HSIS ICT Learning Community – Sharing ideas, Innovating with ICT
by haveringict on May 4, 2012 at 4:36 pm · Filed under LGfL, Video-conferencing
Staff and children of Scargill Infant School in Mungo Park Road, Rainham were thrilled this week to win the prestigious LGFL award for ‘Best use of LGfL Services’ which was presented at The Mermaid Conference and Event Venue Centre in London on Monday April 30th 2012.
Through a short film the children described and showed the judges how the school uses video conferencing to contact other children in many parts of the world. This has extended their understanding of how children of their own age live and they have learnt to make new friends through this medium.
The way that the school links with universities museums and art galleries resulted in extending the children’s learning. The judges felt that Scargill’s…“video conferencing use throughout the curriculum has been stunning”.
Mrs Kath Keeper, Headteacher explained, “The children and staff find video conferencing an amazing experience and I think the highlight this year so far has been contact with NASA where they showed our school from a satellite in outer space”.
Checkout the video on http://videocentral.lgfl.org.uk/Watch.aspx?v=6S0ukl9k7l2Ryy
The Havering School Improvement Services’ ICT Team were delighted that Scargill Infant School won the award. Penny Patterson, Senior Inspector – ICT Futures commented, “Scargill Infant School have been great advocates for the use of LGfL Services and their award is richly deserved. Well done to all involved.”
by haveringict on May 1, 2012 at 9:47 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Local school ICT support companies Joskos and Computer Talk, as well as the Havering Educational Computer Centre have been working to support young entrepreneurs in the London Borough of Havering. The project was organised by Havering School Improvement Services and the aim was for the Primary Schools to bid for funding from the companies for projects with an Olympic theme.
Elm Park Primary School and Parklands Infant School were shortlisted and both went up to give their ”sales pitch” on Friday 27th April via Video Conference. Director of Computer Talk, Liam O’Mahony, and Joskos Director,Nick Madavji, linked up to the schools from theHavering Learning and Development Centre at CEME.
Year 2 children from Parklands Infant School (PIS) can be pictured on the left linking live via Video Conference to the Dragons at CEME.
The Dragons, including Brian Bailey, Manager of the London Borough of Havering Educational ComputerCentre sat to view the presentation via webcam using JANET VC desktop. The video link enabled the Dragons to question the pupils about their ideas. PIS was successfully awarded funding for their project from the Dragons which involved the children creating Olympic Sculptures to put around their school grounds.
Elm Park Primary School used JANET Visimeet to link to the CEME pictured below. After careful consideration and much questioning from the Dragons the pupils at Elm Park were also successful with their bid for their ”Flying the Flag” project.
Dave Smith – ICT Adviser at Havering School Improvement Services commented, “The Havering Dragon’s Den VC event was another example of the excellent use of video-conferencing that is developing in Havering schools. The way in which the pupils in the participating schools had not only written their own bids, but then presented them so confidently over VC demonstrates the power of the technology to enhance a host of pupil writing, reading and speaking and listening skills – in such a fun way. Full marks to our brave schools for persuading the Dragons in such a convincing manner. The Dragons were very impressed I must say!”
Pupils and teachers from both schools were delighted to receive funding for their Olympic projects. It was great to see that desktop video conferencing solutions offered an interoperable and secure way for the Dragons to link directly to the schools.
Read the original article from Mina Patel’s Video Conferencing for Learning here: http://www.vcfl.net/2012/04/havering-olympic-dragons-den.htmlttp://www.vcfl.net/2012/04/havering-olympic-dragons-den.html
by haveringict on April 2, 2012 at 11:15 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Are you looking for a free software application to support the ‘We are comic writers’ unit within Switched On ICT? Well, why not try Cartoon Story Maker from the Victoria State Government in Australia…
Make 2D screen based cartoon stories to illustrate conversations and dialogues. Stories can include an unlimited number of frames and are view frame by frame. Each frame can include:
- Images: Drag and drop library items onto the frame, or import your own digital photos or images saved from the web.
- Text bubbles: Select from a range text bubbles and information boxes. Drag and drop onto the frame and start typing! Text can be in any language and any script.
- Voice recordings: Add new voice recordings using the simple built in recording panel. You can also add recordings already saved on your computer.
Stories are saved on your computer as HTML page (webpages), and can easily viewed by others on any computer using a web browser such as Internet Explorer. Stories can also be printed. Completed stories can also be loaded back into the Cartoon Story Maker and edited or added to.
Download the software from: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/cartoon/index.htm#1
For more information on Switched On ICT visit: http://www.switchedonict.co.uk/
Featured in the TES on Friday 30th March 2012: http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6202933
by haveringict on March 29, 2012 at 3:05 pm · Filed under APPLE RTC
Venue: Elm Park Primary School
Date: Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Time: 4:15pm – 6:00pm
This free twilight session will introduce teachers to the basic principles of animation and approaches to enhancing areas of the curriculum, using stop-motion animation. All the training you need to get started quickly and easily.
Every school that attends will receive a FREE animation webcam.
Led by: Oscar Stringer – Apple Education Mentor www.animationforeducation.co.uk
Sign-up now:
Members of the Havering School Improvement Services’ Packages – Please book via the Havering Online CPD system using the *HSIS Course Booking Code – www.haveringcpd.org.uk
Course code: *DSM/2011-12/48
Educational establishments who are not members of the Havering School Improvement Services’ Packages and non-Havering LA – Please email linda.marsham@havering.gov.uk
by haveringict on March 29, 2012 at 11:05 am · Filed under e-Safety
Minimentor presentation at La Salette Primary School – 26th April 2012 – 4pm
Click on the links below for the invitation and fax back sheets -
Invitation to MiniMentors Presentation at La Salette RC Primary School
MiniMentors Presentation Fax Back Sheet (Havering)
Hsis and the Havering LSCB have identified peer support as being one of the strongest esafety measures and more than 66% of Havering Secondary schools have run the BeatBullying Cybermentors programme.
La Salette is trialling the BeatBullying Minimentor programme and there is an opportunity for you to attend a feedback session. La Salette, like many schools, is managing cyberbullying which happens outside school, including bullying involving parents. In esafety sessions the children at La Salette said they wanted to feel more in control, they wanted to talk to adults and each other about bullying and other worries. Recent media coverage and documentaries have shown how the step of seeking help and taking control is the point at which a victim begins to feel better.
The most serious esafety cases in Havering all had a point where a young person recognised something was not OK, but they did not feel they could talk to anyone. We know we always promote ‘talk to a trusted adult’, but in reality children and young people are far more likely to seek support from their peers. Minimentors and Cybermentors train young people to be that listening ear.
by haveringict on March 29, 2012 at 10:42 am · Filed under SWITCHED ON ICT
In October I decided to take the bold move, as Leader for ICT, and put the SOICT units of work into my teachers’ hands and see what they do. Give them complete freedom about which they choose to do first. At an ICT Leaders meeting, where we were discussing SOICT, my idea was met with comments such as “How will you make sure they don’t just choose units they can do on Powerpoint?” “What if they get rid of old units which they should be doing and don’t replace them with like-ones?” “All year groups will end up doing the same thing.”
Most other leaders were implementing the full scheme straight away, ditching all other ICT planning, or they were using the units in only one year group at a time to pilot and roll out slowly. They really didn’t like the unpredictability of my method…. however… I didn’t like the idea of going to each of my year groups and telling them what they would be doing. I knew I would be met with opposition and “buts”. I also didn’t want to tell my ICT technicians – who were extremely busy with other jobs, that I needed new software installed and hardware checked for all the new units of work.
So what was Stephanie’s plan to avoid chaos?
Read it here:
http://www.switchedonict.co.uk/implementing-soict/
by haveringict on March 29, 2012 at 10:24 am · Filed under Uncategorized
For all ICT in Havering readers who are using Switched on ICT you might want to read the recent post from Heathfield Primary School in Bolton posted on the Switched On ICT Community http://www.switchedonict.co.uk/y5-at-heathfield-create-a-virtual-space/
“Heathfield Primary School are loving the Switched On ICT scheme. Our Year 5 pupils have been working hard on their current project: We are architects.
The pupils used Google SketchUp to create their own art galleries and actually uploaded their own art to display in their galleries. They saved a movie of the tour and uploaded to their blog.
Here’s a link to their blog.
Please do comment if you visit!
David Mitchell
Deputy Headteacher – Heathfield Primary School”
There are also some super reasons to blog through David’s site here:- http://mrmitchell.heathfieldcps.net/
by haveringict on March 29, 2012 at 10:10 am · Filed under LGfL
Join the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) for this special event for school teachers at The Royal Mews and Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace on the 23rd May 2012 at 4.00pm – 7.00pm.
This informal event includes:
- A tour of the Royal Mews with Royal Collection Learning Staff (from 4-5pm – please notify us if you plan to attend this element during the booking process).
- Launch and demonstration of The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace online learning resource with the London Grid for Learning.
- Private view of the Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist exhibition.
There will be an opportunity to meet Royal Collection Learning staff and creators of the new LGfL / Royal Collection online resources.
Contact the Royal Collection to book a FREE place:
Telephone: 020 7766 7323
E-mail: learning@royalcollection.org.uk
There is a maximum of two places available per school. Once your place for The Queen’s Gallery event (excluding the Royal Mews tour) is booked, a £30 fee is applicable (per person) for non-attendance.
by haveringict on March 28, 2012 at 10:33 am · Filed under Digital Video/Animation, e-Safety
Childnet are hoping to build on last year’s success and see another batch of fantastic short films promoting the positive uses of the internet. Previous winners can be seen at http://www.childnet.com/film-winning/
Positive and inspiring use of the internet is at the heart of the Film Competition 2012. Childnet is inviting all schools and youth organisations in the UK to enter the challenge. Two separate projects are in place for primary and secondary aged children. The theme will be revealed to entrants on Monday 16th April 2012.
All shortlisted finalists will then be invited to a private screening of their filmin front of our judging panel at the BFI in Central London, where they will be awarded some fantastic prizes for their schools/youth group!
Competition opens: Monday 16th April 2012 @ 9am
Competition closes: Friday 15th June 2012 @5pm
Finalists notified: Friday 22nd June 2012
Screening & finalist event at the BFI: Monday 9th July 2012
If you would like to register a group of young people for the challenge please do so at film@childnet.com
by haveringict on March 22, 2012 at 12:03 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Have your pupils ever aspired to appear on Dragon’s Den? Why not participate in a school’s version?
Havering School Improvement Services in association with VCfL.net, ComputerTalk, the Educational Computer Centre, Elmo UK Limited, Joskos Solutions, Nexus Associates and Toshiba are offering schools a chance to bid for a share of a £1,250 fund for Olympic-themed projects. ‘Havering Olympic Dragon’s Den’ will take place via a video conference live from Havering on Friday 27th April 2012. Bid for a pot of £250 to fund an Olympic-themed project in your school, with 5 minutes for pupils to ‘pitch’ their idea, plus 10 minutes of questioning by the Dragons.
Who are the Dragons?
- Liam O’Mahony – Director, ComputerTalk
- Brian Bailey – Manager, Educational Computer Centre
- Megumi Atarashi – Manager, Elmo (UK)
- Nick Madhavji – Director, Joskos Solutions
- Cleve St. Hill – Director, Nexus Associates
- Len Daniels - Sales Manager-Education & Public Sector, Toshiba Information Systems
Download the application from here:- Havering Olympics Den 2012 Application Form
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