Regional Film Animation Competition

As part of the SWGfL’s Regional Film Animation Competition, we here at Bath and North East Somerset have been having a wonderful time looking at the great entries for our Local Authority heat. The judges were really impressed with the standard of some of the animation and in particular some of the storytelling skills of our young animators. Pupils used a range of techniques, software and materials to make their animations and it is clear that creativity is alive and well in our classrooms.

The Results

Key Stage 2			Prize
WINNER	Joe the Hat Maker	Camerton Primary School	I Can Animate Studio kit & modelling clay (worth £110)
Runner Up	I am the Sun	Castle Primary School	HUE HD Web cam (worth £20)
Key Stage 1
WINNER	The Princess and the Monkey	Bathford Primary School	Tuff Cam and Easi Speak (worth £112)
Runner up	The Old Bridge	Welton Primary School	2Animate Software (worth £39)
Special School
WINNER	The Garden Invasion	Fosse Way	Digital Blue 3 (worth (£90)
Runner up	Orion	Fosse Way	2Animate Software (worth £39)

I hope to update this table shortly with embed versions of the actual animation, using EuroCreator as a host.

Once again, the Regional ICT Conferences are approaching and booking has gone live today.

These events are always popular and places are snapped up quickly. We therefore advise that everyone books as soon as they are able, not only to secure a place at the conference, but also to have the widest choice of seminars.

The range of seminars is impressive at both conferences. There are workshops and presentation on personalised learning, parental engagement, Web 2.0 technology, visual literacy, Merlin and so much more. All the seminars and key note speeches reflect the current (and future) trends in ICT.

Also there will be a range of exhibitors representing many companies that supply ICT equipment and software to the educational market. It is a great opporutnity to meet with companies and to see what it new in the market.

In addition to all of this, there will be a new ‘Schools in Action’ area where schools and children will be showing what they have been learning using ICT and showcasing their talents to delegates. .

So, go and book your place now! Click here.

More on Visualisers

Avermedia Visualiser

I have been having more and more conversations with schools about visualisers, especially following a training session where we have used one. In particular there is a great deal of interest in using them as a tool to help teachers with Assessment for Learning(AFL). Teachers really like the ability to take a child’s book and share the work within it easily with the class. Visualisers allow for immediate access without the need for scanning or photographing work. Using the supplied software, teachers (or of course children) can capture the image and share this electronically or annotate it in IWB software. Some companies’ software included annotation tools making this process seamless. Please click here for my previous post.

Pricing is always a factor for schools when equipping classrooms with new kit. In my opinion, a visualiser is only going to be used if the teacher has constant access to it since this will allow for ‘on the hoof’/spontaneous use, responding to the flow of lessons and children’s needs. A shared visualiser between several classes wouldn’t really allow for this. Prices currently range from around £350 upwards depending on the resolution of the image and the features included. If you are using one and would like the chance to win another one, just send Avermedia a copy of a lesson plan illustrating the way you have used a visualiser in your classroom. Click here for details.

If you are interested in looking at visualiers and other audio visual equipment Presentation Media  and HDi (based in Avonmouth) are holding an open day where teachers and IT subject leaders can meet various company representatives to discuss their requirements. If you couldn’t get to BETT this year, this might be a good opportunity. See their Open Day flyer.

Safer Internet Day

Tomorrow is Safer Internet Day which takes place each year in February to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world.

Since the first edition in 2004, participation in this event has been steadily growing, with an increase in general awareness, stronger involvement of relevant stakeholders in the field of internet safety and a high level of media interest.

In 2008 over 120 organisations in 56 countries took part in Safer Internet Day celebrations, organising local, national and pan-European events ranging from safety sessions in schools and competitions for young people to public meetings and conferences.

Schools are encouraged to do something to mark the day and many use it as a launchpad for other internet safety awareness related activities in their school.

Here are some useful links and resouces:

• Click here for resources some of which can support a school assembly.
• Safer Internet Day Event Page
• The Insafe Network
• Childnet
• SWGfL Safety Page
• Becta’s Safety Page

BETT 2009

January and the start of the New Year means that it’s time once again for BETT – the four day educational technology show held at Olympia in London. For anyone that has been will agree that is an overwhelming but dazzling spectacle of everything ICT. It is a great opportunity to see what is new on the market and to catch up with all the latest developments and trends.

Here are my three top picks from this year’s show:

Promethean: Their ActivPrimary software has been totally remodelled and revised. It is now called ActivSoftware Inspire Edition. It is a free upgrade. Users will need to register and then download the software from Promethan’s website. Apart from a new look interface, there are new tools and easier menus. The best new feature I feel is the ability to now recognise two or more pens on the board at the same time. This will allow multiple users at the board. All teachers will need to do is buy some more pens!

2Simple: Those busy people at 2Simple always have a new product to launch at BETT and this year they didn’t disappoint. 2Do It Yourself is a program that allows users to create their own interactive Flash resources – quizzes, puzzles, activities and games. It is for both pupil and teacher use and features 2Simple’s user-friendly tools and interface. Take a look at it at 2Simple’s site.

Table top interfaces: Ever since Microsoft revealed their revolutionary ‘Surface‘ technology, companies are working hard to make this the next big thing! Microsoft’s Surface is truly amazing to see and use. Not only is it so simple and intuitive to use, the applications that Microsoft are developing are useful and make superb use of this new interface. SMART have released their SMARTTable which is effectively a SMARTBoard mounted in a table. It allows multiple users at once and is a self contained unit for which users can download more content and update the table via a USB port. It’s pricey, but I can see this being a bit hit with younger children.

Finally for another overview of BETT 2009 take a look at the BBC’s report from the opening day.

Subject Leaders’ Update

Once again it was time to gather together to explore all things ICT and restock the chocolate store at the first of this academic year’s Subject Leaders’ Update. As usual, there was a good turn out for these popular events and it was great to welcome some new faces. If you’re a new ICT Subject Leader could you make sure we have your details so we can include you in any emailshots?

We were joined by Keith Ansell, E-learning Consultant with the SWGfL who lead a workshop highlighting some of the fantastic ‘free’ resources available through the SWGfL. We had a wonderful time exploring our region with Big Day Out, created mulitmedia rich Myths and Legends, looked at the great resources available in the media gallery. It was also great to hear that the SWGfL are to retain the popular British Pathe service.

Keith also highlighted a great offer from iBoard just for BaNES ICT Subject Leaders. Email us for the link. He also spoke about the SWGfL Film Animation Competition to be held in the summer term. He explained that teachers can use film animation techniques to create films in any curriculum subject area. There is the possibility of some workshops to support teachers and an associated awards and presentation event. If think you might be interested in this, please could you email Wendy or Spencer so we can begin preliminary planning for the event?

We had an overview of where we are with Merlin and updated everyone on what information was now with headteachers. As promised, we’ve set up a Merlin page on this blog (see link above or click here) where we can update everyone on all things Merlin. We’ve also published links to resources to explain what Merlin is as well as a link to an example of how Merlin might be used in a teaching and learning context.

Finally, we had a quick look at some new technologies that we feel will have a positive impact. These include the easy to use Flip video camera, Easi-Speak microphones and the Asus mini-notebook. We also looked at the emerging technology of epaper. I believe that this will have a big impact in a few years time to the way we view information and where we view it. If you’re interested in the development of technology in education, take a look at Futurelab’s newsletter; it makes interesting reading!

We ended with a few dates for the diary:

• eSafety Conference, Bristol – 26th November 2008
• ICT Regional Conference – 1st July 2009 (provisional)
• Next ICT Subject Leaders’ Update – 10th June 2009

Also don’t forget to look at our Courses page for the other events happening this year.