Good News / Bad News June 30, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe good news today is that I found out that the government have
backed down over the removal of the
85 year rule with regard to public sector workers. Its removal was the reason for strike action earlier this year, so I guess it worked.
The bad news is that the laptops that the
SSDN mentors had been promised have failed to materialise. Oh well we will just have to wait until next term and see if they turn up.
It will be work as usual on Monday for me. I wont be on holiday for another couple of weeks as my terms and conditions of employment are the same as other council workers which means my annual leave allowance is five weeks, the majority of which I usually take during the summer. I’ll be able to commandeer a couple of classrooms and fill them with all the materials and resources that need topped up, serviced and freshened up a bit before the start of the new term on 21st of August. It seems so far away !!
RSS ?? June 28, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentToday I decided to investigate RSS which stands for ‘Really Simple Syndication’. I had seen little orange RSS boxes on Exc.el and on some news websites that I browse, but never really understood what it was all about.
Turns out that its an alternative means of accessing the vast amount of information that now exists on the world wide web. Instead of the browsing websites for information of interest, the information is sent directly to you.
I found out that to use RSS an RSS reader is needed so I had a bit of a browse and downloaded
Sharpreader one of the many free RSS readers available. Its a piece of software that collects data from news feeds or blogs that are RSS compatible and turns them into text and links that you can browse at any time you wish.
The beauty of it is that you can take feeds from only websites / blogs that are of interest to you and it allows you to browse the latest information from a range of sources without having to visit half a dozen websites to view half a dozen blogs or news articles. With Sharpreader all I have to do is paste the address of the blog or news item etc into the window at the top, hit return and it presents all the information I require in a simple way, much like the in box of an Outlook based email system such as the council has.
I was amazed by how simple it is and it will definitely save time as the information I require is delivered to me without me having to spend time browsing the various news and blog sites to see what everyone is up to. A real winner. I would urge anyone who isnt already using it to give it a go.
Fun with Science June 27, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentA group of around 100 pupils are heading off to the
Glasgow Science Centre tomorrow. It aims to promote an interest in science and technology through interactive exhibits and an IMAX theatre, consequently its great fun and its amazing just what can be learnt whilst having a good time.
Continuing on the theme of fun, some people actually think that chemistry is a dry and uninteresting subject (the poor deluded fools). Just to prove that chemists have a sense of humour check out this
fun chemistry webpage. I bet you never would have thought that chemistry could make you giggle so much.
Thousand Mile Journey June 26, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentOn Friday afternoon there was an inaugural meeting of the East Lothian SSDN mentors. I, like most, thought it would just be a gathering and a blether whilst getting to know the other mentors over a cup of tea, but
Karen Robertson had different plans. After introducing each other we formed into small groups and were asked to come up with ways to move the project in East Lothian forward. I must admit that on a Friday afternoon my brain is normally focussed on other things but I found the whole exercise stimulating and wholly worthwhile. They say that every journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, I think on Friday we took that first step.
Showtime June 22, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentIts been quite quiet in the science department today as a few staff are away on an educational trip to the
Royal Highland Show. It really is a good day out and the pupils get a lot out of it. Its like a sensory feast. All the sights and sounds of Scotland (and no doubt the smells) in one place at one time. I’ve been a couple of times and would thoroughly recommend it.
A Helping Hand June 21, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentToday I finally managed to catch up with
Chris Stevendale. She wanted to pick my brains about blogging and even though she only works on the floor above, we had managed to miss each others calls and emails all week. I popped up after break to give her a hand setting up her
blog for a forthcoming trip to South Africa only to find out that the Exc-el website was temporarily out of action. By the time I had returned downstairs the website was working again so I did my best to run through the screens and correct buttons to press over the phone. Hopefully Chris managed to make some sense of my ramblings and I eagerly await her report from the African schools she is visiting. I was lucky enough to visit South Africa a few years ago, I found it an amazing place, full of contrasts, but the overwhelming feeling amongst the people was one of hope.
Peaceful Weekend June 20, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentI managed to make the train after work and met a couple of friends in Stirling on Friday evening. My friend Martin had the use of a motor home for the weekend and along with another friend Steve we headed up to a campsite in Aberfeldy.
On the way we decided to stop off for supplies in the local Tesco. We left Steve in the camper to hold the fort. When Martin and I got back a few of the local kids had decided to climb all over our vehicle. It was like a scene from the local safari park with Steve peering out of the curtains wondering where all the noise was coming from as the youths hung onto the back or attempted to climb on to the roof. Deciding that it wouldnt be the smartest of moves to drive off with the children still attached, a plan of action was soon hatched. Comments were made that because I was the one who worked in a school it should be up to me to come up with a strategy for their removal. I argued that if I worked in a zoo I wouldnt be expected to deal with an escaped Lion on my own.
In the end I told the miscreants that I would call the local constabulary if they did not desist from draping themselves all over the bodywork. That seemed to do it and soon we were on our way being waved off with shouts of Max and Paddy, Paddy and Max.
The rest of the weekend went well, Steve and Martin went Munro bagging on Saturday as I enjoyed the peace and quiet of Glen Lochy by Killin, and we managed to get back just in time to see the second half of the USAv Italy game whilst simultaneously bumping into some Musselburgh Grammar former pupils.
I headed to the doctor yesterday as the antibiotics I had been given previously for a leg infection had been of no use. I was issued with stronger stuff and told that if there is no change by Thursday then I will have to have a short stay in hospital where I will be administered even stronger stuff via intravenous drip. I hope it doesnt come to that as I have to attend the first meeting of the SSDN mentors on Friday afternoon and want to be fit and well for that. These things always seem to happen at inconvenient times.
Pecos Puzzle Solved June 16, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentHad a visit today from Irene Crowson who came to help us with the problem we have been having with the councils computerised ordering system called PECOS. The problem had been present since it was rolled out in the school in 2004 and I have lost count of the number of people who had visited us to try and correct it. Everyone who came took us nearer to solving the problem but no one had been able to put their finger on the cause. It was partly out of luck that a solution was found but I am glad to say that Irene did the IT department proud and we now know what to do to rectify the situation. Many thanks Irene, you deserve a medal for being so patient with us.
If I can make the train on time I will be heading up to
Killin for the weekend fo a bit of a wander about. here’s hoping that the weather stays good.
Success June 15, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentI was out of school yesterday, and just about to go into a meeting when I heard that I had been successful in becoming an
SSDN mentor. I am more than chuffed to say the least.
The Scottish Technicians Advisory Group meeting went well. There was a good turnout from around 25 of the 32 local authorities and a lot of topics were discussed.
We started off talking about the national conference to be held at Crieff Hydro in November and made decisions about what kind of format it would take. The feedback from last years conference was analysed and it was decided to have less keynote speakers and spend more time in working groups / workshops.
We then moved on and discussed the fact that
wood dust had now been assigned a maximum exposure limit (MEL). This has implications for technical technicians.
In Glasgow every CDT technician will be fitted for a personal dust mask. A medical is to be carried out before the mask is fitted to the contours of the technicians face, and if the person in question is in possession of a beard then a special mask is needed, at the approximate cost of £400. I made a note to contact our health and safety department to see how the change of legislation will affect staff in East Lothian.
A report was given regarding the CPD courses for technicians currently being trialled. All candidates passed the various courses and the
Scottish Schools Equipment Research Council are now waiting for them to be assessed and accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Unfortunately due to a clerical error I wasnt passed the nomination forms for personnel who wished to take part in the trials but I am hopeful that support staff from East Lothian will take a full part in the next round of courses.
Management training for senior technicians was raised. Many promoted staff had gained access to corporate management schemes but it was felt that all staff should be offered the opportunity to take part in management training to enhance their opportunities for promotion.
A potential problem with Phihorn power adaptors was discussed. These adaptors, in some circumstances, had broken apart, leaving two, bare, live terminals that could cause serious injury if touched. They had been found being used in conjunction with some makes of interactive white boards and may be supplied as standard with some types of PDA etc
On my way home on the train I talked to a technician who was also a network administrator for schools in Dumfries and Galloway. We chatted about ICT etc and he told me that because of the rural nature of the schools he worked in, it was difficult to get fast internet access. Up until fairly recently some schools were still using dial up. I asked if satellite access was an option, he said they had thought about it but the expense was prohibitive.
I wonder what implications issues such as speed and remote locations will have on the delivery of the
Scottish Schools Digital Network?
Haddington Calling !! June 13, 2006
Posted by Brian in : Uncategorized , add a commentPut on my best suit, a big smile, and headed off to Haddington this morning. No, not for a court appearance, but for an interview to become a Scottish Schools Digital Network mentor. I was interviewed by Gillian Reilly and Karen Robertson. I was quite nervous but they both made me very much at ease and I enjoyed the experience. I feel I did the best that I could so will just have to wait and see if I make the grade.
Tomorrow I am heading over to Dunfermline to attend a meeting of the Scottish Technicians Advisory Group (STAG). STAG meets four times a year and consists of representatives from each of the 32 local authorities. Its always good to see how other councils tackle technician related issues and its a great forum for disseminating good practice. One of the topics we will be discussing is CPD opportunities for Technical and other support staff. The provision of CPD varies throughout the country ranging from very good to no provision at all. It is intended to pilot new courses in the very near future that will be accredited by the SQA. I am trying to arrange for one or more of the pilots to be hosted in East Lothian as CPD is almost non-existent for Technical support staff, but competition is tough. I am hopeful though.
It is also hoped that each of the representatives will be able to give an update on the progression of the single status / job evaluation exercises taking place countrywide. It should be interesting to see how it is being dealt with in all the other local authorities and we will discuss the implications it may have with regard to levels of service provided by support staff in schools.
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