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| ICT Newsletter #296 |
9th July 2007 |
GENERAL
Courses
A general reminder - increasingly our courses give you opportunities to create content that would be very easy for you to save onto a USB memory stick. If you have one, please remember to bring it along to your next course.
Courses for next term
The following courses (taken from the 'pin-me-up' sheet circulated in the latest copy of Ox-On-Line) have places available. If you would like to attend please apply to the Inset section at Cricket Road or online at: http://intranet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/links/intranet/oqsaapply
Competitions
There are a number exciting competitions coming up. Look out for the fliers in your school:
· You may already want to register an interest in the Lego league Competition
- Initial Bids to be completed by 14.09.07 If you need further information please
contact your consultant on 01865 428034.
Looking further ahead:
· National Poetry Day Competition (theme DREAM) 17/09/07 - 12/10/07
· Foundation Stage Christmas Card Competition 29/10/07 - 23/11/07
· Maths Challenge - week beginning 12/11/07
eLC Reminder
Do you still have eLC money left to spend? If so please be aware that last year's allocation must be spent by the end of August. We can get you some special deals on many software packages, contact Christine Ruane on 01865 428034 for more details. Please be aware that any orders you plan to make though the ICT team must be made before the end of term.
LFT Offer from Evesham
See the attached flier from Evesham about their latest LFT offer.
Caching Servers
A reminder that you need to leave your caching server on and running throughout the Summer holidays so that it can continue to be updated by ICT Services who will be accessing it online. (It also means you won't forget to switch it back on when you return!) If you really would like it shut down please contact the ICT Service Desk (0845 052 1000) and they will arrange for your cache to be remotely shut down for you.
Newsletter Update
The way you get your newsletter is about to change. From September it will still be available HERE (in its dedicated OCN Conference) but, in line with recent suggestions, we are going to start 'delivering' the newsletter by email too. We will be posting your newsletter directly to your school's OCN email ICTC account (Don't forget the ICT Helpdesk can help you set up an auto-forward to an email account you regularly check if you don't want to check the ICTC account regularly). These changes will be outlined in a letter due in schools in September. This letter will also include details of our proposed email opt-in service. This service will allow you to register any other email address of your choice as an extra delivery address so that you can choose to have the newsletter sent to any address of your choice as well as the ICTC account. In the mean time if you would like to register an alternative address please send an email to ict.sds.education@oxfordshire.gov.uk giving us the alternative address using the subject 'Alternate Newsletter Address'.
Steljes Smart News
The people from Steljes (Smart Technologies 'exclusive representatives' in Europe) have produced a flier introducing the new Smart-based voting software and alerting us all to the newest version of Smart Notebook (version 9.7). Take a look at the attached pdf for more details.
PRIMARY
Clicker Grids Reminder
LearningGrids
The Clicker 4 grids which many of our schools are using frequently will continue to be freely available on LearningGrids.com until 1st August when they will be removed from the site leaving only Clicker 5 resources. (see Newsletter 295 for further information)
Espresso Latest Updates
Word machine activities - NEW!
The Word machine has been updated with four activities: First letter, Middle letter, Final letter and Find all the letters. The fun, machine style activities, have been designed to help children hear and say initial and final sounds in words, and short vowel sounds within words.
Find it: F Literacy > Word machine > Activities
Word machine: Beginnings - NEW!
The Word machine has been updated with a brand new activity. Listen to a word read aloud and use the word machine to complete four-letter words by identifying the consonant blend at the beginning of the word.
Find it: English 1 > Word machine > Activities
Vikings - NEW!
Video sets the scene of Viking life, and a spectacular interactive map presents Viking voyages. Learning tools and photo galleries introduce children to the different sources and types of evidence that tell us about life during this period.
Find it: History 2 > Vikings
Learning path: Discoveries
To coincide with National Archaeological Week (14th - 22nd July), a learning path has been developed to provide a structure for children to explore a collection of resources about archaeological discoveries.
Find it: History 2 > Learning paths > Historical sources
Cartoon gallery - UPDATED!
The Cartoon gallery, has been updated. The gallery provides a collection of cartoons which can be used as an effective activity to interpret the intention of the cartoonist and can be used to develop critical thinking and high-order thinking skills.
Find it: News 2 > Cartoon gallery
SECONDARY
DiDA
Moderation of ePortfolios - Guidance for Centres can be found at:
http://alerts.edexcel.org.uk/go.axd/13476
Best wishes,
The ICT Advisory Team
