L4L

e-Tools / L4L — No Comments
7
Jun 10

Skydrive Connected

This evening I connected my Windows Skydrive to a mapped location on my home PC. With yet another excellent ‘HOW TO’ resource from the Super Site for Windows it was simple. The writer behind this fantastic all things Microsoft site is Paul Thurrott, guest expert on TWiTs ‘Windows Weekly podcast. Somehow Paul manages to share his extensive knowledge with both the relative beginner enthusiast as well as the  accomplished IT professionals. Bravo Paul and TWiT. The main reason for pursuing this line of interest is two fold. One we are investigating the possible use of Skydrive for our students Laptops 4 Learning programme and second, I wish to share my professional readings / presentations with great ease. The ability to save to my Skydrive and simply sharing folder URLS always me to share more not just the presentation, but also the associated component parts, web links and other associated documents and resources.

(If you are not using Office 2010, then there is a minor change required, outlined here.) I have been wanting to do this for near on 4 weeks now, but its just been so very busy.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Digital Learning / L4L — No Comments
4
Apr 10

Sub £200 Netbook 1-2-1

Hamble College started tracking netbook developments in 2008 following the launch of the Asus EEEPC the previous year. After a small scale pilot with 20 Toshiba NB100s in 2009 and a very reassuring visits to Arnewood School and Perins School we launched our ‘Laptops 4 Learning’ initiative last year. We started in Sept with the Lenovo S102 – generally a sound product but we have had some concerns over the care package. With the 2010 budget agreed, our action plan for Sept 2010 moves into purchase mode and this year our front runner is the Samsung NB30 (Samsung narrowly missed out last year with the NC10). We were attracted to a) the rugged case, b) upgraded processor, c) the strong battery life of up to 8.5 hours and d) the ‘Instant On’ capability. Not for the last time, the unit is only one factor to consider and most certainly should not be the defining factor.

First, we have learnt an awful lot from our first year experience and from other schools visiting Hamble College. There are a number of key issues for schools to address, but these will influence each school in a unique way. Some of these are presented below but in no specific order;

  • Specifications and operating systems are important but should not be the defining factor
  • A resilient wireless is essential or learning potential diluted
  • Service and your relationship with the unit vendor must be open and reliable
  • Accidents will happen, confirm your accidental damage timeframe before communicating to parents/guardians
  • Units need to be day to day resilient
  • You best asset is the level of service you can provide, parents will not understand or appreciate this unless you emphasise it
  • Technology will redefine how learning happens in the classroom, prepare and support the staff
  • Technology will change the way the VLE is used in / out of lessons
  • Licensing is expensive, fully exploit Open Source options / dual products eg Microsoft Office and Open Office
  • Policies underpin the success of the programme, make sure that all school stakeholders are involved
  • Be prepared to listen to unique cases – eg Twins in the the same year group, students join mid term

What is NEW for Sept 2010
We have selected the Samsung NB30 (sub £200) and a indirect supply chain but maintained our cost structure at £240 with the school contributing £60.

  • New Accidental damage policy
  • Reduced licensing costs (shop around)
  • We have planned and upgraded whole school wireless, this is going to be a significant investment
  • Moved the IT Services office to a more central location

You are more than welcome to contact or visit Hamble College or we would be more than willing to discuss our L4L programme with you if it helps.

Popularity: 8% [?]

e-Tools / L4L — No Comments
10
Feb 10

Netbook Ebook

The English Department are our most proficient users of the student netbooks. I am not embarrassed to say that the students predominantly use their netbooks as for Word processing. More importantly, students are not wasting 5 minutes top and tail of each lessons in which their teacher book an ICT suite, if in fact one was available. A second key benefit is the use of Freeware Mobipocket Reader Desktop .

Mobipocket Reader has a similar layout to iTunes and offers a Kindle-like experience. In addition, it offers neat annotation and bookmarking features, which can be re-designed to generate some great lessons / teaching opportunities. Another great feature is the rotate, so you maybe be reading from an ebook, but at least it feels as if you are holding a book.  I appreciate that the Classics are very cheap, but free and portable sounds even better to us.



Popularity: 3% [?]

CPD and INSET / L4L — No Comments
14
Jan 10

LftM Learning Focus

Part of the LftM Learning Journey, is a ‘Focus’ document. In making the paper decision, I have tried to reflect on the advice from my LftM coach yet be realistic about the time I wish to invest in Lftm (given I spent over 5hrs completing the online content for the course of xmas) yet ensure that I demonstrate boths leadership and management within the topic.

I feel that the developmented of improved E-resources (L4L, VLE and website) at Hamble College has required vision, strategy and both vertical and horizontal management. The project has involved students / parents and teachers. I think it therefore represents a good case for a learning focus. Now in the second year, our team needs to reflect on our successes, manage our failures and adopt/refine practices to improve our success rate. Documentation is being revised and brought forward to coincide with a visit from colleagues for another school – so there is noe dual motivation to get this focus paper written, professional review and to provide a professional service to our visiting colleagues.

1. Outline the development of the Laptops for Learning Programme – the context.
2. Reflect on the success / challenges and failures of yr 1.
3. Action plan the revisions.
4. Strategy to re-present to parents – what have we learnt.
5. Wireless development

I hope to share this document here at a later date…. some time just before it needs to be completed no doubt. If 1-2-1 netbooks, laptops, learning interests you, or you yourselves are managing a 1-2-1 project, I would love to hear from you.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Digital Learning / L4L — No Comments
14
Jan 10

Just 3%

Intel, asked 2,700 teachers from 15 countries about technology in their schools. While 98% felt that technology was critical in preparing pupils for the workforce, three quarters also thought governments were not doing enough. 70% of teachers thought children should be provided with a personal laptop but only 3% had such access.

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8457679.stm)

Popularity: 1% [?]

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