October 2008 - Posts

Kent's Building Schools for the Future - signed and sealed!

Well, Kent's BSF deal is signed and sealed, and the announcement on kent's website makes it official! I won't add to this official announcement.

It does though now seem a long time since last Friday when Kent's BSF team were gathered with all related parties at Holborn London in the prestigious offices of law firm Lovells. As an interesting aside the building has the most dynamic art piece running up through its core; and I mean dynamic as it is a multi-storey pendulum kept moving by the movement of water.

I'd like to attribute Mark Kobayashi-Hilary for the picture above, which is available as a creative commons image on image site Flickr.

If you spend long periods as we did on the 11th Floor, out of the corner of your eye you can't help but notice this huge pendulum marking time with a 10 metre swing at the top. Very impressive! Interstingly I can't find any reference to its creator or history. If anyone knows ...?

Posted by AlanDay | 1 comment(s)
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Becta Web 2.0 Research Report

Web 2.0 technologies for learning at KS3 and KS4

Becta commissioned the University of Nottingham in conjunction with London Knowledge Lab and Manchester Metropolitan University to research Web 2.0 technologies for learning at Key Stages 3 and 4. The purpose of this research was to help shape Becta’s own thinking and inform policymakers, schools and local authorities on the potential benefits of Web 2.0 technologies and how their use can be effectively and safely realised. There are four reports.

Report 1: The current landscape - opportunities, challenges and tensions (May 2008)

Report 2: Learners' use of Web 2.0 technologies in and out of school in Key Stages 3 and 4 (June 2008)

Report 3: Implementing Web 2.0 in Secondary Schools: Impacts, barriers and issues(September 2008)

Report 4: E-safety issues in using Web 2.0 (September 2008)

Here are some commentaries regarding the report:

Merlin John - It's official - kids power down to go to school

Flux-Do as I say not do as I do! Designer cheek

PC Pro - Becta becomes a fan of Facebook

Stuff that's caught my eye! - 111008

Schools Radio Network

Schools are invited to register now with the Schools Radio Network – a new initiative - and give their students a national voice. SchoolsRadio.com encourages students up to age 18 to create and share their own audio programmes with other UK schools through a specially regulated networking site. Supporting many aspects of the National Curriculum, SchoolsRadio.com helps develop creativity, confidence and team work - improving literacy, speech and technical skills - all whilst stimulating dialogue between passionate young people.

Launched last year with Ministerial support, SchoolsRadio.com provides a level playing field for children of all ages and abilities to get their voices heard as they explore the powerful and popular medium of radio. The Schools Radio initiative has been developed by the Vision Charity which, alongside fundraising to help blind, visually impaired and dyslexic children, has spent 10 years working with the Radio Academy promoting radio and audio media to students across the country. Nicholas Parsons is a patron, so filling the form in should take 'just a minute'.

I'd like to tell you what Schools Radio sounds like and what it looks like, but it seems to be restricted to registered schools so we can't. On that basis I'm not sure how much use it will get. Registration is free until 28 November though. If you join, let me now what its like!

BBC - Computer game boosts maths scores - A daily dose of computer games can boost maths attainment, according to a study carried out in Scottish schools. Learning and Teaching Scotland - the main organisation for the development of the curriculum - analysed the effect of a "brain training" game.

BBC - Is that cellphone Kosher?

OpenShare for Moodle released

Teachers losing touch with tech skills

Microsoft makes another play for UK schools

Tiny tots trial touchscreen tec

Smart Lights - Wireless-data. LED lamps to replace lightbulbs - The US government is funding research into using LED lighting as data network access points. Room or street lamps would link with devices using visible light, carrying data beyond over existing power lines."This is a unique opportunity to create a transcendent technology that not only enables energy-efficient lighting, but also creates the next generation of secure wireless communications," said Prof Thomas Little of Boston Uni.

DCSF - Fairer, more transparent complaints procedure for parents