Dear Blog Reader

Dear Reader, just to let you know that this blog has been 'parked'. I have been involved in other work, away from Primary ICT, since Christmas 2007 and I have posted very little since that date. I have left this blog here for anybody who might be interested in the archive of links to resources I made (quite obsessively!), over a number of years while I was a Primary ICT Advisory Teacher for Bristol LA. I hope you find the catalogued links down the right side of the screen useful reference (those postings tagged digital video might be useful). You may also be interested in the website my colleague Lucinda Searle and myself created at www.bristolprimaryict.ik.com as well as all those fabulous blogs in the blogroll down on the right. Thanks, and all the best, Keith Ansell

Pod-o-matic

Just listening to Teyfant Year 3's podcasts. Obviously the children are really engaged. Simon has used Pod-o-matic to create these. I am just downloading this to have a go. Podcasting has got much easier over the last year and is definitely something well worth trying with primary children. As Simon's class shows, huge opportunities to support Literacy and curriculum.

Geagraphy Lesson Plans from Google

These Primary lesson plans look great, and very straight-forward to use. Useful for someone who is not particularly confident with using Google Maps and Google Earth.

Blogging Tools

Thank you Simon and Bob Harding from Wiltshire for the tip on Windows Live Writer as a useful new blogging tool. I must have a look at that but got distracted by all the other fascinating postings on ICT Nuggets .

Advert Clips

Carrie was looking for some chocolate bar advert clips this morning for a session on persuasive language. We had a look at Absolutely Andy. Lots of digital video clips there to use with a class..and a few that you probably wouldnt want to use.

Next Generation Learning

Interesting to read the full page adverts in the educational press and the splash page on the Becta website for Next Generation Learning. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it seems to indicate a definite confidence from Becta to push forward with ICT in schools. There is an interesting "checklist for practitioners":
1. Learn from your colleagues. Find out who is already using technology effectively, what works well for them and how you can use it.
2. Find out more about the technology your school, college or learning provider has – can interactive whiteboards, laptops, the internet or video conferencing help you do your job better and engage your learners more?
3. Find out more about how you can better use technology to make learning fun for you and your students.
4. Can technology help you keep in touch with learners, parents or local businesses? Can you put updates on your website or send group texts or emails?
5. Get the skills you need to take full advantage of the technology at your fingertips. Find out what training is available to you.
That's quite a good checklist for sorting out what you need.

BETT

So BETT starts today and, for the first time in five years, I wont be there. An interesting preview for Teachers TV.

Just wondering though, now I have a bit of a distance from it all, what is there at Bett that is really long-lasting, reality-adjusting stuff? I remember listening to Lucinda, Amanda and the children from St Bernard's talking about learning with handhelds last year. But that was very small proportion of what was going on.

I did like the suggestion on Naacetalk that next year colleagues create a stand to promote all the open source software, that is available for free. That is a very good idea.

On that subject, I spotted this wealth of e-portfolio material, all using free wikis, blogs, Google docs, etc. Read more on Helen Barrett's blog

Online Safety - Panorama programme

I spotted the Panorama programme on Online Safety on Monday 7 January 2008, BBC One called One Click from Danger, billed as an investigation into the vulnerability of youngsters online.. I have serious reservations on the quality of Panorama's journalism, but it was well worth watching. They definitely pitched it right for the parent audience. The use of interviews with offenders gave the programme a creepy/seedy feel, and the use of transcripts got across the sinister nature of the threat. Panorama made the issues clear and give clear advice using CEOP and ThinkUKnow very well. I had forgotten the tagline: "Think U Know who you are talking to?" The advice: Ask your child to show you what they are doing; keep the discussion open; and don't let children have a PC in the bedroom, was clearly stated. With 1 in 8 children saying they have met with somebody they got to know online, the panorama programme was useful awareness raising. The reaction comments, to be posted shortly on the BBC site, will be interesting reading.