HSIS ICT Learning Community – Sharing ideas, Innovating with ICT
by haveringict on January 28, 2012 at 1:37 pm · Filed under SWITCHED ON ICT and tagged: switched on ict
Visit the Switched On ICT Community at www.switchedonict.co.uk and read how the ‘We are musicians’ unit has been inspiring pupils and staff at Engayne Primary School, Havering (as described by the School’s ICT Leader Mrs Stephanie Homewood…)
“As ICT Leader and Year 4 teacher, when I asked all my teachers to try out a SOICT unit of work before Easter, I knew I had to lead the way and get creative. Receiving the packs of resources in September, my colleagues and I looked through the Year 4 units to decide which one we felt all three of us could manage with the software we already had at school, as well as considering what topics we were teaching which could be linked to ICT.
It just so happened that in the same month I was contacted by our local Apple Store (Lakeside, Thurrock) to notify me that they were running their training sessions for children again. We have taken advantage of these for three years now and they are fantastic. The children attend one class at a time for a whole morning and are trained by Apple experts in a chosen piece of software.
Mrs Stephanie Homewood
It was then that we decided to go for the We are Musicians unit of work from the Year 4 SOICT pack, starting the unit with a trip to the Apple store to learn the basics of Garageband. In one morning the children covered everything they needed to know about the main screen of Garageband (probably about 3 lessons worth if covered in class by a teacher). They came back to school ready and eager to put their knowledge to good use.
We then set about a 6 week plan of lessons to revise, extend and put into context their new found skills…”
Read the full article here http://www.switchedonict.co.uk/we-are-musicians/
by haveringict on January 25, 2012 at 10:49 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Safer Internet Day (SID) will take place next year on Tuesday 7 February 2012 with a theme of ‘Connecting generations and educating each other’, and the slogan “Discover the digital World together…safely!”
As part of the Insafe Back 2 School campaign you are invited you to find out more by downloading the Safer Internet Day 2012 leaflet with facts (printable / 4-page view / 6-page view) on the theme and suggested activities.
And if you’re a school, you can register your interest in being involved in Safer Internet Day 2012 on the SID website at saferinternetday.org.
Registered schools will receive a SID kit in January 2012 including information about SID, promotional materials, suggested learning and awareness activities, and eSafety resources.
Let’s make Safer Internet Day the most active one ever!
by haveringict on January 25, 2012 at 10:42 am · Filed under Uncategorized
When – Tuesday 20th March 2012 (London)
Where – Park Crescent Conference Centre, London
Why – The first year esafetylive is national! Drawing together online safety providers, industry leaders and experts in the field of internet safety
Workshops are scheduled throughout the day and promise to deliver useful, current advice, resources and information regarding the safe and proactive use of online technologies in learning and education. We are working hard to ensure a good balance of ‘Industry’, ‘Classroom’, ‘Professionals’ Training’ and ‘Preparing Schools’ – themed sessions.
Amongst those confirmed so far are;
‘Protecting your Professional Identity’ – hosted by the UK Safer Internet Centre
‘Empowering Children’s Organisations’ – hosted by Vicky Green and Peter Bower
‘Playing it Safe – keeping children safe online with games at home & in education’ – hosted by Xbox (Microsoft)
‘Embracing Mobile Internet in Learning’ – hosted by Russell Prue on behalf of Vodafone
Amongst those whose titles are yet to be confirmed are workshops by Facebook, Childnet, Beatbullying, CEOP, Education Scotland and more – including a session aimed at preparing schools for inspections.
The events are taking place in London on Tuesday 20th of March. Spaces are limited at both events so early booking is advised.
To find out more about the events and to book your place, go to www.esafetylive.com
For enquiries, please email esafetylive@saferinternet.org.uk
Click here to download the poster ESL 2012 Poster – London
by haveringict on January 24, 2012 at 11:56 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Elm Park Primary School’s Headteacher Vicki Knox will be facilitating a presentation at the Toucan Dome at Learning Without Frontiers 2012 conference at the National Hall, Olympia on Thursday 26th January. Vicki will explore the use of Apple technologies to support teaching and learning at the School.
Please join Vicki at the Toucan Dome at 11.00am – 11.20am and 3.00pm – 3.20pm.
by haveringict on January 24, 2012 at 9:53 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Visualisers in Teaching
This teachshare is being run by Visualiser Forum Secondary Advocate Helen Davis of Davison CE High School for Girls, Worthing, West Sussex.
Teachers can join in the teachshare via Collaborate video conferencing and ask questions as Helen runs the teachshare and demonstrates how Visualisers are used at Davison CE High School for Girls.
The session is focussed on assesment for learning (AfL) and may be of particular interest to science teachers
WHAT IS A VITAL TEACHSHARE?
A TeachShare is a short online session (up to an hour) using Blackboard Collaborate videoconferencing software, in which the TeachShare host leads an online discussion on a specific topic. The sessions are free to join, and no advance booking is required, you can just turn up and join in!
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED TO JOIN A TEACHSHARE?
All you need in terms of equipment is a computer connected to the internet, and a set of headphones (you can check that your computer meets the miminum system requirements here). A microphone is useful if you want to join the discussion, although not essential; if you do not have a microphone you can join in using text chat. No prior experience of using Blackboard Collaborate is required, although if you are a new user, we recommend you join the session 5-10 minutes early to run through the setup.
HOW DO I JOIN THE TEACHSHARE?
Just click the link below at the appropriate time.
RECORDING
Please note that Vital TeachShares are recorded and the playback will be available for other people to watch.
By logging into the session you are granting us permission to record your presence in and contributions to the session.
Date and Time:
Thu 26 Jan 2012, 15:40 - 16:40
by haveringict on January 23, 2012 at 8:40 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
In response to the demand for further information about the KS1 resources for
Switched On ICT, we are very pleased to announce the Year 1 and Year 2 units
are now ready. The new materials were launched at BETT on 12th January 2012.
The Switched On ICT materials are available free to all Havering schools buying into the Hsis School Improvement Packages (Level 1, 2, 3, 3+). We are currently delivering the materials to your school – you do not need to do anything.
Details of courses being run at CEME to support the rollout of SWITCHED ON ICT can be found at the end of this newsletter by clicking on the link below:-
Hsis_SOICT_Launch_KS1
Course reminder - ‘How to manage the implementation of Switched On ICT across Key Stage 1′
26th January 2012 9am-12pm at CEME
by haveringict on January 22, 2012 at 9:12 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
http://www.lgfl.net/curriculum-resources/pages/school-closure-curriculum.aspx?click-source=nav-learning
Introduction
There are a number of reasons why there could be widespread school closures in London (including a pandemic and severe weather conditions). Should such a situation arise, LGfL has a wealth of online content to support a school closure curriculum for teachers, children and significant carers. To that end LGfL has provided a week’s worth of learning activities to help significant carers provide their children with a way to sustain their education from home.
The School Closure Curriculum
The LGfL School Closure Programme is based on the default position that a pupil at home will have a Significant Carer available to guide the pupil through a simple and accessible range of activities. As the SC might be a parent, grandparent, child minder elder sibling etc with little expert knowledge of the National Curriculum, the School Closure Programme KS1 and KS2 resources have been designed to a template which replicates typical familial patterns, for example, a parent and child reading a story together. The KS3 resources assume a greater amount of independent and cross-curricular learning. Although there is content to support KS4 on LGfL, KS4 is viewed as being broadly covered by the need for students to undertake either revision or coursework (dependant on time of year)
This curriculum has the following characteristics:
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Broadly appropriate / relevant curriculum material for K1, K2 and K3 available to all London schools.
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Open ended tasks that offer more potential for work and a differentiated learning experience.
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All learning activities include an introduction along with final assessment/questions so users can clearly grasp the aims of the work.
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The activities feature 2 or three core tasks with opportunities for extension.
Find out more at: http://www.lgfl.net/curriculum-resources/pages/school-closure-curriculum.aspx?click-source=nav-learning
by haveringict on January 22, 2012 at 6:08 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
http://mashable.com/2011/12/28/app-cooker-design/
NB. This is for information. The Hsis ICT Team does not endorse any specific products included within the article, but believes readers may find it of interest.
by haveringict on January 22, 2012 at 5:25 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Important changes to the ICT Curriculum announced by Michael Gove on 11th January 2012
Information for secondary schools and academies in Havering
Michael Gove, in a speech at Olympia to UK education, ICT industry partners and to education ministers from around the world, announced substantial changes to ICT in maintained schools in England from September 2012.
At the heart of his announcement is:
- The ICT National Curriculum programmes of study and associated attainment targets will be removed from September, 2012.
- The associated key stage 3 statutory assessments will be removed at the same time. This summer will be the last year these teacher assessments have to take place in school.
- ICT will remain as compulsory subject within the National Curriculum at all key stages.
- A consultation has been launched; this will run for 12 weeks. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum?1=1
Mr Gove’s view is:
The problem with current ICT curriculum is that it is “demotivating and dull, unsatisfactory at best”. There is not enough room for challenge and extension.
- By freeing up the curriculum, teachers’ freedom over what and how to teach will “revolutionise ICT as we know it”.
- Universities, businesses and others will devise new courses and exams to replace the old.
- Computer Science could be considered as an option in the English Baccalaureate, if such a GCSE were to be developed to a high standard.
- A wish to “return to the excitement of the BBC Micro in the 1980s”.
Our thoughts:
- The examples Mr Gove cited as good and exciting practice are things that already happen in a number of Havering primary and secondary schools, indeed his desire to see Scratch programming at year 7 is already being exceeded in Havering where we have Scratch being used by year 2 and above.
- We recognise that many schools already provide high quality and exciting ICT opportunities for their pupils.
What does this mean for your school:
- ICT must remain as a compulsory part of the curriculum at all key stages for all pupils.
- You can continue to use the ICT programmes of study from September 2012, but Mr Gove warns against “children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word and Excel”.
- Your ICT teachers will have freedoms to introduce new and existing units, helping pupils develop new ICT capabilities.
- ICT must continue to be a tool used across the curriculum.
How we will we support you:
- Subject leaders meetings will focus on this agenda and signpost resources and materials that can be used in the first instance to start building a new ICT curriculum offering.
- As part of the full Hsis traded service our CPD offering will include sessions to develop teacher expertise and confidence in extended use of creative ICT tools. For example Scratch programming, composite film making – combining stills, video, audio.
Full text of the speech:
http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/speeches/a00201868/michael-gove-speech-at-the-bett-show-2012
by haveringict on January 22, 2012 at 5:23 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Important changes to the ICT Curriculum announced by Michael Gove on 11th January 2012
Information for Havering primary schools
Michael Gove, in a speech at Olympia to UK education, ICT industry partners and to education ministers from around the world, announced substantial changes to ICT in maintained schools in England from September 2012.
At the heart of his announcement is:
Mr Gove’s view is:
- The problem with current ICT curriculum is that it is “demotivating and dull, unsatisfactory at best”. There is not enough room for challenge and extension.
- By freeing up the curriculum, teachers’ freedom over what and how to teach will “revolutionise ICT as we know it”.
- A wish to “return to the excitement of the BBC Micro in the 1980s”.
Our thoughts:
- The examples Mr Gove cited as good and exciting practice are things that already happen in a number of Havering primary and secondary schools, indeed his desire to see Scratch programming at year 7 is already being exceeded in Havering where we have Scratch being used by year 2 and above.
- We recognise that many schools already provide high quality and exciting ICT opportunities for their pupils.
What does this mean for your school:
- ICT must remain as a compulsory part of the curriculum at all key stages for all pupils.
- You can continue to use the ICT programmes of study from September 2012, but Mr Gove warns against “children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word and Excel”.
- Your teachers will have freedoms to introduce new and existing units, helping pupils develop new ICT capabilities.
- ICT must continue to be a tool used across the curriculum.
How we will support your school:
- The work already underway to embed the Switched on ICT scheme for creativity and progression will continue. This scheme is exceptionally well placed to meet the challenge and expectation outlined by Mr Gove.
- ICT network leader meetings will continue to focus on this agenda.
- As part of the full Hsis traded service our CPD offering will include sessions to develop teacher expertise and confidence in extended use of creative ICT tools.
Full text of the speech:
http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/speeches/a00201868/michael-gove-speech-at-the-bett-show-2012
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