games. There is an interactive gallery and activity packs and free games to use.
The Good Guide to Interactive Whiteboards CD Rom should be in all schools I ordered 100 and sent them out last year. However I have become aware that some colleagues have not seen this resource. I contacted BECTa for more copies but was told there were none left. The CD's can be copied and shared around.
There is a website which has some interesting resources which will be of special use to Whiteboard Champions the address is
http://www.thereviewproject.org/helpsheets/index.htm
Many teachers have outlined the problem of using image searches in internet search engines. I have e-mailed Google to ask for a solution to this problem. They do have a solution being tested in the US but seemed reluctant to allow Gateshead to test it in the UK. Although Google has a filter, it can be disabled by those that know how. This causes a problem when legitimate images searches are needed. Below is a list of several copyright free image sites for educational use
The next meeting of this group will be on the 18th March 2005 in the ICT centre. Usual time 13.30 - 16.00.
Please could you feed back your impressions of the Education City subscription service. I have had only one or two responses and from this I will have to presume that the majority of people do not want to have this resource in school. The information you need is as follows:
1)Via your internet browser go to www.EducationCity.com
2)From the front page click on the Login button
3)Now enter your School Login Name and then your Login Password as shown at the end of this mail. Make sure to enter it exactly as shown.
4)You will now have access to all areas of EducationCity.com
School Login Name: LEA GATESHEAD
Login Password: LEA GATESHEAD
Many thanks
Mike
E-mail
Mapzone is a totally free, bright and lively web site produced by Ordnance Survey that aims to teach children, between 7 and 16 years, mapping skills in a fun way. This free resource offers interactive play with stimulating questions and answers together with animations and games to make the structured learning process a joy to come back to.
mapzone
Writing with Symbols files to print, interactive Environments to use on screen, plus all related symbols and wordlist. You must have 'Writing With Symbols' software to be able to use these files.
Acrobat PDF (Portable document format) files of selected files.
Instructions on how to use and make the resources.
National Learning Objectives, where applicable.
Writing with Symbols Inclusion Pack
