Primary Bits and Bytes

(Posted by Fiona)

I received an email from our Becta Regional Consultant on Friday, outlining the timetable for shutdown of the Becta website. Here is how it will happen:

‘This will be a staged process, involving the movement from the full web functionality, through an interim “holding site” stage to the final closure of all online activity in March 2011.  Specifically, I would like to draw your attention that the ordering of publications (not downloads) will cease being available from 22nd October, and this will be flagged on the site from October 1st.’

If you require any  hard-copy versions of Becta publications,  you need to visit the site before October 22nd to order them. Printable downloads will still be available after this date.

(Posted by Fiona)

This would make a good Citizenship project for the end of term, it was posted on Becta’s Safetynet forum by Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet:

The ‘Youth IGF Project’ aims  to capture children and young people’s opinions, thoughts and wishes about the future of the Internet, and then to feed these directly into the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

To reach the widest possible audience in a short space of time, Childnet have created primary and secondary project packs for schools who want to get involved in the project and would welcome as wide participation as possible. All schools returning survey material will be entered into a prize draw for a free e-safety session to be held in January 2010.  Youth responses that particularly stand out will be featured in a video to be presented in Egypt and young people may also be asked to consider contributing to discussions in Parliament on this topic .

The project packs contain lesson plans and instructions for running lessons – and are a perfect afternoon activity in the run-up to the end of term. We hope that many of you will engage in this project and Ellen ( ellen@childnet.com ) and Lucinda ( lucinda@childnet.com )in the Childnet office are happy to answer any further questions.

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) a UN mandated meeting in the Autumn.  The IGF is a four day international gathering that gives governments, the internet industry, organisations and individuals the space to debate what should happen to the Internet in the coming years thinking specifically about Access, Openness, Diversity and Security.  Historically the IGF has had little input from young people. Childnet’s Youth IGF Project aims to capture the voice of young people so that the it can be represented at the forum in November.

(Posted by Fiona)

Congratulations to all the staff and pupils at Kayes First and Nursery School, which has become the first primary school in Kirklees to be awarded the ICT Mark. The ICT Mark accreditation is awarded to schools which have achieved a good standard in the use of technology. Schools must demonstrate good practice across eight elements, including leadership and management, learning and teaching and assessment.

I am hoping this will start the ball rolling, as I know there are quite a few Kirklees primary schools which deserve to have ICT Mark! Becta have now launched the Next Generation Learning Charter, which means that schools can be recognised when they are part way to achieving the ICT Mark. Parents can also check on the website to see if their child’s school is committed to Next Generation Learning. Now there’s an incentive to sign up!

(Posted by Fiona)

The following announcements were published by Becta on the Topteachers forum:

1. Futurelab has just published a new report on primary learning spaces that will aid those involved in the redesign of educational learning spaces, particularly the PCP and BSF programmes, and FREE copies are available on request (while stocks last).

‘Reimagining Outdoor Learning Spaces’ aims to inspire and provoke creative thinking regarding outdoor learning and play spaces. It urges those involved in redesign to be innovative, radical, pioneering and to rethink the possibilities offered by this once-in-a-generation opportunity to help reshape and improve the broad educational experience for all young people – outdoor space is a vital element contributing to any child’s development and educational experiences.

To view the publication online and to request a FREE copy, please visit www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications-reports-articles/handbooks/Handbook1187 If you would like to request multiple copies to distribute to a network or at an event, then please e-mail claire.denney@futurelab.org.uk .

For those interested in the redesign of learning spaces the following new online report (on a project where learners were co-designers of an outdoor interactive water fountain) may also be of interest: www.futurelab.org.uk/projects/fountaineers/research

2. Announcement – ICT Excellence Awards 2009

Becta has launched the ICT Excellence Awards 2009, to seek out the best and brightest schools that are using technology to help learners achieve.

There are 4 awards categories for schools, with cash prizes:
*Best whole-school – also with regional winners!
*Beyond the classroom
*Leadership, management and collaboration *Learning experience

There is also the Support for schools category for organisations who support school improvement with ICT.
The final deadline for entries is 11 March 2009.
Application forms and details about the ICT Excellence Awards can be obtained from www.becta.org.uk/excellenceawards For more information, contact Becta’s Awards Team on email at excellenceawards@becta.org.uk, or by telephone on 024 7641 6994.

3. Announcement – Emerging technology area on the Becta website

Becta are pleased to announce the launch of a new Emerging technology area on the Becta website.

At http://www.becta.org.uk/emergingtechnologies you will find:
*articles from the Emerging Technologies for Learning series (with a new article published each month) *TechNews – with new content each week *key technology trends *technology research from Becta and elsewhere *discussion forums *information on events related to emerging technologies.

The area offers new ways of accessing TechNews including RSS feeds and the ability to compile a PDF* document from selected articles.

Initial content for the new area is taken from January 2009 and previous TechNews issues but, from now on content will appear on the Emerging technology area ahead of the PDF download version being available.

You can propose research and events for possible inclusion on the area, and we’re also keen to hear from you if you have other suggestions or feedback. Via emergingtechnolgies@becta.org.uk.

4. Notice – Becta and Comic Relief

Becta and Comic Relief are calling for all schools to get involved in Red Nose Day 09 with a schools competition to find Britain’s top classroom talent.

In support of this year’s Comic Relief theme ‘Do Something Funny for Money’ this competition encourages schools to ‘Perform Something Funny’ and upload their own content onto the Red Nose Day Schools Showcase.

Each participating school is in with a chance of winning £5,000 worth of ICT equipment for their school. The competition hopes children and teachers will embrace technology in the classroom, showcasing both humour and the innovative use of computing facilities.

Entries can be anything from singing to dancing to stand-up comedy and will be judged by a panel from Comic Relief and Becta, following online voting by visitors on the Red Nose Day website. All entries must be unique, creative and – most importantly – funny to be in with a chance of winning.

Full details of the press release are on the Becta website http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=39367 . For details of the competition and how to enter visit the Red Nose Day site http://www.rednoseday.com/do_something/school/competitions.

The November edition of Becta Technews is now available to download as a PDF file from:

http://schools.becta.org.uk/upload-dir/downloads/page_documents/research/technews/nov08.pdf

Technews is aimed at local authority and school technicians and covers new developments on the technical side of educational ICT.