GENERAL

Courses

The following courses still have places available on them:

Wed 31 Jan Digitalbrain Management 21/725

Thu 1 Feb Literacy Framework 21/726

Fri 2 Feb Problem Solving & Multimedia Projects with Logo 21/727

Mon 6 Feb Photo Story 3 21/728

Wed 7 Feb Maths Framework 21/729

Thu 8 Feb Web Authoring with Digitalbrain (Part 1of 2) 21/730

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

WildKey Opportunity

WildKey is an interactive species identification program that has been developed for use with handheld devices and handheld learning. WildKey enables pupils of all ages (Key stage 2-5) to take ICT beyond the normal limits of the classroom and quickly identify and record species in the field. Lynn Hughes from WildKey (based at Oxford Brookes) worked with many Oxfordshire schools last year and is now looking for more schools interested in a free session using the handheld devices and WildKey software. It will have to take place during late February early March before lottery funding ends. Schools interested will also get the opportunity to share their learning experiences at this year's ICT Primary Conference on Tuesday 20th June. Any schools interested should get in touch with Anna Foreman from the ICT team as soon as possible: anna.foreman@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 01865 428034.

For further information about WildKey you can visit their website at: http://www.wildkey.co.uk

Proxy Avoidance Sites

There have been some instances recently of pupils using proxy avoidance sites to get round the web filtering provided through the OCN. Such sites enable pupils to access sites which would normally be blocked by the OCN filtering policies. If colleagues find students accessing such sites they should:

(a) inform the pupils that they are breaking the terms of their Internet Code of Conduct and take appropriate action based on the school behaviour policy and

(b) inform the ICT Service desk of the Internet address of the site so that it can be blocked centrally. The ICT Service desk can be contacted on 0845-052-1000 or via e-mail at ict.servicedesk@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Reports from MessageLabs on filtered e-mail

School e-mail administrators can use MessageLabs, the e-mail filtering solution provided as part of the OCN, to generate reports on inappropriate e-mail messages. These reports can provide an indication of those users who have attempted to send an e-mail message which contains inappropriate language.

It is suggested that school OCN Administrators run these reports regularly and pass relevant information on to headteachers and possibly governors so that any inappropriate use of OCN e-mail can be addressed.

Attached to the newsletter is the MessageLabs administrator guide which explains how to generate these reports.

British Computer Society

The British Computer Society is running their website competition again this year, if you are thinking about entering, please let them know by email to oxon.webcomp@bcs.org.uk or use the form at www.oxon.bcs.org/webcomp/signup. There will be more information in the next school's post.

InfoMapper Course

Chris Scrivener, the Geography Adviser, is holding an inset session on InfoMapper on Monday 29 January in the ICT Training Suite at Cricket Road. If your school has purchased InfoMapper this would be a very useful support session to attend and it will be delivered by a representative from InfoMapper. Please contact Chris Scrivener for further details on 01865 492063

Digital Blue Movie Cameras

The ICT Advisory Team has a few boxes of Digital Blue Movie Cameras which can be lent to schools for digital video projects with students. Unfortunately, some our sets has vanished! If your school borrowed a set of cameras from us recently we would very much appreciate having it returned so that it can be lent to other schools.

Smart Board Software Version 9.5

Until now the ICT team has resisted updating to SMART Board software v.9.5 since it had some features that were unstable. It appears that these have now been rectified so if you haven't already updated you might want to advise colleagues to do so. There are some great new features including:

- Search facility in the gallery

- Infinite cloning of objects,

- Linking objects to pages in a Notebook file, a URL, an attached document or any document on the hard drive

- Objects can be locked in three ways

- Objects can be flipped horizontally and vertically

- Icons can be added to or removed from the Notebook software toolbar

- Teachers can outline and capture any shape or part of the screen with the Screen Capture tool.

- Improved Screen Shade

- Improved Spotlight tool and

- Freehand Screen Capture

For more information view the PDF file attached to the newsletter.

PRIMARY

Digitalbrain Maths Challenge

On Monday of this week the winners of the Digitalbrain Maths Challenge collected their prizes from Sainsbury's at Heyford Hill. The prize included an extensive tour of the store including all the freezer and chiller rooms, the bakery, fish counter and loading bays. The pupils also took charge of a customer's online order and assembled the goods for the driver to deliver. They were also shown how the store recycles their packaging and waste products. They were given a super lunch before having the opportunity to shop for their foodstuffs required to make the winning lunchboxes for every member of their class. Each pupil sat behind the till and scanned the shopping through. It was a fabulous day for the deserving winners - congratulations to Rush common and Enstone Primary Schools.

SECONDARY

KS3 ICT Test

In Education Minister Jim Knight's speech at Bett last week he announced:

"…with the importance of progression in mind, we have been reviewing how best to use the ICT key stage 3 test which has been developed over the last few years.

This test has real potential to support assessment for learning. But to realise this potential, teachers should be able to use this test at any point when pupils are ready, as a resource which can indicate student's strengths and weaknesses, propelling them to further success.

So we have decided that this test will not be statutory at the end of the Key Stage. Instead, we will make it available for use throughout the whole Key Stage. We will be revising the test that has been piloted, focusing on developing materials which can be used more flexibly throughout the key stage. More detailed advice to schools will be forthcoming in the next few weeks."

Whilst many heads of ICT in secondary schools have struggled to come to terms with the pilots launched to introduce the test it is hoped that, having conquered the initial issues they will recognize the value of a standardized means of carrying out assessment for learning and with this opportunity in mind the LA would encourage schools to continue to familiarize themselves and their students with the materials with the aim of using the new materials when they become available for a more personalized form of assessment.

JCQ

JCQ instructions for conducting coursework/portfolios can be found by following the link.

HoDs should particularly note section 4 - 'Revision, Re-Drafting and interim Review of Work.'

http://www.jcq.org.uk/qualifications/exam_documents/regulations_guidelines/?contentID=4

Best wishes,

The ICT Advisory Team

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