GENERAL

Google Video

Have you spotted the new feature that has appeared on Google? It is the Google Video player and whilst on initial inspection it may appear to be an area for people around the world to submit their weird and wacky home videos of accidents and the like, if you delve a little deeper you'll find some gems that can really engage and motivate children, particularly when used with an Interactive Whiteboard.

The URL for Google video is simply http://video.google.co.uk

Video clips vary in quality and length - from 6 seconds to 1 hour - but they can be downloaded to view at a later date. Along with the home-made videos there are videos and clips submitted by the National Geographic and National Archives and Records Administration.

We searched for a variety of topics and have included a link to some potentially useful material.

Plants - http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=9100970596309336931

National Geographic - Human Body - http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-51681230135577266

National Archives - Space Exploration - http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=4166049933953240830

Greenpeace video on the effects of Global Warming in India - http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5751412395660105338

We would not recommend that children use this facility as it is not secure enough to prevent pupils accessing inappropriate content, but it is an ideal resource for teachers. As with any video, we would strongly recommend that you view the clip in its entirety before showing it to a class.

Videodating .....

October 10th is the next London Live Day (http://www.londonlive.lgfl.net) when schools will be presenting short sessions via videoconference which can be viewed anywhere on videostream.

A new feature this year, open to ALL schools is Videodating - a three minute slot in which you can advertise an idea for a videoconferencing project or invite other schools to join an existing project,

These are the rules:

• You have a maximum of three minutes
• You must use PUPILS to explain your idea
• You will need to have VISUAL contact details for interested schools (e.g. on a display behind the presenter(s))
• You will need to provide LondonLive with a short summary of your idea, together with contact details, for posting on the website after 10 October 2006

Contacts and other details are all on the web site.

Dave Headey

Courses

The following ICT courses still have places available:

• Using Digital Blue Creators for Stop Animation - Friday 29th September, 9.30 - 3.30 (21/698)
• Creating Web Pages with Digitalbrain - Wednesday 4th October and Thursday 2nd November, 9.30 - 12.00 and 9.30 - 3.30 (21/700)
• Sonic Postcards for Students with EAL - Friday 6 October, 9.30 - 12.00 (21/702)
• A Date to Create - Friday 13 October, 9.30 - 3.30 (21/706)

Apply to the Inset section at Cricket Road or online at http://intranet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/links/intranet/oqsaapply

SECONDARY

FITS Training

Julie Leigh sent a letter into all secondary schools towards the end of last term concerning an opportunity to provide, free of charge, FITS (Framework for ICT Technical Support) training for ICT technicians. The sessions, to be held in term three, would consist of a half day briefing session for headteachers or members of the SMT in secondary schools followed by a full day training for ICT technicians. Julie asked for an expression of interest to gauge whether there was sufficient demand for such training. So far, there have been relatively few responses and, in case the letter got lost in the usual end of term chaos, it is attached again.

DiDA

ICT departments delivering DiDA to year 10 this year should be aware that the conversions from Raw Mark to Uniform Mark Score have changed for AiDA, CiDA an DiDA. Follow the link or look on the DiDA community in Digitalbrain for the Conversion Table.

http://edexcel--5571.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/edexcel__5571.cfg/php/enduser/fattach_get.php?p_sid=R7DAULhi&p_tbl=9&p_id=5770&p_created=1155559742&p_olh=0

2006 DiDA grade boundaries can be found on the DiDA community in Digitalbrain or at the following link: http://dida.edexcel.org.uk/home/results/rs-0606.pdf

The new SPB Unit 1 Using ICT is now available to download from the DiDA Edexcel website at http://dida.edexcel.org.uk/home/spb/0906-spbs/unit1spb0906/

PRIMARY

Free i-board Resources

i-board is a subscription service offering open-ended, creative interactive activities that can be integrated into everyday curriculum learning. They produce some materials on CD ROM but are encouraging schools to join their "low cost, friendly subscription service".

As a promotion to make schools aware of their resources, they are making an i-board topic available for free use to all schools every month. This month's topic is "Introducing Me", aimed at Key Stage 1, and you can access the resources at http://www.iboard.co.uk/thismonthfree. If you like what you see, check back each month for future free resources or consider a subscription to access the rest of their resources.

Best wishes,

The ICT Advisory Team

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