Presenting in Doha, Qatar

I have just returned from Qatar after presenting for three days there. What a fantasic experience!

Teacher Training in ICT

I’ve been asked to run the ICT module in a Teacher Training Course. The content is generally up to me. I thought initially I would run part of this through a blog site with students getting used to leaving comments on the blog. This will be a novel approach and hopefully convince the prospective teachers to the benefits of blogging and Web 2.0 in schools.

If anyone has any thoughts do let me know!

Animation Video

Here’s an interesting way of making an animation

ICT Register Conference

ICT Register Showcase – Engaging the Community 

Tuesday 27 January 2009, Holywell Park, Loughborough

This was my first experience of the ICT Register Conference. I made a presentation on how my school has developed the use of ICT and how we embrace Web 2.0 technologies. The  conference is well worth making a note of for next year.  I’ll be taking a number of my staff next year.

Glogster

Here is a great way of pupils mixing graphics, videos, music and text into a truely exciting presentional page. By simply clicking on area the relative media will open.  Visit Glogster to get started.

Should we still have Key Stage 2 SATS

The question must be asked after the fiasco last year – why should children have to be put through these tests. Imagine putting pupils in a confined space for a set period of time to undertake these tests. Can it really be worthwhile for them? Who are these tests for? Seeing pupils getting emotion during the tests is against the positive ethos of the primary school culture, so why does the government insist upon them still.

What do you think?

The H-Factor by Sir John Jones

What a breath of fresh air and inspiring Sir John has been over these past few days. The theme was “Happiness”  (The H-Factor). This is what schools should be about. Visit his website

The influence  and pressure of SATS, League Tables and Ofsted is without any doubt very negative for health and well being of both staff and pupils. When Worldwide companies are looking for innovative and creative people the question must be raised as to how our curriculum in the UK is preparing our young people for the future. When is the country going to realise this. Now that Key Stage 3 SATs have been scrapped why not apply this sensible approach to Key Stage 2. The only reason I hear that Key Stage 2 SATs are still here is so that OFSTED has a way of measuring school. Why can’t they apply Sir John’s H-Factor Test.

Shropshire Releases new Learning Gateway

Shropshire’s latest Learning Gateway (Virtual Learning Environment) is provided by Core and based on Microsoft Sharepoint. It has taken quite a few weeks for me to get my head around how this all links together. I thought the most effective way of testing the site was with the pupils (you can’t fool them!).

The Primary Site is simple and has the potential to be quite affective. Pupils in years 3 and 4 have started to load their work up onto the site and have shown great initial enthusiasm. The site comes with a simplistic draw and write program, which really does need to be expanded especially considering some of the most extensive and interactive programs they use.

The ‘My Site’ area which relies on Sharepoint is already proving to be very effective. Pupils have created their own blogs, noticeboards and are sharing discussions with each other.

The Year 5 and 6s have now really got into the swing of the LG and are starting to use it in a more collaborative way.