ICT

Learning and Teaching>ICT

Information & Communication Technology
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plays an important role in learning and teaching in Argyll and Bute schools. Today a wide range of ICT equipment is available in schools and our pupils have the opportunity to learn through the use of computer applications, digital cameras, Interactive whiteboards and the World Wide Web. A new era in online communication and collaboration will begin with the introduction of Glow next year and regular updates will be available on this ICT area of the website.

Matthew Boyle

Matthew Boyle, Quality Improvement Officer, is responsible for ICT in Argyll & Bute. Matthew is based at Colgrain Education Office, Helensburgh and can be contacted on 01436 678635.

Maggie Irving

Maggie Irving is the Education Support Officer for ICT. Her main duties are supporting staff in schools, coordinating the central inservice programme and the Glow Mentor Team and contributing to specific ICT projects. Maggie is based at Colgrain Area Office, Helensburgh and can be contacted there on 01436 678635 or alternatively by email.

View Maggie's Site

Gary Clark

Gary Clark is part of the Glow support team. Gary is based in Argyll House, Dunoon and can be contacted via email at web.master@ea.argyll-bute.sch.uk.

Primary School Website Design and Hosting Service

The Education service offer a free website design and hosting service for schools. Schools are given a list of available templates which are then customised with school colours and images. The templates are based on an in house built CMS and are easily modified by using online forms. Schools are offered email, telephone and on site support on request.

Click here to view the websites.

NEWS

• SMART are launching their new SMART Exemplary Educator (SEE) program in Europe. SEE recognises teachers whose innovative use of SMART products helps improve educational outcomes and offers them additional opportunities to share their knowledge, experience and resources with others. The UK launch of SEE is taking place in Scotland on 11th March. If you are interested in finding out, how you and your school can benefit from being part of it, and what the enrollment criteria is, contact Anne Forrest on anne.forrest@steljes.co.uk

• BrainPOP UK POPquizzes are now integrated with Promethean Learner Response System. You can get timed quizzes and export class results. The resource pack promethean planet offers a set of appropriate cross-curricular resources for UK schools that you can use to create your own flipcharts and enhance your web-based lessons. It includes images of Tim & Moby, other fun visuals, graphic organisers and more.

• Kudlian Software have launched I Can Animate version 2

• Penfriend have launched version 4 of Penfriend XL and Penfriend XP

• NAACE website provides schools with access to online journals, resources and special offers on products

• Adobe in conjunction with educational psychologist Kairen Cullena have developed new quiz to identify the creative strengths of teachers and students.

• Encyclopaedia Britannica has launched an online archive bringing together more than 40 libraries from around the world. Free 30 day trial is available

• The Regional Support Centre Scotland North and East winter/spring edition of the e-Quality newsletter is ready to download: publications

• Microsoft's New Agreement for Education - Microsoft's new Subscription Education Agreement for Schools, the Enrollment for Education Solutions ( EES ) which replaces the Schools Agreement can save schools a lot of money. The EES is based on FTE staff, which should be less than the number of PCs in a school. This should be a more cost effective option for schools. The FTE is calculated on the total number of faculty and staff in the institution employed over 200 hours per annum, excluding staff who do not use computers. As the cost is based on FTE, new computers are covered too. The new agreement also gives staff access to use the software at home for work purposes. For further information and costs email LTScotland

Curriculum for Excellence

• BrainPOP UK - all BrainPOP UK animated movies and quizzes are mapped to Curriculum for Excellence and using DeepBeep their curriculum matching tool, you can quickly and easily find a movie to suit your needs. This month's spotlight is Digital Citizenship and next month's is Starship BrainPOP Sign up for a free trial Brainpop

New to the SS4E website

• SS4E Showcase - this month's showcase is on the Teach-It products from Do-Be

• Case Study - How Livingston Primary School West Lothian used AVerMedia Visualisers

Special Offers Special Offers

• A limited number of PSPs with the SUMs Online Maths and Phonics software are available at a cost of £70 each. If you are interested in purchasing any of these please contact kim.conway3@btinternet.com

• Due to requests from schools LT Scotland is extending their offer allowing schools the opportunity to purchase a selection of AVerMedia Visualisers at a discounted price for a limited period of time.

• Sherston Publishing is offering 30% discount on all their CD-ROM titles.

Forthcoming Events

• Saturday 12th March - Curriculum for Excellence Numeracy Maths on Track talk Ayr

• Saturday 19th March - Game to Learn Conference LTScotland - Scotland's largest game based learning conference

• Saturday 26th March - Curriculum for Excellence Numeracy Maths on Track talk, Falkirk

• Saturday 26th March - CALL will be hosting an event for children with communication difficulties and additional support needs. It is run by centres from the Augmentative Communication in Practice: Scotland network and provides a chance for families of children with additional support needs to try out and learn about the software, hardware and specialised communication technologies that might help support them.

Competition

Primary schools can win a set of notebooks in an art competition Art Competition . Pupils must submit a drawing of something that makes them happy. Closing date 31st March 2011





If you require further information on the above please click on the appropriate web link. Please feel free to circulate this newsletter to any colleagues who may be interested. Feedback on this newsletter is welcome; please email kim.conway3@btinternet.com with your comments. If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, you can remove your address from the distribution list by sending a blank email with the subject 'unsubscribe' to Kim Conway

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