Kent Trust Web Blog

Stuff that's caught my eye! - 070908

AlanDay — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:54:00 GMT

Database of children delayed Intel cites US education 'crisis' HP's plan to fix ailing planet - Hewlett Packard is up to two years away from starting to build a "central nervous system for the Earth", known as CeNSE. Tablet and other mobile PC case studies update. Lets just scare the #$%& out of them, OK? e-learning on a shoestring - resource kit for creative community engagement. Google Chrome edmodo - private micro-blogging for classroom and teachers. Taxonomy of Interactivity...(read more)

Online Reporting - Making it Happen.

AlanDay — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:18:00 GMT

All Secondary Schools are expected to make the following information available to parents via secure online access [PDF 6300KB] by September 2010, and Primary Schools by 2012: Attendance and behaviour (+ve and -ve) Progress and attainment Special Needs. Becta has published a toolkit [PDF 6300KB], but as my previous post on the new requirements for managing personal data in schools highlights, setting up robust and secure systems for getting personal data online are a complex matter. Who is the parent...(read more)

Huge shake-up in school data management?

AlanDay — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:41:00 GMT

It's no surprise that an on-going shake-up in the management of personal data at all levels of administration and government was going to affect schools sooner or later. As the main source of national pupil data through the school census, its where our most sensitive information about children is ciollated and held. It will also come as no suprise that not all schools protect their data effectively, with USB memory sticks, external hard drives and Virtual Private Network (VPN) access typically...(read more)

Making wall sized posters

kent-teachers — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:01:00 GMT

Have you ever wanted to make your photos wall-sized? Here is a totally free website to upload a photo and then create a saveable .pdf file with all you need to print, cut and stick your own. http://www.blockposters.com Amaze your class with a 6ft picture of you!!!! - or make a walk-in landscape. (Thanks to Tim Rylands for the tip.)...(read more)

Changes to Games pages

kent-teachers — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:23:00 GMT

The Maths and Literacy games pages have changed over the summer. www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games There were two purposes for this..... firstly to provide more help information for each game. As some of the games are indecipherable! Secondly I wanted all of the game icons to be visible on the same screen simultaneously. This removes the need for little ones scrolling down a long page. The old pages are still available and a link to them can be seen at the bottom of the games page. I'm hoping that...(read more)

Motivate primary VCs this term

SteveJames — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:46:00 GMT

I hope you've all had a good break, and are keen to get VCing with us again!

The bad news is that we now have to make a charge of £60 to primary schools to participate in our conferences (although if you feel that you can make a case for having the cost reduced, please contact us). We think this is excellent value, however, since the £60 gets you a whole conference - either two VCs and accompanying project work, or a full maths day with online resources.

The good news (if you're quick!) is that we still have a three places on primary conferences this term:

* 512 Ants on Sullivan Street, presented by ex-head teacher Kevin Mingay, with VCs on 14 Oct and 19 Nov, both starting at 13.15, and lasting for an hour or so, for 7-9 year-olds. For more details see http://motivate.maths.org/conferences/conference.php?conf_id=177.

* Mathematical Games, presented by Nrich's primary coordinator Liz Woodham.

This is a day conference to be held on 3 Nov, from 10.00 until 15.00, and aimed at 8-10 year-olds. For more details see

http://motivate.maths.org/conferences/conference.php?conf_id=174 (note we do not have any spaced for the 5 Nov presentation).

Our spring term programme will be posted on the Motivate programme page

(http://motivate.maths.org/conferences/conferencelist.php?prog=all) in a few weeks time, and everyone on this list will receive notification of new primary conferences.

Regards

Jenny

Dr Jenny Gage

Coordinator, Motivate Project Centre for Mathematical Sciences

Millennium Mathematics Project Wilberforce Road

University of Cambridge Cambridge

44(0)1223 764278 CB3 0WA

Fax: 44(0)1223 765900

http://www.motivate.maths.org

**************************************************************************

Keeping parents informed, and involved, in the homework process

kent-teachers — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:42:00 GMT

How does your school keep parents informed, and involved, in the homework process? Do you use email to inform parents that their child has a particular homework due in on a given day or to send out homework tasks? Do you set homework tasks via a blog? ( http://watsongowtsblog.wordpress.com/ ) We would love to hear how schools are using ICT to keep parents more informed. Please share what you do by leaving a comment below....(read more)

Website of the week - Heritage Explorer

kent-teachers — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:40:00 GMT

Heritage Explorer www.heritageexplorer.org.uk Heritage Explorer provides classroom resources and accessible information to create a one-stop shop for teachers seeking to inspire classes at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. All the information can be downloaded and used for free. Heritage Explorer provides image-based resources for teaching history, citizenship and many more subjects. With over 360,000 pictures, including historic views of daily life, aerial photography, and modern shots of listed buildings...(read more)

Gold Farming Increasing in Developing Countries

averyr01 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:10:00 GMT

Research by Manchester University shows that almost 500,000 people in developing nations are earning a wage by making virtual goods in online games (known as gold-farming )to sell to players and the industry is increasing rapidly. The industry (about 80% of which is based in China) is estimated to employ in 2008 400,000 people who earned an average of $145 (£77) per month creating a global market worth around $500m. Professor Richard Heeks, head of the development informatics group at Manchester...(read more)

Beatbullying launches new site for Young People

averyr01 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:11:00 GMT

Anti-bullying charity Beatbullying has launched a new website for young people. The revamped website includes social networking, blogging, music uploading and video features. It enables young people of all ages to share thier own videos, photos and upload/download music created by other users, as well as blog about their thoughts on bullying. The new site follows a new adult and professionals' website , which was launched earlier in 2008, and was developed after consultation with hundreds of...(read more)

UK Youth Online Unconference

averyr01 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:25:00 GMT

The UK Youth Online Unconference is a free event for anyone with an interest in how technology impacts upon, or can be used in, work with under 18s. It will be an opportunity to discuss, demonstrate and explore what the latest online developments mean for work with young people. It will take place on Saturday 27th September, 10am till 5pm in London. The event is being run on a not-for-profit basis and participation is free. The event will be based around four themes: Online safety and opportunity...(read more)

Important Microsoft Updates for August

plaj01 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:07:00 GMT

Microsoft have released a number of security updates for their Office and Operating System products. Please make sure you visit Microsoft Update and Windows Update to keep your pc's up to date.

Children avoiding age restrictions on Social Networking Sites

averyr01 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:23:00 GMT

Nearly a quarter of children between the ages of 8 and 12 are dodging the age restrictions imposed by social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace. A recent poll suggests that from these results, more than 750,000 children could be illicitly using the sites potentially exposing them to risky communications and situations. Facebook and Bebo set a minimum age limit of 13 for users to register online and Myspace sets the limit at 14. Most social networking sites warn users that their membership...(read more)

Kitemark for Child Safety Online

averyr01 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:40:00 GMT

A new "Kitemark for Child Safety Online has been launched with the Home Office and Ofcom to provide consumers - especially parents - reassurance that their children will not be subjected to undesirable web content." Becta have played a key role in providing the technical expertise which underpins this new kitemark. It's aimed at the home market, and any products badged under this quality assurance scheme will help parents to judge products which have been rigorously tested to a set...(read more)

Voicethread 4 Education wiki

kent-teachers — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:48:00 GMT

"A VoiceThread is an online media album that can hold essentially any type of media (images, documents and videos) and allows people to make comments in 5 different ways - using voice (with a microphone or telephone), text, audio file, or video (with a webcam) - and share them with anyone they wish. A VoiceThread allows group conversations to be collected and shared in one place, from anywhere in the world." http://voicethread.com/ The Voicethread 4 Education wiki, started by Colette Cassinelli...(read more)

100 Awesome Classroom Videos to Learn New Teaching Techniques

kent-teachers — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:10:00 GMT

Alisa Miller @ Smartteaching.org has created a useful list of "100 Awesome Classroom Videos to Learn New Teaching Techniques ". "Whether you are a new teacher storing up tips and tricks or an experienced teacher who could just use a fresh perspective, you are sure to find something helpful among these videos." http://www.smartteaching.org/blog/2008/08/100-awesome-classroom-videos-to-learn-new-teaching-techniques/...(read more)

Congratulations to Anne at Selling Primary!

Jayne Bartholomew — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:01:00 GMT

On Monday 11th August Anne Parker becomes Mrs Anne Bartlett. Anne and Mr Bartlett will be honeymooning on a cruise in the Baltics.

Congratulations!

New Video Conferencing Blog home

SteveJames — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:27:00 GMT

This blog will be moving home to the Kent Learning Zone. For the time being I will add to both blogs in parallel as not all schools have accounts on KLZ yet.

The reason for the move is that other Kent biased video conferencing information will also be located on the KLZ and it makes sense to keep everything together.

Additionally there are other external contributors that I have managed to bring into the KLZ who can add information to the new blog as well as myself.

Please go to https://portal.klz.org.uk/collaboration/videoconf/default.aspx for the new blog but note you will need to have a KLZ account in place to access it.

Regards, Steve James.

Meeting Dates 2008 / 09

Jayne Bartholomew — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:09:00 GMT

15th September - 9-12 - Hernhill Primary School

16th December - 2 - 4 - Hernhill Primary School

16th March - 2 - 4 - Hernhill Primary School

29th June - Awayday - Hempstead House

Northgate acquiring Anite?

AlanDay — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:23:00 GMT

Northgate Information Solutions has agreed to acquire Anite Public Sector Holdings Limited , which incorporates Anite ’s local government and secure information systems businesses, for a total cash consideration of £54.3 million payable at completion, subject to the settlement of a £3.8 million receivable owed by Anite to Anite Public Sector and a working capital adjustment following completion. Why is this of interest? Northgate Information Solutions is of course the ICT Contractor in the Land Securities...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! - 040808

AlanDay — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:54:00 GMT

RM Gets Fingers into school biometrics market - RM's acquisition of Orchard Partners Ltd T/A Easy Trace . MP's report back from Internet's dark side . MPs have called on the government to install a YouTube Czar to oversee user-generated content sites and better labels for video games. Is BT shaping your broadband speeds? - tests show that BT may be using traffic shaping to manipulate performance figures. Microsoft's spherical touch screen technology. Young People and Social Networking...(read more)

Codename Midori: Microsoft's ascension from physical to virtual?

AlanDay — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:59:00 GMT

It's no secret ... Microsoft software was born in an era where getting connected wasn't much of a concern as few had connections! Microsoft has moved with the times with constantly updated products, but they still largely install on hardware. The rise of virtualisation , where multiple operating systems can run on a single device, or across a farm of devices is shifting computing to the ' cloud ' ... data centres out there on the internet that serve up .. services (Interestingly DELL...(read more)

Authenticating against a local directory service while using the KCN VPN

PeterBanbury — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Following an update to the VPN concentrator, it is now possible for users to be authenticated against the directory service located within the school, opposed to the KCN RADIUS server.
All that's required is a RADIUS server is configured within the school according to criteria specified in the documentation available from the website (under the policies and technical information link)

www.eiskent.co.uk?broadband

Anyone wishing to implement local authentication should consider these points:

Should the server(s) configured as RADIUS servers fail, you will be unable to authenticate and therefore unable to establish a VPN connection to the school
This service is only available to those with servers running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or 2008
The webVPN can only authenticate against a single RADIUS server (being the KCN RADIUS server) the webVPN will not be available to the school unless they use credentials configured on the KCN RADIUS server.
Schools wishing to use this service MUST conform to the KCN IP scheme assigned to the school

We hope you find this new feature useful

Marc Turner
Kent Community Network

Internet Service Providers sign up to tackle Online Music Piracy

averyr01 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:12:00 GMT

Six of the UK's largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs), BT, Virgin, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse, have agreed to join with the Music industry to try and tackle the growing issue of online piracy. The proposal from the government will begin with letters being sent to users suspected of using peer to peer file sharing programmes to illegally share music etc. The warning letters will be sent to thousands of homes across the UK where illegal downloading has been detected, alerting...(read more)

Science Content - The Periodic Table of Videos

AlanDay — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:41:00 GMT

The Periodic Table of Video's is a modern version of the periodic table. Each element has an associated video explaining what it is and how it reacts. Great resource, but shame they chose YouTube ... the videos are blocked by most school filters (and KCC)!...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye - 220708

AlanDay — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:22:00 GMT

OFSTED says tests narrow learning Students bring kit worth £6K School design labelled 'mediocre' e-learning 2.0 -= the need for a real 2.0 VLE Corporate social networks are a waste of money Richard Stallman: Free software and beyond Top 5 platforms for creating educational video games Is the ability to create visuals an important work literacy Education for a digital world: advice, guidelines and effective practice from around the globe. Opensim / Drupal integration for education Education...(read more)

KS3 SATs results

Keith Milchem — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:33:00 GMT

I have received the information below and thought you might find it useful when considering your position regarding this years science SATs. My initial responses from Kent schools indicate that the marking is mostly OK and that the mark scheme has been quite tightly applied. We have a range of "ups and downs" reported so far. No pattern determined yet, I will e-mail out to schools if I find one! Here is the information from "above" "We are getting a number of reports from...(read more)

Myst Computer Game in the Classroom

kent-teachers — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:12:00 GMT

In Kent, we have many schools eager to use the computer game 'Myst', after being inspired by Tim Rylands at our recent ICT Conference. January 2008 is the official launch of Kent's writing project using the computer game Myst, when we will be inviting Tim back to Kent to run a series of workshops and lesson observations. Whether you are joining in with the official launch or considering doing a unit of work using Myst, I am sure you will find the following two websites interesting: A...(read more)

If you read just one book ...

AlanDay — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:13:00 GMT

Last week Jerry, a colleague handed me a short book, What's Next: 21 Ideas for 21st Century Learning by Charles Leadbeater , and published by the Innovation Unit . Jerry was emphatic as he placed it on my desk ... "This says what I believe ... ". The book is available free online . I read it in a fairly short time, its not long. On reading I realised I had noted a large number of key points in the margin of what is such a concise book. I'm not going to give away the contents, but...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye - 190708

AlanDay — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:04:00 GMT

It's not the Gates, it's the bars - Anti-microsoft commentary from Richard Stallman, Founder of Free Software Foundation . Government launches data mash-up . Spam experiment overloads inboxes . Job shortage for unskilled youths. Rural diplomas to get extra help . Should employers doubt Diplomas . DCSF Consultation: Safeguarding children from sexual exploitation . QCA Consultation: GCSE subject criteria for 2010 (including ICT) Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) - Excellence Gateway (online...(read more)

Assessment is for Learning

AlanDay — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:25:00 GMT

Thanks to Ewan McIntosh for highlighting the following Assessment is for Learning guide on the Learning & Teaching Scotland (LTS) web site. Thought I'd pass it on!...(read more)

Government Computers go green!

AlanDay — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:34:00 GMT

With Gershon efficiency savings being imposed on Local Government, and cascaded down to schools, I picked up an interesting Cabinet Office news item from a colleague. A bold plan has been announced to reduce carbon emission caused by ICT in central government. The principles are just as applicable to Local Authorities and Schools; indeed there is currently a DCSF zero carbon consultation (call for evidence) aimed at schools being zero carbon by 2016, and all schools must have a prominent Display...(read more)

Harnessing Technology:Next Generation Learning - New Strategy in a nutshell!

AlanDay — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:31:00 GMT

I thought that I would try to summarise the key features of the revised and updated e-strategy Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning ; a sort of ' Reduced Shakespeare Company ' version for those who don't have time to read the document. Key Strategic Aims Learner entitlement to technology . Personalised Learning - Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size...(read more)

Junior Safety Zones for the World Wide Web

averyr01 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:57:00 GMT

Merlin John has recently written a article, published on the FutureLabs website considering how Primary Schools can use the internet as teaching tool whilst taking into account e-Safety considerations. Merlin states how Primary Schools across the UK are "starting to try out secure, media-rich services that allow children to do everything that older students and adults are doing on sites like Flickr, YouTube and Facebook but without the concomitant risks" The article contains case-studies...(read more)

First UK Conviction for laundering proceeds of commercial distribution of child abuse images in the UK

averyr01 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:37:00 GMT

CEOP have managed to secure a conviction for the first person in UK to be arrested for money-laundering the proceeds of commercial distribution of child abuse images. Andrian Benzin, a 29 year old Moldovan national who was living in London was arrested by CEOP officers on the 25th July 2006. Benzin was providing access to child abuse images on a ‘pay-per-view’ website which had 447 subscribers from 29 different countries, including 22 people from the UK (which included a scoutmaster, a teacher and...(read more)

Google Launches Lively a Virtual World Across Social Networks

kent-teachers — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:14:00 GMT

Google has launched Lively , a new social network built around the concept of each user creating an avatar and a personal virtual room that can be embedded anywhere on the Web. Although, as with all pupblic chatroom, we can't see Lively being a safe tool to use it schools , it is being used with educators to meet and chat. Getting Started To use Lively, you need to sign up using a Google account and download a browser plug-in. From there, you are able to create your own avatar – starting from...(read more)

Victorian themed days

kent-teachers — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:47:00 GMT

The clock will be turned back to Victorian times again at the Museum of Kent Life in October. Children will take part in a carousel of 6 workshops with a Victorian theme. This year's workshops are The Victorian Dinnertable, Meet the Toymaker, Victorian Schoolroom, See the Blacksmith at work, What happened in the Scullery, and Learn a Victorian dance. Children are encouraged to come dressed up in Victorian costume to heighten the atmosphere. We have been able to keep our cost the same as last...(read more)

Free British Pathe Film Archive to Schools ending this Summer

kent-teachers — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:38:00 GMT

From 31 July 2008 the national contract which provides the British Pathe film archive to schools at zero cost will end. Schools may continue to use downloaded film material to the end of August 2009. After that date such material will have to be deleted. The low resolution film material will still be available. For further information, please see attached document. British Pathe Letter [Size: 96Kb] ....(read more)

Learning in class - the sequel

AlanDay — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:43:00 GMT

The survey evidence from the harnessing technology: next generation e-strategy review, also shows that children prefer to learn: 1. In groups 2. Doing practical things 3. With friends 4. By using computers In that order!...(read more)

Learning in class?

AlanDay — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:35:00 GMT

The chart above is taken from the recently published revision of the e-strategy, Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning . It shows the learning experiences of children taken from MORI survey evidence. Its quite an indictment that the most common experience is still copying from board or book, followed by listening to a teacher talk for too long. Creativity anyone?...(read more)

Website of the Week - The Downs ICT Wiki

kent-teachers — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:52:00 GMT

The Downs CE Primary School's Wiki http://thedowns.wikispaces.com/ Planning for an ICT Club has just got easier with the help of Mark Warner, at The Down's Primary school. Wikis, like other tools (content management systems, weblogs), are being used by educators as effective teaching and learning tools. The Downs Primary School in Walmer, Kent have created a very interesting and useful Wiki on resources for ICT Clubs. Many schools have approached me asking where they can find avatars for...(read more)

Tim Rylands coming to Kent AGAIN

kent-teachers — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:43:00 GMT

After Tim's inspirational afternoon presentation at the EIS ICT Conference , we are inviting Tim down to Kent for the last two weeks of January 2009 to kick start a whole unit on using Myst to develop Literacy and ICT skills. Tim will be visiting Maidstone, Tonbridge, Malling, Darford East, Cranbrook & PW and Tun Wells in January and we have space for three more Clusters. To register your school's / Clusters interest please leave a comment below or email mandy dot barrow at kent dot gov...(read more)

Exemplification of the Framework and PoS for KS3

Keith Milchem — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:42:00 GMT

This zip file contains exemplification of the new PoS for KS3. This will be added to the Framework web site over the summer. This is NOT statutory content, more a selection of ideas you might like to include. Some files are word documents which open properly. Those beginning ._ are code files and open to reveal rubbish! I wanted to get these out quickly so I haven't edited this. Enjoy!!...(read more)

funding makes Rare Breeds even better

Julie O'Neill — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:40:00 GMT

Creepy Crawly World The new and very exciting Creepy Crawly World opened it’s doors to the public this Easter, A large majority of this new attraction on the farm has been funded by Ken Chappell’s awesome Pop Quiz’s – We can’t Thank Ken and his wife Debbie enough! The Creepy Crawly world is a great place for children to be educated on our fantastic reptiles. There is signage and information in the Creepy Crawly World and staff hold encounter sessions for the children, so they can get up close too...(read more)

Demos Feedback

averyr01 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:44:00 GMT

Throughout the ICT Headteachers Conference, there were a series of presentations and debates. They can be downloaded via our Kent Trust Web site or see below. Demos, the independent Think Tank who supported the faciliated debate sessions have provided their feedback of the days outcomes in the form of a Powerpoint Presentation and a Podcast. This will enable you to hear feedback from presenters and delegates on the day and understand the key ideas and outcomes. You can view them here: Demos Powerpoint...(read more)

Website of the Week - Bishops in Action

kent-teachers — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:18:00 GMT

www.bishopsinaction.com The bishops of the Anglican church worldwide meet at the Lambeth conference every ten years to discuss issues which concern the church and pray together. The ‘Bishops in Action’ website: contains material for Religious Education, particularly at KS2 includes powerpoints for the interactive whiteboard, photos, posters and fact files about bishops and their role in the church encourages multi-cultural, global perspectives in teaching about Christianity provides 5 acts of Collective...(read more)

Tim Ryland inspired us all

kent-teachers — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:30:00 GMT

The Kent ICT Conference was another huge success with the added bonus of an afternoon enthralled with the imaginative ideas of Tim Ryland . Tim, who is mainly well known through his work using Myst to inspire children’s writing, captured his audience attention right from the start with his wit and imagination and, over two hours later, we all left wanting to know more! ThanksTim. Click here to visit Tim's blog about his afternoon with us . "WOW!! It’s a mark of a good afternoon when 2 hours...(read more)

2 Simple Offer

kent-teachers — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:20:00 GMT

Just to let you know the 2 Simple offer for the entire software collection at £999 will end on July 15th. For more information visit http://www.2simple.com/...(read more)

Want to teach astronomy?

Keith Milchem — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:08:00 GMT

I have received some information about resources for astronomy teaching from David Mannion (Maidstone GS). He writes:- These two sheets might be of interest to Heads of Science in Kent schools who want to teach part of the Science national curriculum - the astronomy bits! We have in the RAS www.ras.org.uk come up with about 84 websites and four RAS web resources for teaching astronomy Ks2 Ks 3 Ks 4 and Ks 5. There are 2 files zipped in the attachment. Rules for opening as before. (Click on title...(read more)