Education ICT Newsletter

We have decided not to offer any ‘central’ ICT training through the CPD brochure for 07-08. 
Instead, our TeachMeet training sessions and additional courses will be available on request and
will be delivered in cluster schools.  We hope that this will enable us to cater our courses to the
needs of schools. Courses available are outlined in the brochure along with booking instructions. 
Further suggestions for courses or specific requests are welcome.  The CPD brochures are now available
within schools and also http://edubuzz.org/blogs/cpdshare

A number of demonstrations illustrating how different technologies can support and
enhance the teaching of English are to be set up this term.  It is hoped that this
will enable English PTs to make an informed decision about the technology requirements
of the modern English classroom.

After a well-earned rest, the eduBuzz blogs are now about to become busier than ever.

The parental involvement consultation is complete, and has identified class-specific web pages
as having great potential to increase parental engagement. A number of schools are working on getting these going.
Another driver for class blogs in some schools has been experience of running a school site, which has rapidly
become very large. At Law Primary, for example, it’s now planned to move class-specific posts to new class blogs.
We’re starting to see more in the way of international developments, with four classes at Yester Primary using blogs
as a basis for “Healthy Passport” link-ups with French and Finnish schools. Two West Barns pupils will also be using
individual learning blogs to report from 6 months in France, while their class teachers will be able to use them to keep
them in touch with class work.
This year’s Scottish Learning Festival, at Glasgow’s SECC in September, will feature a talk by Ewan McIntosh
featuring eduBuzz developments in East Lothian.
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/slf/seminarsandkeynotes/seminars/wereadoptinganadoptionstrategyforsocialmedia.asp

Emma Griffiths is starting her second year as a member of the ICT in the Curriculum team, on a part time basis. 
Emma works one day a week on a secondment funded by Microsoft, which aims to identify and celebrate excellence
and innovation in teaching, using ICT.  The academic session 2007 – 8 is the second and final year of the secondment.
The aim of the secondment has always been to support the development of Extreme Learning. While developing the rationale
and structure of implementation has had a rather longer lead time than anticipated, the main focus of Emma’s time this year
will be to address any remaining barriers to teachers running Extreme Learning in their schools.
A first step will be to create a steering group, and a training event will take place in January.
Any teachers or other staff interested in becoming involved at any level should make contact.
The Extreme Learning website has a lot of very useful background:
Extreme Learning for Teachers » 1. About

Feedback on the prototype Extreme Learning example being created at present is very welcome.

This pack has been designed to give advice and to assist Support for Learning staff in
primary schools in dealing with the issue of Dyslexia and the use of ICT.
Included in the pack are some tools available to use with the dyslexic learner
and help on how to use applications, which are already installed on computers within
schools. The packs will be distributed to primary schools during September.

It is proposed to hold a series of ICT Open Meetings on a monthly basis. 
The first of these is detailed below.

Searching and Researching the Internet

Ø Tips and Tricks
Ø Sharing your favourite websites
Ø Sharing your ideas
Where:-  Prestonpans Education Centre
When:-   Monday 24 September
Time:-    16:00 – 17:00

Open to all interested staff.  Book your place via e-mail to stodd@eastlothian.gov.uk