Primary 2007?

We had hoped to have a full time Primary consultant in January but this has not been possible.
Given that Christian and the CLC team will be offering training specificaly for Primary schools ijn ICT matters
What would you like to see on the schedule?

Subject Leader Day Agenda

As always, we provide these sessions because they are important. Please make every effort to attend. Even if you can’t make the whole day, at least come to part of it.

This is a whole day session and we hope that giving you this detailed agenda will further encourage you to attend.

Agenda

Network Updates. This session will bring you up to date with the latest developments, both Nationally and within Waltham Forest. Some of you will be aware that we have our own Blog and we would like you to contribute to it. We have also been doing a lot of work with Podcasting and it’s worth getting the latest information about how these can help you. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is very topical and there are several developments that you need to be aware of. There will also be some news on MLEs and how they impact on your work. Of course, there are also several Training Dates that need to be flagged up, as well as the latest information from the Strategy.

Tea Break. Short, but with an ample supply of biscuits.

Subject Leader Materials. In order to significantly raise standards it is sometimes necessary to address teaching within the department. The latest materials from DfES aim to do just that. Subject leaders will welcome these materials as they will help to improve pedagogy and thus raise standards.

Subject Leader Support Materials.

Yet another really important subject that you need to familiarise yourselves with now. We will be giving you some initial training, followed by some hands-on familiarisation and you’ll then be able to take the free DVD home with you to work through the materials.

Lunch. This will not be the usual curly lettuce sandwiches, but a good wholesome lunch. If you have any particular dietary requirements, please let one of us know.

Key Stage 3 ICT Test. No meeting would be complete without some updates on the test. In case you are in any doubt, every school should do the test in 2007. To be successful, you will need support. This is where support begins. We have the latest PowerPoint for delivery to pupils in Yr9 assembly and the Podcast that the pupils can download is also available to preview. But most important is that this session will be used to develop familiarisation materials for you to use with your classes. If you have any materials that you would like to share, please bring them along.

You will also need to bring with you any questions that you need answering.

Upcoming training

Just a quick reminder that this week (Friday 1st Dec) has the next Subject Leaders day (details on the next post!) which you are recommended to come along to
Next week (6th Dec) has a Ks3 test day, with a planning and assessment day focussing on Y9 from 9-30 to 3pm and a test network at 3.30-5pm
If you are doing the test this year, you would find the contend of either or both of these sessions massively useful

Conference - After the eveny

What was the best part of the conference?

We've now had Russell Prue and John Davitt, who might be good next year as a Keynote Speaker?

What are you teaching Right Now?

What subject/software tools are you teaching this half term? (remember to tell us for which year group it is!)

Favourite Freebies

What are your favourite/best free resources for teaching (or not!) on the internet right now?

Interested in Learning Platforms or Online Learning

We are looking for a group of 10-15 enthusiastic and interested ICT Leaders from all phases, who would be interested in helping Waltham Forest evaluate and make a final choice in Online Learning Environments.

The Learning Environments would be the next stage in Online Learning Platforms from our current LGFL “Digitalbrain” portals, but we need your input to know which is our best choice.

We are looking for a number of ICT subject leaders who would be willing to spend two days in early Spring (cover costs will be supplied for participating schools) working with us to evaluate the short listed Learning Platforms and make our final choice.

This is a chance to really have a say in changes affecting schools across the LA. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Christian Smith at the EDucation Centre

ICt Conference

So...you should have had invites by now....what sessions are people most looking forwards to?

ICT Technicians Network

A reminder that the technicians network on WEdnesday ()4-5.15pm) at the CLc has a guest speaker who will update us on the developments of the Groupwise upgrade and guide usthrough the new interface

Half Term

Half Term is almost upon us- what are people doing with thier week off? Early Xmas shopping?

Move to end GCSE Coursework?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5411350.stm

Comments? Feelings?

I notice no decisions been made on ICT coursework. Wondering how thats going to go?

Creating a Community

Obviously, the idea of the ICT Blog is to develop the idea of a community in WF between everyone linked with ICT. With the world wide web, there's no need for teachers 1/2 a mile from each other to feel isolated.
How can we encourage that sense of community between us all?

Training for 2007

Following from the conversations at the ICT BPF this week, what sort of training would you like to see up put on at the CLC in 2007?
It could be on skills, software or big picture stuff (ICT Mark, Auditing depts etc)

Websites!

What are your favourite 3 websites for use in schools
Thye could be fun stuff, resources, freebies or materials.
Share those ideas (click comment below!)

ICT Conference

The 3rd Annual ICT Conference for Waltham Forest will be held at the Education Centre, Walthamstow, on Wednesday 1st November as part of Children's Services Week and is open to headteachers, subject leaders and senior leaders with an interest in ICT in Primary, Secondary, Nursery and Special schools across the LA

The focus for this year's conference is "ICT Matters to Every Child"

Our keynote speaker for the event his year will be John Davitt, long time author and educationalist, has written for the TES, Guardian, The Times and The Guardian and wrote the excellent ICT handbook "New Tools For Learning: Accelerated Learning Meets IT". he has provided keynote sessions at BETT, NAACE conferences and LA conferences across the country.

A final agenda and timetable will be distributed to schools before the event, but some of the invited presenters include Jo Dilworth from London Grid, Angie McGlashon, Promethean Technologies, 2 Simple software, Capita, Granada Learning Online SEF system, Inclusive technology (*) and representatives from LA projects and schools across the LA, including some video conferencing with local students and a Q&A session with senior LA representatives on ICT in the LA

Also on display will be an opportunity to have your say on the LA ICT Strategy, to experience the new GroupWise client and see the new pupil focused Children's Act website in action.

After the event, many of our keynote sessions will be available through the internet as downloadable "Podcasts" for you to catch the sessions you were unable to see.

Last year's event was extremely well received and we hope that this year will be as interesting, engaging and thought provoking

ICT Matters for Every Child- Wednesday 1st November 2006

(*) subject to commitments

Training

By now, you should have had the email with the new training list for ICT over the year.
Is there everyting you need? Too much of anything?
What would you like training on over the year?

This years ICT

Are we ready for the ICT test?

What about DIDA?

Who's ready to go for Vista or are you looking at Macbooks?

What's on the cards for you in ICT over 06/7?

Welcome to the WF-ICT Blog!

If it's Waltham Forest, and it's ICT, chances are, it's going to be on here first!

Updates, course information and general "what's on" news will be posted here by Geoff and myself over the course of this year

If there's anything you'd like to see on the blog, let us know, as well as what you do and don't like about it!

As with any blog, it only works when it's going two ways, so please interact, join in and make yourself a member of the community!