http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/02/01/62/

A new survey by online polling company YouGov Plc, on behalf of RM, underlines just how technology is changing the way young people in Britain learn.

This year’s RM “School Gate Survey” questioned 1,501 11-16 year olds across Britain, and examined their thoughts on the impact of IT on their learning and the value they place on it.

The results

93% of 11-16 year olds with computer access at school surveyed do at least some or all of their homework on a computer/ laptop.

78% of these prefer doing homework on a computer or laptop to pen and paper

50%  of 11-16 year olds surveyed would like to spend more time learning at home

49% own their own laptop or PC

77% use the Internet every day

93% of 11-16 year olds surveyed feel that technology has helped them to learn more

The results of the research found that 93% of 11-16 year olds feel that technology has helped them to learn more and 78% of those with computer access at school said they now prefer doing their homework on a computer or laptop rather than on paper. Further, 93% of respondents do at least some or all of their homework on a computer.

The survey also revealed the extent to which young people are engaging with the Internet, with over three-quarters (77%) of those questioned using it every day, and 21% using it once or twice a week. This is supported by the fact that half (49%) of the respondents own their own laptop or PC.

With this access has come a desire for enhanced flexibility in where young people learn, and a dissolving of barriers between home and school. 50% of those young people surveyed voiced a desire to spend more time learning at home.

Other technologies

Young People’s engagement with technology doesn’t stop with computers. New technologies and social networking sites are widely enjoyed, with 60% of respondents using Facebook/ Myspace and/ or Bebo, 66% playing video games, 69% a mobile phone, 65% an MP3 player and 51% using a digital camera. There is a strongly expressed interest in using these for learning, with 30% saying they would like to use video games to help them learn, 20% an MP3 player and 18% social networking sites.

When asked what aspects of learning they thought would most help them get a good job in later life, a majority (70%) chose technology, backed by having a supportive family (83%) and a good teacher (84%).

http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/02/01/62/

A new survey by online polling company YouGov Plc, on behalf of RM, underlines just how technology is changing the way young people in Britain learn.

This year’s RM “School Gate Survey” questioned 1,501 11-16 year olds across Britain, and examined their thoughts on the impact of IT on their learning and the value they place on it.

The results

93% of 11-16 year olds with computer access at school surveyed do at least some or all of their homework on a computer/ laptop.

78% of these prefer doing homework on a computer or laptop to pen and paper

50%  of 11-16 year olds surveyed would like to spend more time learning at home

49% own their own laptop or PC

77% use the Internet every day

93% of 11-16 year olds surveyed feel that technology has helped them to learn more

The results of the research found that 93% of 11-16 year olds feel that technology has helped them to learn more and 78% of those with computer access at school said they now prefer doing their homework on a computer or laptop rather than on paper. Further, 93% of respondents do at least some or all of their homework on a computer.

The survey also revealed the extent to which young people are engaging with the Internet, with over three-quarters (77%) of those questioned using it every day, and 21% using it once or twice a week. This is supported by the fact that half (49%) of the respondents own their own laptop or PC.

With this access has come a desire for enhanced flexibility in where young people learn, and a dissolving of barriers between home and school. 50% of those young people surveyed voiced a desire to spend more time learning at home.

Other technologies

Young People’s engagement with technology doesn’t stop with computers. New technologies and social networking sites are widely enjoyed, with 60% of respondents using Facebook/ Myspace and/ or Bebo, 66% playing video games, 69% a mobile phone, 65% an MP3 player and 51% using a digital camera. There is a strongly expressed interest in using these for learning, with 30% saying they would like to use video games to help them learn, 20% an MP3 player and 18% social networking sites.

When asked what aspects of learning they thought would most help them get a good job in later life, a majority (70%) chose technology, backed by having a supportive family (83%) and a good teacher (84%).

http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/01/26/computer-games-in-education/

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I’m starting to gather resources for students to create their own computer games.  So far the most popular one I’ve found is Scratch.  I’ve also found some teaching resources to go with it.

I’ve made a wiki page to gather information, links and teaching resources.  If anyone wishes to add some ideas, either post a comment below or request to join http://communicty.wikispaces.com/Games+Design

http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/01/22/communicty-enewsletter-3/

Just in case you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas, here is the next edition of my ICT enewsletter. It was great to meet lots of you at ICTnet East and at BETT. To view this newsletter as a blog post click here.

Flashmeeting Video Conference 31/1

As a follow up from ICTnet East, I promised to organise a flashmeeting to demonstrate how it works and give ICT practitioners a chance to share some ideas. It will take place on Thursday 31st Jan from 20:00 - 21:00. Anyone is welcome to participate, but places are limited to 25. For more info click here.

Resources Update

7.1 MyTree - This SEAL project on creating a powerpoint presentation about describing your personality has proved really popular. We’ve now made a short video to explain the project in more detail.

8.3 Searching the Web - This project uses the contrasting themes of life and safaris in Malawi as its focus. There is an assessment task at the end in which students review two contrasting websites. I’ve also added some short films about Malawi.

9.4 Digital News - This project enables students to plan a storyboard in powerpoint and then save the slides as .jpgs and import them into movie maker. I’ve added some examples videos. I’ve also made simple life cycle and gantt diagram for them to do plan the whole project.

To visit our entire KS3 ICT SoW, some KS4 resources and lots more, visit www.communicty.wikispaces.com

Useful Sites

Online stopwatch - a flash based countdown timer that can be used online or downloaded.

Pagebull.com - a visual search engine that shows thumbnails of websites as search results.

Etwinning - Help on how to set up a virtual link with another school, or contact the eTwinning Ambassadors for some free advice

Exploratree - Futurelab’s new thinking guides website.

Bridgebuilder 2000 - Free download simulation software. An excellent cover lesson.

QCA, new KS3 ICT PoS - Explains the revised curriculum in terms of concepts, processes, content and attainment targets. Useful definitions of terms.

Digital Video CPD

The Machine is Us/ing Us - This video explains web2.0 is revolutionising the Internet

Shift Happens - How the evolution of computing is influencing our own evolution (or right click here to save).

Do schools kill creativity - Sir Ken Robinson makes a profound and entertaining case for an education system that promotes creativity.

In the Pipe Line

Assessment for Learning resources for KS3 ICT including pupil tracking using Excel markbooks.

Digital Film Review unit - Revising unit to enable students to create and analyse film review data in database, then create audio film reviews using audacity.

Internet Safety - resources being developed by Pip Cartwright to teach the issues including digital videos

Just for Fun

Zombies in Plain English - Watch your back, Zombies can appear where you least expect them!

http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/01/09/bett-show-08/

On Friday I’m giving my first ever presentations at the BETT Show. I’m on the Policy in Practice stand and Stephen Heppell’s stand in the afternoon. This should make for a busy day!

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Presentation Handout | Presentation | MyTree Article | PageBull Visual Search Engine | bubbl.us mindmapping | Flashmeeting Basic Videoconferencing | My KS3 ICT SoW |

http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/01/08/uea-pgce-training-day/

On Thursday I’m giving a day’s training at UEA for their secondary PGCE trainees.

Training Day Handout | Global Worksheet | Global Village | Rich Poor | R U Global | Global Presentation | ICT Presentation

http://communicty.edublogs.org/2008/01/07/teacher-networks-networking-

The Typical Teacher Network and The Networked Teacher are two diagrams created by Alec Couros from the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina as part of his doctoral thesis to signify the different ways in which teachers network in the 21st century.

The challenge is to train teachers to become active contributors to these new networks instead of simply passive observers!

There's a lot going on at the moment for anyone involved in secondary ICT.  Obviously there is the ICT diploma which is starting imminently.  Then there is also Functional Skills - English, Maths and ICT.  These will be a component of all diplomas and any partnership offering any diploma will be required to delivery the ICT section.  We are also faced with the new National Curriculum and its implications at KS3. 

So ICT will continue to feature highly in High School provision and this puts ICT teachers in a strong position for the future.  I am very interested in all the new developments and eager to be involved.  However, at times it is feeling a little like swimming through treacle with so much new information to absorb, disseminate and ultimately use in practise.  This fast paced development will provide many opportunities for teachers who get involved and are open to new ideas and ways of working.

I have just returned home from Diploma Training for the Open Opportunity partnership in Norwich.  Diplomas appear to be the biggest shake-up that education has seen for many years.  There is of course the concern that this is just the Governments latest initiative and I am sure that those who are much more experienced teachers than me will feel this more keenly. 

However, I feel (maybe naively ) that the huge investment in these new courses will mean that they have to work.  And, probably more importantly, they appear to offer a real alternative to the current model of education our young people receive.  They will be complicated to deliver at first because they are so different to what we are used to.  But with the will and a positive approach they have the potential to give students a very good experience and some real skills to take out into the workplace.  I think they have the potential to address the problem of disaffection that some students are suffering from.

One concern thrown up today was how they would sit alongside a traditional timetable for those students not following a diploma route.  Obviously the devil is in the detail - but I don't believe this is something we as teachers have to worry about - unless of course we also have a timetabling role.  There seems to be a lot of finance available to make this work.  Another concern was how level 3 diplomas would sit alongside A Levels for university applications - at the moment there is no clear answer to this and this is something that needs to be clarified before we can confidently offer this route to all our students at post 16.

One huge benefit is the chance to work collaboratively with our colleagues at colleges.  It will give us the opportunity to share good practise and we can all learn from each other about the different delivery approaches we use to engage students.

Overall - I think diplomas offer us and our students many opportunities which we should not allow to pass us by.  Let's hope they deliver all that they promise.