May 23rd 2012 1.00 to 3.00

A videoconferencing opportunity in true ‘Euro Vision’ style for YHGfL member primary schools.

Schools will perform a short song, no longer than 3 minutes in a MFL. (French, German or Spanish)

Schools will watch other schools perform, then after a short break, vote for the best performance reporting back in true Euro Vision style – there will be no ‘0 points’

Performances will be judged along the lines of:

• Are the children joining in?
• Is it an enthusiastic performance?
• Are the children having fun?

The winning school will then perform their song again, and have the opportunity of the performance been featured on YHGfL’s video host eViews (subject to copyright).

Certificates will be awarded to all schools.

Time is dependent on the number of schools taking part, expected to run 1.00 to 3.00 approx

As usual YHGfL will be able to support any schools new to the technology and has an amount of loan equpment available.

See http://shareit.yhgfl.net/enews/?p=234 for a video of a previous year.

To register for this year’s event click HERE

500 words  short story competition 2013

The BBC are ready to receive your super-duper, simply spectacular short stories from children aged 13 or under.

Children can get inspired by watching the brand new 500 WORDS film on the BBC website, which includes top tips from Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Tulisa, Conor Maynard, Helen Skelton, Wretch 32 and Harry Judd!

Students could win themselves a pile of books as tall as Chris Evans, and 500 books for the school library!

 For further information see the BBC website HERE

You have until 7:00pm on 22nd February to submit your entry.

Use Switched on ICT’s creative units to teach ICT skills in your Christmas projects this year and win an interactive iPad workshop for your class!  Teach programming, digital  photography, animation, data handling, 3D modelling, graphics, music composition and more with our pick-up-and-teach units that use free software or software you own.

How to enter:
1. Register to be sent one of our sample Switched on ICT units
2. Decide which of your seasonal topics you are going to teach with ICT
3. Get cracking! Teach the unit with your class any time between now and 12th December 2012
4. Enter it on our ICT blog with pictures, files or links to your work

What you win:
The best Switched on ICT does Christmas project will win an interactive iPad workshop in your school that shows pupils and teachers how to put iPads into learning!  Plus everyone who enters gets a 15% off voucher to spend on our website just for entering.

Not got iPads in school?  Here’s your chance to try them – our trainer brings a set for the session.

For further Information visit http://www.switchedonict.co.uk/christmas/

All school-aged young people in the UK are invited to participate

Join now  for the largest UK online maths event where students from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales unite in their quest to reach the top of the leaderboard. Which students and schools can make the most improvement in their maths ability over the duration of the event?  You don’t have to be a maths genius to take part, just get involved and be prepared to practise!

The Four Nations Maths Challenge is a UK focused event that has the potential to fundamentally change the way that we perceive maths. All you need is access to the internet.
Why should schools take part?

• Your students will love it! It’s all about having fun with maths.
• This is an ideal way to inspire your students to enjoy maths and challenge themselves and others.  As activities are aligned to the UK curricula, the challenge will also reinforce concepts taught in class.
•  It’s simple to register and participate with great prizes for top students and schools. 
•  …and it’s absolutely FREE!

How will it work?

• Students take part in real-time maths challenges over 2 days, 13-14 November, using the online program Mathletics. 
• Day One will involve Mathletics Course Activities and Day Two, live Mathletics challenges.
• A live Hall of Fame will keep students and schools updated with who is in the lead!
• Schools will be given FREE access to the award winning Mathletics website for the duration of the challenge.
• All you need is internet access!
• Students can participate at school and at home.

Schools and students can register FREE www.fournationsmathschallenge.co.uk

Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is the world’s most prestigious student technology competition, bringing together student innovators from all over the world. If you have a great idea for a new app, bring it to life through Imagine Cup. With Microsoft resources and support, you can make a great app and win travel and cash prizes!

This year, Imagine Cup opens the door wide with three big competitions:

World Citizenship: Make an app that could change someone’s life. Pick your cause: the environment, education, health, you name it. Use technology as an agent of change.

Games: Put a smile on the face of the world. Make the next great game and see people playing it all around you on console, PC, phone, slate – wherever people play games.

Innovation: Reinvent social networks. Transform online shopping. Experience music in a new way. Do something amazing with GPS. It’s time to take that crazy idea of yours and ship it!

There is no required theme this year. There’s just you – you and your dreams. Because whether you want to save the planet, make the next great game, or just do something cool with technology, the door is open wide for you at Imagine Cup: all dreams are now welcome.

Every finalist team and their mentor will also get a free trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, to compete in the Worldwide Finals  in July, 2013. Participants must be at least 16 years of age as of August 30 2012.

To register and for more information click HERE

2nd – 6th July at Magna Rotherham

Yes that’s right – free, which is why there’s not much time get book your places. This is a national event with schools from all over the country taking part but as it’s in Rotherham, we’d like to make sure that YHGfL schools make the most of this fantastic opportunity. Sign up for as much or as little as you want. Take your pupils or just go yourself, it’s all free and runs over 5 days so loads to choose from:

• 5 days of hands-on interactive and inspiring workshops and lectures from leading figures in education and industry.
• Fully inclusive workshop schedule – from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5.
• A fully engaged curriculum – Coding/Programmer/Computer Science, Art, Maths, Physics, English, Drama.
• 750+ workshop places and 2000+ activity places – applications encouraged from schools across the country.
• 250 CPD opportunities for teachers and educators to develop existing and new digital skills taking game creation back into the classroom.
• Industry-lead careers surgeries, vital advice and guidance for schools and young people.

For every you need to get the most out of this event, visit the website or download the Planning Your Visit document. They’ve even done your visit risk assessment for you!

http://www.gamesbritannia.com/2012/assets/planningyourvisit.pdf

http://www.gamesbritannia.com/2012/index.php

Following the fantastic success of the last 2 years, Childnet have just announced the launch of their third annual Film Competition for young people aged 7-16.

The shortlisted finalists from each category will be invited to go to London on Monday 9^th July where they will attend a private screening of their film at the British Film Institute. The winners will receive lots of fabulous prizes for their school!

 At a glance

Competition opens: Monday 16^th April 2012 @ 9am

Competition closes: Friday 15^th June 2012 @5pm

Finalists notified: Friday 22nd June 2012

Screening & finalist event: Monday 9^th July 2011

For more information and to register visit the Childnet website:

http://childnet.com/film-2012/

Tickets for workshops, talks and for entry into the REPLAYED arena are now available to Games Britannia registrants on a first-come-first-served basis.

Additions To The Schedule

Games Brittania are delighted to announce that Alex Warren will be delivering two Creative Writing/Literacy/Puzzle Solving workshops using Quest his free Text Adventure creation tool, and Bruce Grove, the General Manager of OnLive UK will be talking about the future of gaming – specifically cloud based systems that are set to revoluntionise how we play videogames at home and on the move.

Star Wars videogame writer comes to Sheffield

A Sheffield Hallam University graduate who now lives in Austin, Texas, is returning to the city to pass on her experiences of working on one of the world’s largest multiplayer online video games.

Jo Berry, who studied a master’s in creative writing at Sheffield Hallam, is a writer on Star WarsTM: The Old RepublicTM, a ‘massively multiplayer online role-playing game’ based in the Star Wars universe.

For more information and to book your free places:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/org/1178088293?s=7706373

Young Game Designers Study Day

National Media Museum

Thursday May 17^th  2012

10.15am – 3.15pm

Cost: Free

The NMM have teamed up with BAFTA Young Game Designers and Martin Caine, Director of Retroburn Game Studios Ltd, to offer students a fantastic opportunity to find out more about what goes into games design – and have a go themselves.

Students will spend the morning working with Martin Caine to learn about how his company approaches the task of designing a new game.  Then, they will get ‘hands-on’ and have a go at road-testing some of Retroburn’s latest ideas on a variety of platforms.  Students can chat with Martin and ask any questions about the fascinating world of games design in an ever-changing environment. 

In the afternoon, they will host a BAFTA Young Game Designers workshop where experts in video games design will offer their advice and talk about working in the industry.  Students will work in teams of 3 to plan, write and illustrate their idea for a new video game before pitching their concept to a panel of industry professionals.  With feedback taken on board, students can choose to go on to develop their ideas before submitting them to BAFTA YGD 2012 and the chance to win incredible prizes – including a visit to a leading games studio, and a playable prototype of their game.

The study day will introduce the career opportunities and skills development offered by video games design – including teamwork, story-telling and problem-solving.

This exciting FREE day is open to all students aged 11-16.  Places are limited and pre-booking is essential.

Please call Di Carey on 0844 856 3799 to book.

For more details visit:

www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/educators

http://ygd.bafta.org/home