Dear Colleagues,
We’ve been doing the equivalent of a MLE spring clean over the holidays. All the school buildings should be looking tidy and ready to start the new term. Let me know if there is anything that you need in order to get up and running again. Do have a look at the guide in the MLE Help room that explains what you need to do to activate the new classrooms etc.
8th October AM and 15th October AM Leadership of ICT course is taking place. You can find out details about it here: http://www.lgfl.net/lgfl/leas/haringey/homepage/cpd2008/website2010/Index.htm search for ICT and primary
12th October ICT Subject Leaders’ briefing. Again details of the sessions are available here: http://www.lgfl.net/lgfl/leas/haringey/homepage/cpd2008/website2010/Index.htm
Some stuff to explore for the new term....
With the recent release of lots of government collected data into the public domain arrives Digimaps. This offers the full range of Ordnance Survey maps for Great Britain (but not Northern Ireland) for a annual subscription per school of £69. Given the quality of the maps (they are staggeringly detailed compared to those on Google for example) I think it is a fantastic bargain. http://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/login.html
If you’re looking at upgrading your computer systems why not save money by using an open source alternative to Microsoft Office. Open Office 4 Kids is aimed at KS2 children though I think with careful use would be suitable for younger children too. It features software for word processing, a spreadsheet and a presentation tool. http://wiki.ooo4kids.org/index.php/Main_Page
RoboMind is a logo based control program. Ideal for getting KS2 children started with programming. You write programs to steer a rover around a maze. http://www.robomind.net/en/index.html
Teachers’ TV program about using free software in schools. The headteacher featured presented at a creativity conference we ran a couple of years back and has gone on to great things http://www.teachers.tv/videos/ict-fun-for-free
Know It All have launched a collection of E-safety videos aimed at children. Could be good as the structure for a series of lessons or as for an assembly http://www.childnet-int.org/kia/primary/smartadventure/default.aspx
Muvizu is amazing 3D animation software that is completely free. It takes a bit of practice but the program is really sophisticated and could offer a real challenge for children in years 5 & 6. I should warn though that it require a powerful computer and the installation is a little tricky. http://www.muvizu.com/Error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/Landing.aspx
Moonbase Alpha another completely free piece of software developed in conjunction with Nasa. It is a role play game in which multiple teams of children can compete to be first to fix the oxygen supply for their base. Like Muvizu it needs a beefy machine and installation is involved. It is worth it though and could form the basis of a fantastic topic. http://store.steampowered.com/app/39000/
Poisson Rouge or Red Fish if your French is like mine, is the most wonderful online collection of open ended activities I have come across for under 5s. It is staggeringly well put together and encourages children to explore and play in a way that many commercially available software packages fail at dismally. Unless you are feeling generous you can easily click to ignore the donation screen that appears before you access the activities. http://www.poissonrouge.com/
Need inspiration for a scheme of work for ICT? Wokingham LA have spent their summer holidays rewriting their scheme you can access it all here: http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupHomepage.asp?GroupID=142195
It is often difficult to find suitable search sites for KS1 children, here’s one that is worth considering: http://www.parkfieldict.co.uk/infant/
Right I think I should stop there. I am half way through my Delicious bookmarks if you want to see the rest you should be able to see them here: http://www.delicious.com/danwarner
Dan Warner
School Improvement Officer Primary ICT
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