Have a look at the East Lothian Schools ICT Newsletter to find out what is going on in the authority. As always, we are happy to hear from you if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns.
Promethean are offering a range of half hour webinars that you can log into at home and watch either live or watch the recorded session at a time that suits you. As long as you have registered you will be sent the live recording once the webinar is finished.
The Magic Cloud is a soft (cloud shaped) cushion that you plug into a computer (USB). When small tags are placed on or near the Cloud, the computer detects them and plays digital media you have chosen e.g. a picture or video recording. By sticking the tags on an object of your choice, you can link any object to any media on the computer e.g. a clay model linked to a child talking about it. The software has been designed for children as young as 4 years to author independently.
Andrew Manches (co-director PlingToys) is looking for P1 to P3 teachers to take part in a focus group to create ‘activity suggestions’ for using the Magic Cloud across the curriculum. He can offer £20 per teacher for an hour session, which will be held in an informal venue. In the session, participants will play with the Magic Cloud and Andrew will ask for your ideas on how is might be used to address CfE objectives. Whilst the tool emphasises creativity, feedback from teachers has been for specific curriculum activity suggestions.
If you are interested please email andrew@plingtoys.com. He will then email you with a list of possible times (evenings) for the focus group. As well as the £20, he hopes this offers an interesting opportunity to play with a new form of digital technology (Near Field Communication / RFID).
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‘Banner’ is a popular piece of software that can be found in the Applications folder on Windows XP computers in primary schools. All new computers are now operating on Windows 7 and the ‘Banner’ software is not compatible. There is no money available to buy purpose specific software but there is a solution to this…at no extra cost.
You can use Microsoft Publisher 2010 to design and print out a banner. Full instructions can be found here
Have you been using ActivInspire, but find yourself lost? This session via webinar ** will provide you with a clear overview of each of the browsers and how to navigate through the program.
Date: Wednesday 27th February
Time: 8–8:45 p.m. (GMT)
The main objectives will be to (a) Identify and explore the browsers in ActivInspire and (b) Discover how to effectively use the features of each browser
Please register here: https://promethean.webex.com/promethean/j.php?ED=179833067&RG=1&UID=1124069717&RT=MTgjMjE%3D
** Think about a webinar as a way to attend a conference without leaving home. Using your computer and telephone, you can hear a presentation (like a conference call) and also see the presenter’s slides (watching over an internet connection). You won’t be able to see the presenter or the moderator, or others attending the program — and they won’t be able to see you. (A plus if you want to attend in your pajamas!)