http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/17285.html

Now that we are rolling out the use of Gmail as part of the NSIX (Norfolk Schools Internet Exchange) provision, we need to turn our attention to updating curriculum content to take advantage of the new features.  We are also very keen to ensure that we bring the concepts right up to date.  Whilst we may have been teaching mail merge letters to ensure pupils know how to be efficient in their use of ICT, this is no longer the most efficient way to communicate.  The concept remains the same, but we now communicate mostly via email rather than printed letter.  There is a great tutorial by Mark Wagner showing just how to do this.  It may take a little while before pupils have got their contact list populated, but a separate lesson on this may provide the right starting point.

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/17254.html

Most of us start a new academic year with good intentions, a bit like the personal targets we set ourselves on New Year's Eve.  Often this might include a learning target e.g. this year I'm going to get to grips with ICT.  Now there are a couple of new resources for the well motivated, which might just suit your lifestyle and provide a low cost option for professional development.  The ICT subject association NAACE has supported the creation of free online ICT CPD courses for teachers and practitioners.  You will find courses for primary and secondary phases and useful guides on things like assessing ICT against National Curriculum Levels.  The second resource to take notw of is VITAL.  This has been created by e-skills UK and the Open University specifically to support ICT CPD in all of England and is supported by the Department for Education.  There are face to face training events, online courses as well as blended learning opportunities to choose from and many are  provided by established institutions in our area.

www.ictcpd4free.co.uk

www.vital.ac.uk

Now that we are rolling out the use of Gmail as part of the NSIX (Norfolk Schools Internet Exchange) provision, we need to turn our attention to updating curriculum content to take advantage of the new features.  We are also very keen to ensure that we bring the concepts right up to date.  Whilst we may have been teaching mail merge letters to ensure pupils know how to be efficient in their use of ICT, this is no longer the most efficient way to communicate.  The concept remains the same, but we now communicate mostly via email rather than printed letter.  There is a great tutorial by Mark Wagner showing just how to do this.  It may take a little while before pupils have got their contact list populated, but a separate lesson on this may provide the right starting point.

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/15585.html

There are some fantastic free courses available to promote good use of ICT in schools.  NAACE and the TDA are supporting this initiative and some courses have been contributed by ICT Advisers and professionals across the country.

Current Courses available:

• Monitoring Using ICT –BRAND NEW!!
• Web 2.0 Visual Learning Collaboration Tools (Primary) –NEW!
• Web 2.0 Visual Learning Collaboration Tools (Secondary) –NEW!
• Assessment of ICT in the Primary Phase
• Assessment of ICT in the Secondary Phase
• Developing Higher Order Thinking Skills Utilising ICT
• Embedding e-safety in the Curriculum (short course)
• Embedding e-safety in the Curriculum (long course)
• Introduction to finding Digital Resources
• Exploring Digital Media
• Finding Digital Resources
• High Interaction, Reflection and Peer Assessment Through Online Forums
• ICT Subject Knowledge in QCA Primary Framework
• Modelling and Models for Learning
• Monitoring Using ICT
• Using ICT in Innovative Ways

All courses are available at, www.ictcpd4free.co.uk

 

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/15367.html

Head teachers and chairs of governors have today received the Norfolk e-learning strategy 2010-14 as part of the e-courier.  The document outlines the vision for Norfolk developed by schools and the local authority and prioritises a shift in pegagogy as well as technical provision.  It also includes an entitlement for our young people.  Please find the full copy online.

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/15265.html

Norfolk schools will have received their conference brochures for the 2010 E2BN conference in the last few days.  The summer conference is always a great occasion to catch up with the latest thinking on learning with ICT.  Keynotes include Dale Banham and Prof. Stephen Heppel.

This year's conference 'This Generation's Learning' will look at learner entitlement and how ICT has been used across the curriculum to offer new challenges to pupils of all abilities, both in school and at home.

Delegates can:

• Sample the latest technology through hands-on workshops
• Have access to a range of practical advice and assistance
• See examples of how innovation and best practice is transforming education in schools across the region
• Discuss and debate topical issues

There are already quite a few colleagues from Norfolk booked, so you'll be in good company.

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/15233.html

You can see most presentations and some video recordings of our successful conference online:

Presentations

Video recordings

Seb's presentation on the new Norfolk E-Learning Strategy

The strategy document (pdf) will follow shortly.

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/14870.html

Futurelab and HP have teamed up to develop Pedagogy 3.0  as part of a global initiative led by HP. Secondary schools may be interested to explore the funding opportunity.  It would be great to have a Norfolk School take part in this initiative.

Futurelab

HP Catalyst Initiative

http://elgg.norfolk.e2bn.org/elearning/weblog/12952.html

Earlier this week Ofsted publised a report on the safe use of technologies.  This is the summary from the Ofsted website:

'This report is based on evidence from a small-scale survey carried out between April and July 2009 in 35 maintained schools in England. It evaluates the extent to which the schools taught pupils to adopt safe and responsible practices in using new technologies, and how they achieved this. It also assesses the extent and quality of the training the schools provided for their staff. It responds to the report of the Byron Review, Safer children in a digital world.'

The key findings outline that managing and monitoring access is preferable to simply filtering sites.  Norfolk's policy advocates such an approach, as schools are encouraged to use e-safety monitoring tools (Securus) in conjunction with a more liberal filtering policy (e-learning caste).

The report also highlights the need to develop policies whilst listening to pupil and student views.  Norfolk has been providing templates and guidance for this process, which can be found on the e-safety section of the ICT Solutions website

The need for training and good monitoring of the impact of the training is also one of the outcomes of the survey.  The advisory services have been offering training sessions on e-safety and Pip Cartwright is leading the advice and support on this topic.