Next Generation Learning in Kent

Northgate acquiring Anite?

2008-08-05T07:23:00Z

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

2008-08-04T16:54:00Z

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?

2008-08-04T15:59:00Z

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)

Science Content - The Periodic Table of Videos

2008-07-22T18:41:00Z

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

2008-07-22T18:22:00Z

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)

If you read just one book ...

2008-07-19T18:13:00Z

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

2008-07-19T11:04:00Z

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

2008-07-19T06:25:00Z

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!

2008-07-18T12:34:00Z

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!

2008-07-17T20:31:00Z

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)

Learning in class - the sequel

2008-07-15T05:43:00Z

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?

2008-07-15T05:35:00Z

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)

Parent Power? The case for online reporting.

2008-06-27T19:45:00Z

Becta commissioned survey of 2,058 parents 95 per cent of parents think the effective use of technology can help their child learn 77 per cent of parents think technology can help their child engage with difficult subjects 78 per cent of parents think technology can bring subjects to life 63 per cent of parents think using technology effectively can help improve exam results parents are more comfortable talking to their children about drugs, alcohol and bullying than technology! 94 per cent of parents...(read more)

Ikea Primary Capital Programme Bid? The flat pack school? Where's the Allen Key?

2008-06-27T15:48:00Z

Times Online has a news item that shows work beginning on building Britains first flat-pack school in Manchester. Delivered from Switzerland and shipped on 20 trucks, the three storey school is built from 600 computer cut panels. St Agnes CE Primary School should be open by next March. Their current website shows the history of the old building this replaces. For information, St Agnes is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, and engaged couples ( amongst other things )....(read more)

Disarming Britain

2008-06-27T15:38:00Z

Channel 4 has produced a 3D game for young people called ' Dead Ends ' as part of its ' Disarming Britain' season. You play on both sides of the law, as Keith Wilcox, a new gang recruit caught in a deadly situation he can't handle, and Detective Jameson, an officer investigating a gang killing that's turning up nothing but dead ends. Who killed Keith and why? To find out, you must interrogate witnesses, chase down suspects, pass gang initiation tests and escape through the...(read more)

Google Oil!

2008-06-27T15:30:00Z

Thanks to Ewan McIntosh for highlighting this little gem for Google Earth . The ( kmz ) file overlays world oil consumption on to the globe of the earth. Below are some pics so you get the idea. Wow, what a way to show the 'inconvenient truth' of how unbalanced world oil consumption is....(read more)

Scrapping subject lessons? replaced by themes ...

2008-06-26T05:03:00Z

I picked up this interesting report of a school in Totnes that has created a foundation year aimed at helping children to become good learners. Whilst the report claims they are scrapping subjects, the story affirms that children still cover the subjects, but not as silos. This follows the Cramlington Commmunity High School model that I visited last month, where learning to learn is having a huge impact, and reinforces my feeling that this approach is one of the most important advances in secondary...(read more)

Byron Recommendations? ... Online Information Card? ... Response?

2008-06-26T04:45:00Z

Following this weeks publication of the Byron Review Action Plan , which aims to protect the safety of children online, Times Online reports that the worlds most influential firms have launced their online 'Information Card'. Note that its' not called an identity card, but effectively thats what it does, including verifying a users age. Information Card Foundation membership includes Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Novell, PayPal and Equifax. With this sort of support, the Foundation may be...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! 220608

2008-06-22T07:24:00Z

The computer that predicted the future - More than 20 years ago a generation of schoolchildren sat down to complete a questionnaire they were told would predict their future. One tonne baby marks its birth - Sixty years ago the "modern computer" was born in a lab in Manchester. Changing the way we think - Bill Thompson considers how our multi-media world is impacted the way we see ourselves. Harnessing the power of clouds - It is not unusual to find the computer you bought only a couple...(read more)

Todays ICT conference!

2008-06-19T08:29:00Z

The ICT conference 2008 Home Access conversation is now under way! For theose interested there is a conference blog. The Theme of the conference is the practicalities of Home Access. We are blogging through the day as we capture the conversation through Demos. Blog can be found HERE ....(read more)

Filmclub goes online

2008-06-16T07:21:00Z

As previously posted , Filmclub launched last week. This is aimed at encouraging children to watch and learn, and was set up with support from the UK Film Council . Apparently 60,000 films are being, or have been made available to support 7,000 schools over the next three years. Information can be found on the Filmclub website . According to the original press release Kent had/has 7 schools participating in a pilot: · St Edmund’s Catholic School, Dover · The Canterbury High School, Canterbury · Astor...(read more)

Becta awards Open Source schools project

2008-06-15T20:40:00Z

The Open Source community is apparently ' up in arms' following Becta's decision to award a £270K Open Source project contract to AlphaPlus Consultancy . This follows previous work with Becta on e-learning vocabularies . Mark Taylor of Sirius Ltd , a firm that describe themselves as 'The Open Source Experts (TM)' has attacked the decision and is clearly angry at the contract being awarded to what he sees as "Becta's friends". The rights and wrongs of the Becta contract...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! Summary 150608

2008-06-15T20:05:00Z

New Video demos radical Firefox Mobile Four nations appeal against Microsoft OOXML standard Encyclopaedia Britannica dips toe in Wiki waters Gamers not misfits after all Home Affairs Committee Report - Surveillance Society? Secret printer ID codes may breach EU privacy laws Youth Task Force Action Plan Prime Minister opens BrownTube Baseball? Science? Maths? Mobile Learning? Futurelab Powerleague Data protection of children: ensuring consent Becta - Information security guidance for schools...(read more)

Re: Worry over capital funds for subscription services

2008-06-14T06:06:00Z

Merlin John recently posted on a confusion about how schools should spend their Harnessing Technology funding, claiming that confusion has reduced schools purchasing. The post goes on to discuss the difference between capital and revenue items. School funding for ICT can be confusing, especially since changes that split school funding into devolved formula capital and school development grant (revenue). Previously the minimum ICT funding was roughly ring-fenced through Standards Fund Grant 31a. The...(read more)

£250 Ethernet Cable??

2008-06-13T19:32:00Z

Denon the high-end audio firm is selling an ethernet patch cable for, wait for it ... £250!! (normally around £5 or less). Apparently it brings out 'all the nuances of digital music', and has signal direction markings. Don't they know that the signal is sent digitally!! No matter how good the cable the quality of the audio is determined by the sample bit rate and reproduction quality of the devices. Sound isn't affected at all, as the cable doesn't pass audio signals ... Clearly...(read more)

Shine - talent in all young people!

2008-06-13T19:19:00Z

Shine is a national celebration of all talent in all young people providing creative ways to celebrate and showcase students' achievements during Shine week from 30 June to 4 July. Shine is the place for teachers to show off too. Do you have a hidden talent you could share with your students? How have you nurtured and celebrated the talents of your students? Shine is the place to let others know about it! You have to see the talent showcased on the Shine site and get involved! Shine is supported...(read more)

Parental Engagement - Online Reporting

2008-06-13T18:39:00Z

Becta are sending all schools an introductory pack to assist them as they move towards online reporting. Secondary schools are expected to have arrangements in place by September 2010. Primary School's by September 2012. Parents will have secure access to information on their child's progress, achievement, attendance and behaviour from the Internet. There is a video for schools on the Becta Online Reporting web page, and guidance for schools. According to Becta : "Your present management...(read more)

Kent County Council bans anti-teen device!

2008-06-13T18:21:00Z

Here's a technology snippet! The Mosquito Teenager Loitering Deterrent is a device that emits a high pitch sound that only young people can hear. According to BBC News , Kent County Council has decided to ban the devices, with Mike Hill OBE , Cabinet Member for Community Services calling the devices abhorrent. Another inappropriate use of technology?...(read more)

Display Energy Certificates - Go one better?

2008-06-13T17:38:00Z

On reading the recent e-bulletin item on Kent Trust Web (Formerly Clusterweb) I note with interest that from the 1st October schools are meant to display a certificate that shows the energy usage per square metre. This means that every school with more than 1,000m2 will have an energy rating (Based on the amount of CO2 emitted) from A to G on an A3 size poster, (now thats a carbon footprint!) a bit like you see on white goods, BUT BIGGER! An official assessor has to calculate emissions using a software...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! Summary 070608

2008-06-07T18:28:00Z

Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's Wellbeing - A Call for Evidence (Interested parties version) Millions must be on vetting list - More than one in four adults in England will have to register with child protection authorities next year, under an expanded safeguarding scheme. Anyone working or volunteering with young people will have to register. The government says 11.3 million people will be on a database, with registration costing £64 per person. Non-verbal advantages...(read more)