A digital Half-Term Newsletter 2012

ISANet Half-term Newsletter Monday 13 February 2012

Dear All
No doubt the exertions of the first half-of-term have got to most of you; thanks for the really quite lively response to my ISANet post of last week – http://goo.gl/n8Qjj

It could just have been a dead cat bounce (http://goo.gl/4aOTe) and when I met with Dave Orchard earlier today from Canbury School, he was indeed afeared that ISNet colleagues were struggling to keep their vital digital signs alive. Now it may be that many ISANet colleagues are planning their Google Teacher Academy application (go-on, have a go, 2 minutes of form filling and a quick face to camera on your mobile phone), or otherwise polishing their Digital agenda.

The Good news is the 100th Individual through the Google Apps trainng program is walking through the doors of the Sixth GAPPs course at my Alma-Mater on Wednesday – be assured the prize is worth winning – the teacher together with 6 students from their school is to visit the Google London Offices in Victoria, London, meet William Florance, CEO EMEA EDU, have the opportunity to learn about Google & have some of their questions answered, lunch in their restaurant and … sometime this summer term, the 200th visitor will be through our training academy, so each milestone is worth working to and for – the ISA Google Apps for Education project will keep the buzz+ going.

Do you think you have a 13-18 year old young sicentist capable of inventing something? $50,000 Google prize for further education PLUS $50,000 Science in Action prize PLUS a trip to the GALAPAGOS islands for 13-18 year old plus 15xChrome books for regional winners. We are hosting at Claires Court, 1 College Avenue Maidenhead Berks SL6 6AW the first UK based Introduction to the Google Science Fair. Saturday 25 February 9am-12 noon, free for child and adult, a knock-out for any keen young scientist and parent – read more about the Science fair here – http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/

Booking for the Claires Court Schools’ event is here – http://goo.gl/Y68Mp – I am delighted to report that the Association for Science Education is supporting the event, and we’ll either have no-one or loads! Consider this like so many other ISA events – great to take part in, and there for the children!

And finally, I’ll give you an otherwise link-free half-term break. Please do get involved by blogging your own ideas on the ISANet, please encourage your other colleagues into action too, and help build our ISA community still further.

I’m off to Berlin with Year 11 Historians at 4am in the morning – brrrr! All part of the joy of working in the UK – I can’t imagine the PISA leaders in the league tables have time for some real hands-on education, but hey, thats’ the joy/price of being allowed to think for ourselves.

BW
James Wilidng
jtw@clairescourt.com
@james_wilding

What lovely people do… pimping my presentations

Now I have a number of followers of my digital engagemet project, the ISANet – 450+ to be almost precise.

On of them, Dave Orchard at Canbury School, decided my presentations from the Google Stand at BETT 2012 needed pimping a little – so here it is in full slideshare glory - http://portal.sliderocket.com/BBRKY/ISAGrid-for-L3arning

Normalising the Extraordinary…

So this is my end of first Half of Lent Term presentation to the Senior Boys School.
Robert, Ben, Michael, Ben are all former students of the school, and proud to be part of our heritage.
Stuff happens in our place, we normalize the extraordinary, we build on our best selves, we fight so strongly to support those of all abilities and with a need for a big friend like us.

The Kids in Sport Video was made by past pupil, Toby Hefferman, assistant director on Clash of the Titans, Pirates, stuff…
… in memory of another old boy of ours Julian Budd, who died tragically of a rare throat infection aged 33.

Anyway here’s the link…http://goo.gl/lVuyf

Once a British Citizen, always a Brit, despite failing the test.

As my school knows, I really enjoy preparing a good assembly. On Thursday last week, we were saying goodbye to Oskar, a bright and engaging German who has spent the last 5 months in our Year 11, improving his English and on occasion showing his English peers a clean pair of heels when it comes to quality writing!

The stage was set at the start of the day, with my assembly focussing more generally on the arrival of Citizenship with the Romans – one of those ‘What did they ever do for us’ moments. Our Year 11 Public Speaking team had won the local Rotary speaking competition in Henley last Monday, so it seemed sensible to bring them into focus, and Mr Hogg, their trainer, gave them a good write-up and they were re-presented with their cups and medals.

Just as they thought they were going to sit down, I established that they, together with Mr Hogg and the Head of History, were going to represent the UK in a live ‘British Citizenship’ test against 5 of the school’s finest foreigners. Step up 4 staff and Oskar (much to his surprise). Live on the big screen, question after question was shown to the 2 groups, who could confer for 30 seconds before being pressed to give their answers. We only had time for 6 questions, and the home team slunk in 2 points to 1, a narrow win for England!

Now when I sat the full practice test last Wednesday, I genuinely gave of my best, but I simply did not know some of the mindlessly silly facts our ‘aspiring’ UK citizen is forced to learn – scoring a healthy 73%, I really did not expect to find this was not good enough, and it meant I did not qualify!  Woe was me.

You can see the Assembly presentation I created for the event here – http://prezi.com/_9zvxwpi-__q/citizenship-from-ancient-rome-to-the-present-day/.  The live bit was of course when the link to the UK Citizenship test link appears, and you can click on that in the Prezi as well as here - http://www.ukcitizenshiptest.co.uk/.   Fortunately for me, despite suffering this terrible humiliation, Border Control Agency Guards have not appeared at my house or at school to take me away, nor indeed did school feel I should be deported either.  That’s probably because they were just as ‘snookered’ as I by the sheer range of useless facts it appears we need to know as Brits.

Oskar was presented with all sorts of CCS goodies, including one of our anniversary pin badges and a signed ‘Malo Mori’ card from all his year.  As a citizen of Europe, he has the right always to return to the UK, and if he does, it’s fair to say our country will be the richer for it.  I wonder how many of our Year 11 will think about popping overseas for a month or two this coming summer after their GCSEs; in the past, our keen linguists took the opportunity, but these days I am afraid such impetuous behaviour is rarely seen.

My worst answers in the Quiz were to the following:

How many parliamentary constituencies are there?

In which year did married women get the right to divorce their husband?

The number of children and young people up to the age of 19 in the UK is?

The percentage of people in the UK in 2001 who said they were Muslims was?

Anyway, I don’t need answers on a postcard, because the practice test helpfully allows you to run through the Feedback to see what went wrong.  This meant that when I took the test again, I got a whopping 100% – but that’s cheating!  I have recommended to Year 10 that they have a go, and let’s see quite how well CC is educating them as Citizens of the UK.  I suspect not quite as badly as their boss did, partly because being an on-line test, they’ll pop open another window and use Mr Google to provide some help!  After all, with 45 minutes to take the test, there’s bags of time to complete the test and reach Angry Birds level 6 – sadly another life skill currently not yet achieved by yours truly!

 

 

Digital Learning Day – as if every day isn’t?

The onward march of 2012 is relentless – one month gone, and it is less than 5 months of teaching days before the Academic year as at an end. And in that time, we are going to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, educate and examine our children, plan for the future and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way.  Wednesday 1 February is Digital Learning Day – and on Wednesday 450+ members of the ISANet digital community will (I hope) take part in a Schools use of Social Media Survey – I’ll report back later!

Schools are rapidly adopting a more professional approach to the use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube to protect and ‘build’ their brand. ISANet’s technical officer Ian Nairn has produced this report on a major broadcast in the states on the use of Social Media in Schools – http://goo.gl/uatnF

Notwithstanding the Google things I am up to my ears in (see here for the latest courses we are running to end June 2012) , I am researching ‘whither science, computers and schools’? The whole Brian Cox thing, sexing up Physics, bringing on a new generation enthused with the idea of studying the ‘stars’ for a degree is real, not imagined. Today’s celebration of 70 years of Desert Island Discs has arguably the world’s most famous naturalist, and Frozen Planet didn’t t just attract 6.8 million viewers for fun. Science is back with a Big Bang.

That’s why I am highlighting the arrival this year in the UK of the Google Science Fair,
Here’s the link – http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/
Here’s the link for teachers to plan – http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/educators.html
Here’s help – http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/site.html

As well as Natural Science, Computer Science is in our face too – recent reports have trashed what we are currently doing, and here’s the underpinning thoughts for a new curriculum from start to finish – http://goo.gl/8GJ1K, endorsed by BCS, Microsoft and Google. And here’s a fun site for Computer Science – no that’s not an Oxymoron – seriously, get your school back to the future by engaging the Geeks! Oh, and if you are really all in the dark about what Computer Science is all about, here’s some easy stuff from the folk at Bristol University.

“The countdown is on… Stay tuned for updates from the world’s biggest blogging project that will see blogging stripped down to just 2 clicks! Feb29th.net is a global blogging project that will cross all age groups and continents. As soon as Feb 29th 2012 begins in Tonga, the Feb29th.net will open up for posts for one day only. This blog will capture posts from all over our planet on this rare day until midnight in the Western Pacific. The result will not only be a celebration of technology, but a celebration of audience and purpose, who will be the youngest author? Who will be the oldest? Which country will top the most posts? Will there be any marriage proposals?
The aim is to allow any visitor on 29th Feb to post; these will be moderated on the day, as this will also be open to pupils in educational establishments across the globe. Please add your email address in the box below to subscribe to this site. Also feel free to spread the word using the Twitter and Facebook icons below.
Together, we will prove that blogging is safe and there really is POWER in the audience!”

Here’s the link: http://feb29th.net/

So many junior schools are raising their pupils’ literacy in great leaps and bounds through blogging and tweeting, you ought to have a look!

James Wilding
jtw@clairescourt.com
@james_wilding
jameswilding.wordpress.com

#AskGove An invitation I can’t resist

I love having Mr Gove as our Secretary of State for Education; he’s such good value, a man who always has something to say, irrespective about context and occasion.  In the blizzard of stuff emanating de Le Gove, I admire his ‘Give the Queen  a Yacht’ (Gove the Royalist), I condemn his approach to the efforts of Downhills primary school to stay in local Authority control (Gove the Bully), and I worry about his ‘A King James Bible for every School’ (Gove the  Spendthrift).  But you know, if he really wants to gain friends and influence people in the education community (aka Teachers) he ought to think a little more carefully about his attack on the profession, suggesting that making it easier for employers to sack teachers would improve our ‘focus’, and in aiming for longer school days and shorter holidays, he states ‘If teachers love their jobs they shouldn’t object”, (Gove the Teacher’s friend)

With such manic activity, it’s quite clear that there are indeed pearls to find in the verbiage; the Secretary of State’s word count must top all in Government, and he has certainly become a major character in this Coalition, but how can you stop him throwing out the baby with the bathwater?  Well that must be the Commons education committee in Parliament’s worry too, as they have enlisted public support to provide a raft of challenging questions for Mr Gove.  And they have enlisted the support of Twitter – to suggest a question for Mr Gove, all you have to do is tweet that with the hashtag #AskGove.  Now you don’t have to have a Twitter account to watch the Public Storm in return – go to TwitterFall, type #AskGove into the Search button and watch the TwitterFall happen.  My best question at the time of writing was ‘why did you slap an injunction of the Daily Telegraph revealing your immoral 2nd home expenses fiddle?

Now TwitterFall is one of those great headline readers that lend themselves to all sorts of teaching opportunities – your ideas to James please if you are already playing.

• On the broader picture of Education on-line this week, I spotted this great piece of work on Digital Citizenship on the edorigami.wikispace (I know, it’s amouthfull!) in which is identified the 6 tenets of Digital Citizenship and a nice hierarchy for primary and secondary schools to include –

Senior Students                       Middle School Students         Junior School Students

Respect yourself                     Looking after yourself                        Looking after me

Protect yourself

Respect others                         Looking after others               Looking after others

Protect others

Respect Intellectual Property  Looking after property            Looking after stuff

Protect Intellectual Property

Please have a look at the intellectual stuff behind; if nothing else you’ll find the broader work this site highlights in the world of digital education.

• Staying with the Citizenship scene, I also found the work ‘Digital Demons Code of Conduct’ down-under in Victoria, highlighting how youngsportsmen could develop appropriate behaviour online, and assisting them to use social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook safely and responsibly.

And for Teachers working as 21^st Century educators, the Twitterforeducation wiki has hugely valuable resources for those thinking about introducing ICT on-line for their children – nice link here to the 5 things children understand about online searching before starting middle school

And finally; back to Mr Gove and that stuff he said at BETT about Programming.  Have read  of this not totally hostile view of the current world debate about Learning Code.

Footnotes:

I am working up a piece for next Week on how Schools can join the Google crusade to encourage Great Science  – the prize being $50,000 plus great trip across the pond.

1. Well done to the 8 GAPPs delegates at the Dixie Grammar School on Saturday, beginning their quest to discover about the 6 tools for Education.
2. •February Google Training Courses – there are 15 people already booked on the Halliford Course (4th Feb); 4 people booked on the Claires Court course (15th Feb), no people booked on the Red House Course (28th Feb); 3 people on the Bridgewater Course (3rd March) and 3 people on the Heathfield course (14th March).  You can find all the links on the ISANet site and here.
3. And for Teaching Professionals seeking to attend the 2012 Google Teacher Academy in London, the deadline for applications is the 9^th February, more info here http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html

Have a great week and enjoy the ‘new model’ winter – it’s like living on Cyprus here in the Thames Valley, warm, balmy and dry.

?Follow me on Twitter? @james_wilding

An exemplar ISANet weekly Newsletter from the Principal’s Pen

The ISANet community is 440+ educators spread across ISA schools and further afield too, with membership in the Americas, Europe, India, South East Asia and Down-under too.  It’s been important for the Association to have a voice about Digital Literacy, to inspire within, to encourage and cajole, as well as to lead thinking in the wider world.

Here’s my latest post, which nicely links to some of the ideas in today’s other blog, and also shows the direction of travel of my own thinking for developments within CCS.

ISANet Newsletter 2 Monday 16 January 2012

The current series of ISA GAPPs courses recommence this weekend at Dixie Grammar School – 4 places left – find that link and the details of all the courses to May here - http://goo.gl/4SoF4

Many thanks to the gallant band of ISANet supporters who attended the BETT show last Saturday;  apparently the chair of our beloved ICT committee, Jim Stearns, got lost somewhere in the halls, so much was there to see! Joking apart, there were over 20 supporters of one kind or another (plus a lot more of the general public) to watch my 1.45pm Saturday Google talk on their stand to highlight the GAPPs training we are running, and that was heart-warmingly gorgeous of all!  Here’s the 2 slide shows I talked all over - http://goo.gl/TYYNS & http://goo.gl/Yj811

As a serious point, the two major Education shows a year are amazing, free CPD for teachers, with many stands running ‘celebrity’ chats from leading exponents in the field.  I am so convinced in the value of such shows to ensure Teachers update their professional and vocational knowledge, it seems a no-brainer to run a similar ISANet day at the education show at the NEC Birmingham on Saturday 17 March.  So if there are any regular attendees at the NEC Education show, please let me know so we capture the Zeitgeist first time round!  I have posted this date in the ISANet calendar.

Edutone Tablets: The ISANet team at BETT12 chose to visit the CUP stand on which their partners from the USA, Edutone, were showing their latest Android 4 tablets – sizes at the 7”, 8” and iPAD buster 9.5”.  Their VP, Michael Awerbuch has suggested he will ship to the ISANet project 30 such slates for review – some at the 8” size (circa £100 + vat), some at the iPad size at circa £150+ vat.  Battery life is circa 5 hours now, OS is Android 4.0 (ice cream) and the slates come with a leather case and inbuilt keyboard.  The slates play Flash (unlike iPads and in addition have an usb port (in addition to the other media outputs).  Edutone can brand tablets with school logos!You can see some info here -http://www.edutone.com/products/et-persona-tablets/ . 

Once I have confirmation of the shipping and arrival of Edutone slates, I’ll open a shared document so that ISANet schools can book them for a 1 week trial.  The point here is as follows – we have been looking for an entry price slate big enough to use as a book replacement, access point for cloud computing and cool enough to win hearts and minds.  I can imagine some schools taking these slates on for school use, whilst others will suggest their pupils bring them as part of their uniform!

Google Science Fair 2012 – first prize $50,000 plus

The 15 finalists (5 in each age category) will be awarded the Finalist Prize, a trip to Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA to participate in the final winner selection event to be held on or about July 22 – July 23, 2012. Finalists will be required to attend the event for two days.  Above and beyond this are 2x$25k runners-up prizes and the grand winner a £50k award!  You can read a whole lot more here -http://goo.gl/U23pT

Entrants can submit Projects in any one of the following categories:

• Computer Science & Math

• Earth & Environmental Sciences

• Behavioral & Social Sciences

• Flora & Fauna

• Energy & Space

• Inventions & Innovation

• Physics

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Food Science

• Electricity & Electronics

Google UK are planning to have local winners too – Robin Morgan is responsible for marketing for Google UK, and more info will be released shortly.  The 3 age ranges are: 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, and in team entries it is the oldest age that counts.

Other points of interest arising early in 2012:  An interesting state-side initiative running for the last 11 years is the Freechild project – I rather like their Ladder of Youth voice and their ideas for different roles young people can play in society – read more here -http://freechild.org/.

Mr Gove has blasted ICT teaching in schools – Jose Fraser is one of the brightest thinkers in the UK on ICT stuff – here’s her take on what’s the difference between computer science, and the broader and much to be desired development in all schools, Digital Literacy. – http://goo.gl/fPsTh

I caught up belated with a Letter to New Teachers, http://goo.gl/zxPi4  written by Peter Gow, which strikes all sorts of plus points in advising new colleagues about the profession they are joining.  Written prior to the start of the Autumn, Term, it sits well now too, at the start of a new Year.

Some real fun for February 29^th?  One of the UK stars of school blogging is David Mitchell, and he has had the bright idea that everyone on the planet should Blog on 29^th Feb.  Now be honest, had you yet turned your mind to that crazy event, our Leap year 0f 2012?  Find out more here - http://feb29th.net/ and here - http://goo.gl/4j70T

I do hope your Lent Term 2012 has started off with a smile on your school’s face.  I hear today that ISI start ringing headteachers tomorrow to let them know that their Unified Inspection is to start in 5 days time.  GULP!

James Wilding, jtw@clairescourt.com