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QLS ICT Conference 2004Summaries of Conference Presentations Please click the presenter's name below Jenny retires from the post of Director of Education & Lifelong Learning at the end of August this year. During her tenure she has been a staunch supporter of ICT in Staffordshire schools and expressed the wish that support and funding, both locally and nationally, should continue. Jenny presented Painsley Catholic High School, William Shrewsbury and St Joseph's Catholic Primary Schools with their Naacemark awards and challenged all Staffordshire schools to eventually be holders of this mark of quality for developing ICT in the curriculum.
Stephen was invited to speak at both Secondary and Primary Schools' Conferences this year. He has visited us twice before and his presentations continue to be entertaining, informative, challenging and thought-provoking. He began by demonstrating the increasing cross-over between technologies by operating his computer via mobile phone! The technology has got easier - but the learning, in order to make best use of the technology - has got harder. He used the analogy of aeroplane manuals - the example of the Boeing 707 being a few pages long but that of the 747 (Jumbo Jet) occupying an entire library shelf! Research and experience shows that children can accommodate the new technology very easily. For many children being confident in the use of the technology isn't enough [for them]. There have been examples of where children, in response to questions from another child, have given better responses than the "dumbed-down" versions they gave to the same questions posed by adults. In the Primary Schools' conference Stephen gave us a flashback to 1984 and the 6-year-old girl using Multiplan (for our younger viewers, this was a very early DOS-based spreadsheet). What do we know of any progression or continuity in her ICT education? Stephen showed us some examples of children's video and stop-motion animation work. Highly entertaining, focused and technically proficient. There
are many barriers in schools and in education that we should try to
remove. Some of these barriers are physical so school design is called
into question. Stephen showed us examples of schools being incorporated
into department stores and increasing the amount of open space - because
that is what children said they wanted to have - space to experiment,
explore and create.
Tim addressed our Primary Schools’ Conference in 2002 and it was good to welcome him back to speak to the High School audience this year. “Enhancing Subject Teaching using ICT” (ESTUICT) Many
teachers ask questions about this new programme of professional
development – “Will the materials really enhance the teaching of the
subject?”, “Is it making appropriate and realistic use of the
technology?” and “What is the impact on pupil learning and
motivation?” The
purpose of the materials is not for pupils to use directly but to provide
knowledge and resources that will enable the teacher to enhance their own
teaching of the particular subject.
Russell was again invited to speak at both conferences to update us with happenings at Curriculum OnLine and, for the Secondary Schools audience, to bring two other developments to our notice. Curriculum OnLine Nationwide, there was a small underspend in 2002-3 but levels of funding remain the same for 2003-4 and from 2004-5 (£1000 per school + just under £10 per pupil). 2003-4 funds must be spent by 31st August 2004 so there is, once again, a window where 2 years funding is available. There is no relaxing of the rules which determine which products are eligible for eLC purchasing. There must be significant curriculum content, so the only Microsoft product to enter the catalogue is Encarta. The CoL website, following suggestions and requests from users, has undergone a refit and now offers: additional subjects (e.g. law, citizenship, psychology), topic browser, keyword search, IWB category, videoclips of some of the products in use and video case studies. The whole site has a much friendlier feel and enables quicker access to known products. There is, and will not be, an electronic payment system. There were trials held but these were found to be cumbersome and unsuccessful. Submit a product review during March 2004 for a chance to win a digital camera or 128Mb memory stick. Staffordshire schools should check with EJITU prior to purchase as better prices may have been negotiated. The revitalized CoL website is at www.curriculumonline.gov.uk There are two developments emerging from the DfES: Firstly, the Electronics in schools programme which encourages both the teaching of electronics in schools and provides resources and discussion areas via its own website: http://www.electronicsinschools.com Particularly relevant in Staffordshire as our regional Science Learning Centre is located at Keele University, this programme aspires to "mix together teachers, technicians, advanced ICT, cutting-edge scientific thinking, industry expertise and high-quality professional development, the Science Learning Centres will provide the perfect conditions for innovation and inspiration." Schools and Teachers should register interest by October 2004 when the national centre and all 9 regional centres will be fully open for business. The website is at www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk In his presentation to Primary Schools, Russell also referred to the availability of the "ESTUICT" programme. This modular training is not free but there is funding (from April 2004) in Grant 31a to support schools' work in this area. Indigo-visions (www.indigo-visions.co.uk) and SFE (www.sfe.co.uk) offer training in using ICT to support Literacy and Numeracy for teachers of Foundation, KS1 and KS2.
Catherine began by referring to two documents (published May 2003) upon which the Primary National Strategy is founded – “Excellence & Enjoyment” and “Fulfilling the Potential”. She expanded upon how the Strategy envisaged the place of ICT within the Primary curriculum and illustrated this with examples from both the DfES Standards site and resources which are available to schools. Catherine asked if the software that we regularly used allowed for enquiry. Does it allow creativity? She went on to describe the 5 stages of embedding ICT in the curriculum: Familiarisation, Utilisation, Integration, Reorientation and Evolution. Catherine showed us examples of resources from the Primary Strategy including Number Multiplication tables and Creative writing based on Images & Sound clips. She re-iterated that at the heart of this is the need to be clear on what the teaching objective is. To support this there were extracts from lessons which used the materials and a PE lesson where video was used to develop and refine techniques and performance. Many of the resources focus on areas which children generally find difficult. I found this a thoroughly engaging presentation which gave me a clear insight into the aims of the Primary Strategy. Further resources are planned and the Hands-on Support allocation which schools have in their budgets for 2004-5 can be used to fund additional work in this area. Some of the examples and materials that Catherine used are available from this website. [Coming Soon].
Howard took this opportunity to bring us up to date with developments in Staffordshire and to introduce us to the Oscar-winning Chubbchubbs! He began with the OFSTED overview of ICT in schools judging that KS4 was in a worse position than KS3. Overall management within the subject had improved but assessment (for learning) of children’s work was still a weakness. Every school was encouraged to register to take part in the trialling of KS3 testing in 2005. The DfES has declared that the target computer:pupil ratios had been met so the focus for 2004-5 funding has changed. The new Grant 31a (ICT inSchools) includes allowances for infrastructure, caching servers (part of Staffordshire Broadband implementation), interactive whiteboards, hands-on support and Laptops for Teachers. Now for the Chubbchubbs and another acronym – Computers: The target ratios have been met – no longer on the agenda, but the current provision must be maintained. Users: We need to differentiate between ICT capability & ICT as a tool to support Teaching & Learning. We have the Primary National Strategy and Key Stage 3 Materials together with the ESTUICT programme and its associated resources and support. But how does all this fit together? Maybe it is through … Hands-on Support: This is funding to support teachers and advisers working in classrooms alongside colleagues and sharing their experiences. But how is all this to be managed and co-ordinated? Your suggestions and thoughts as to how this might work in your school would be appreciated. Boards (White, Interactive): The IWB expansion is underway. It is unfortunate that not everybody could be selected. The pilot scheme allowed for 30 boards in 14 schools and the expansion has funded a further 171 boards in 89 schools. This scheme provides for support for numeracy and literacy and has resources for other subjects too. Broadband: All High and Middle schools now have a broadband (>=2Mbit) connection with a further 65 primary/special schools connected. We are on schedule for 100% connection by 2006. The Staffordshire broadband will be a VPN (virtual private network) as part of the West Midlands network. This means it is NOT part of the public telephony system. Well, that’s the CHUBB acronym, but what of those sweet little furry creatures we saw in the movie? They protected the people that looked after them but savaged anything that looked threatening!! Howard likened this to some of our “other subject” colleagues back in school and their attitudes to ICT. Many are still wary and frightened of the ICT creature! They do not trust it and fear that it will devour them! Those that embrace and nurture the ICT within their subject, or have grown up with it, may see the added value and enrichment that it brings.
This page last updated 29 March 2007 |
