Education ICT Newsletter

Reminder for Schools – Purchasing of software

Elizabeth Cowan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:07:39 +0000

Please remember that all software purchases should be made through the IT Helpdesk. By doing this, schools can be advised if the software is appropriate for use on school computers.

Need help writing your blog and want to find out more?

Elizabeth Cowan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:06:25 +0000

WordPress tutorials can be found on the following website

http://www.swict.com/wordpresscourse.asp

swict.com is sponsored by Argyll & Bute Council and LTScotland

IT Open Meeting at Prestonpans Education Centre

Elizabeth Cowan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:00:18 +0000

Monday 26 NovemberYou thought the earth was flat!!!!!!

· Look at some city breaks

· Check out some destinations

· Where would you book a holiday

A trip through ‘Google Earth’ presented by Ollie Bray Depute Head Teacher Musselburgh Grammar School

Contact Suzanne Todd to book a place – stodd@eastlothian.gov.uk

Scholastic 100 Activprimary Whiteboard Lessons

Elizabeth Cowan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:57:33 +0000

The 100 Activprimary Whiteboard Lessons by Scholastic, is a resource that I have used for the last two years and have found invaluable. The CD ROM is extremely well laid out; from the easily understood main menus, to each lesson having a clear learning objective stated and a section to describe the whiteboard tools you need to use. The flipcharts themselves are very clear and most have page notes where you can gain clarification of the main ideas. The resource book comes with photocopiable follow up materials and each lesson is described in detail, including cross-curricular links. I have found it to be a marvellous resource to use in the classroom, as it is so practical and easily accessed.Mellony Bertram

Team Update

Elizabeth Cowan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:49:08 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Dave Rawson has joined the ICT Team as our ‘Glow’ Implementation Officer. Keep up to date with what’s happening with GLOW by reading Dave’s blog on

http://edubuzz.org/blogs/glowboy

Susi Simkins and Mellony Bertram have joined the team as Interactive Whiteboard Support Officers on a one day a week secondment. Both Susi and Mellony will be available every Tuesday to support the use of Promethean Interactive Whiteboards in schools. They will also be available for twilight and Friday afternoon sessions. Please contact Suzanne Todd in the first instance to arrange support/training.

CPD

Elizabeth Cowan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:57:34 +0000

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

English Departments

Elizabeth Cowan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:55:36 +0000

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.

What’s happening with eduBuzz?

Elizabeth Cowan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:49:36 +0000

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

Extreme Learning

Elizabeth Cowan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:44:50 +0000

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.

Dyslexia and ICT Support Pack for Primary Schools

Elizabeth Cowan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:38:23 +0000

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.