OllieBray.com

RM Strategic Forums: a vision of future learning

I have been more than impressed at BETT over the last couple of years with the exhibition that RM has put on regarding the future of learning spaces. I was also very impressed with my visit to the RM real centre at the end of last year – I just wish that more schools adopted some of the amazing options that are available to them instead if of still building just classrooms.

Anyway, I am delighted to be supporting RM at one of their 2010 events that will look at the a vision of future of learning. More information about the events are here – the first one was at Bristol last week and by all accounts it seemed to go really well and generated a buzz from the people that attended.

I am supporting the London event on Tuesday as part of the expert panel. If you are going along come and say hello and feel free to ask me difficult questions!

#BETT2010 - 3D Projection

 

One other noticeable thing about BETT 2010 was the increase in companies selling 3D projection. 3D projection is not a new concept, its been around for a long time, but it seems to have significantly come down in price over the past 12 months.

3D movies like Avatar have only helped develop the publicity behind products like this.

One of the reasons that 3D projection has come down in price seems to be the change from using two projectors to using one projector. The way that the movies are filmed has cut the hardware costs that are required by schools. The problem is that you still need 3D glasses and these seem to be quite expensive (although I guess you could use cheaper ones – or even make your own?)

Anyway I enjoyed flying through the heart and exploring the nervous system in one of the small 3D cinemas – I think that this technology has got interesting potential and I’m keen to see where the next 12 months takes it.

 

#BETT2010 - Naace: ICT CPD 4 Free

 

I got along to the launch of ICT CPD 4 Free on the Naace stand on the Thursday of BETT. ICT CPD 4 free is a new web site, sponsored by TDA, offering ICT teachers FREE on-line continuing professional development opportunities.

Naace is the professional association for those concerned with advancing education through the appropriate use of information and communications technology (ICT). Naace was established in 1984 and has become the key membership organization for those working in ICT in education.

What are the courses available on ICT CPD 4 Free?

The training modules, written by experts in their field, cover topics that have been identified by teachers as areas where additional training opportunities might be useful.

They are available on Moodle and currently include the following titles:

• Assessment of ICT in Primary Phase

• Assessment of ICT in Secondary Phase

• ICT knowledge within the QCA Primary Framework

• Embedding e-safety in the Curriculum – Short Course

• Embedding e-safety in the Curriculum – Long Course

• Exploring Digital media

• Introduction to finding Digital Resources

• Developing higher-order thinking skills utilizing ICT mind mapping and concept mapping interfaces

• High Interaction, Reflection and Peer Assessment through Educational Online Forums.

What are the advantages of this type of CPD? - (according to Naace)

• Study in your own time, at your leisure, without pressure and without charge.

• Use courses designed by teachers and practitioners that follow a familiar format and have many practical applications in the classroom.

• Receive recognition with a personalised certificate for every course completed and aggregate these awards over time to gain the Naace Online ICT Diploma.

• Whilst doing so become part of an online community that grows and grows and supports its members. 

I am particularly interested in the embedding e-safety in the curriculum course and will be doing a short review of this over the coming weeks.

 

#BETT2010 - RepRap 3D Printer

It was really nice to see A1 Technologies / Bits from Bytes win a BETT 2010 Award in the Digital Devices category for their RapMan product. I first saw the RapMan last year and was very impressed with the concept of 3D printing and also philosophy behind this particular printer.

The RepRap (“Replicating Rapid-prototyper”) is an open source project originally conceived by Dr Adrian Bowyer of Bath University to build a machine that can replicate itself. The Project now has a very active on-line community aiming to produce the world's most versatile self-replicating 3D printer.

We currently have three of these printers on order and they will be going out to three pilot schools as part of a consolarium trial as soon as they arrive.

 

Boardworks Geography Tool Kit wins Award (bit late with this news!)

I just noticed this unpublished blog post from October 2009. It was a picture I took at the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers (SAGT) Annual Conference of Stephen Thomas from Boardworks Ltd.

Stephen is holding  the 2009 SAGT Publishers Award for the non-book category for their Geography Toolkit. I was one of the main authors on the product in particular the Kenyan Mountain Mystery and Geographical Methods and Techniques Section.

I reviewed the product in a bit of detail after BETT 2009 and even though I say it myself its a pretty good piece of work!

BETT 2009 – Final Summary

It’s been over a week now since I got back from BETT 2009 and I’ve finally got to the end of my notes about the experience. One thing that I have noticed is that there don’t seem to be many people sharing their BETT experiences on the blogosphere? Yes, there has been the one off post, but nothing really comprehensive. I think this is a real shame and I hope that some of people that went to BETT 2009 will at least share their experiences within their own schools or learning communities.

I’ve enjoyed writing this series, I hope you have reading it? But I'm also pleased that it has come to an end. There are lots of other exciting things that have been happening in East Lothian and further afield that I am keen to write about. But until then, here is an index of all of my BETT 2009 posts.

1. BETT 2009 – Four Days, Familiar faces and Sore Feet

2. BETT 2009 – PSP’s and Augmented Reality

3. BETT 2009 – BrainPop UK

4. BETT 2009 – StudyWiz (QT Mobile and their new Google strategic global alliance)

5. BETT 2009 – Microsoft UK Innovative Teachers Network

6. BETT 2009 – London 2012 Olympics Educational Resources

7. BETT 2009 – CEOP

8. BETT 2009 – Txt Tools

9. BETT 2009 – SUMS ONLINE (Maths content for your PSP, Netbook or Mobile Device)

10. BETT 2009 – Open Source Schools

11. BETT 2009 – The National Education Network

12. BETT 2009 – MissonMaker and Elenox

13. BETT 2009 – Cyber Coach (Dance Mats and Exergaming)

14. BETT 2009 – Interactive Multi Touch Tables (RM. SMART, VIPRO and Microsoft Surface)

15. BETT 2009 – RM ‘Shaping Education for the Future’ (1 of 2)

16. BETT 2009 – RM ‘Shaping Education for the Future’ (2 of 2)

17. BETT 2009 – Mini Projectors

18. BETT 2009 – Promethean (1of3): Innovation

19. BETT 2009 – Promethean (2of3): Activsoftware Inspire Edition

20. BETT 2009: Promethean (3of3): Activsound and Activremote

21. BETT 2009 - BETT Awards

22. BETT 2009 - 2Simple 2Do It Yourself (DIY)

23. BETT 2009 - Teachmeet BETT 2009

See you at BETT 2010!

BETT 2009 - Teachmeet BETT 2009

Teachmeet BETT took place on the Friday evening of BETT 2009. Although the BETT Teachmeet was the biggest one I have ever attended and my first Teachmeet outside Scotland. I would still stick by my famous TESS quote and say that it is one of the most valuable events on the CPD calendar.

I’m not going to go into to much detail about the content of Teachmeet BETT 2009. Just Google it and you will see lots of great posts that have already been written about the event. One of my favourites is Alan Parkinson’s summary. It captures the event with Alan’s normal dry sense of wit and humour (I’m just pleased he lent me his laptop!)

As well as catching up with lots of familiar faces and some people who I had never met before the highlights of the evening for me were:

• John Davitt demonstrating his Random Activities Generator (RAG) – I’m looking forward to trying this out on the iPhone. John also showed us his Learning Score resource, which looks like a useful planning tool.

• Drew Buddie reminded me about Glogster – a great way to produce nice looking posters and other stuff.

• Ian Usher showed off Microsoft ZoomIt. ZoomIt lets you draw or write free-hand on the desktop screen in various colours. You can also pan like an on-screen camera or magnify any area of the desktop using either the mouse wheel or the arrow keys.

• Greg Hodsgon presenting on Photoshop Tennis – a great idea and very funny!

• Ian Stuart also presented (one and a half times?) live from Islay about the 2020 Islay Unconference that is scheduled for June.

All in all it was an excellent evening and one of the highlights of BETT 2009 for me. So a huge thanks to all the organisers and all the sponsors. Great work and a great evening.

BETT 2009 - 2Simple 2Do It Yourself (DIY)

It was nice to catch up with Alan Yeoman at BETT 2009. Alan now works as an educational consultant with 2Simple. 2Simple make lots of great stuff and I was instantly impressed with the software that Alan showed me called 2Do It Yourself (or 2DIY).

Among other things the software provides basic games design tools for young children. It’s really creative, easy to use and could introduce young people into a whole variety of learning experiences including design, rules, creativity and competition. The interface is very easy to use and I am sure the software will appeal to many teachers.

I had a quick go at making a game last night.

First of all I picked a game template from the options menu:

The game I picked is a bit like the old fashioned space invaders. You can apply rules to objects to gain points or to loose points.

The next step was to draw my background (notice the care I took with the trees!). I could have also imported an image if I had wanted to.

I then picked the objects to fall from the sky. The theme of my game is ‘Open Source’ so I up-loaded some ‘open source’ and some ‘non-open source’ logos to the game. I set rules against each object so that if you caught an open source logo you gained points and if you caught a non-open source logo you lost points.

Then I designed my ‘catching’ object. I picked a hand form the clip art bank.

I then set some rules about game timing (you just pay for a minutes) and added some sound.

Finally, I created a start page and you can play my finished game below! How simple was that, what a great resource!

To play the game you will need flash installed on your computer. Click start and then use the left and right cursor keys to move the hand to catch the logos.

 

Porchester Junior School has also up-loaded some 2DIY Games to their excellent classroom website.

BETT 2009 - BETT Awards

Photo: Merlin John Online

For some reason I was missed off the complementary BETT awards dinner list for this year? Obviously an oversight on the organisers part :-). And the fact I don’t own a dinner jacket!

Anyway, it was good to catch up on the award results over on my good friend Merlin’s New Site. I was particularly pleased with the winners in the following categories:

Outstanding Achievement in ICT Education
Professor Stephen Heppell – I am a big fan of Stephens work. Not only did he once mention me on his blog! (even saying that my presentation was fascinating!) But we also have a number of other things in common. Most importantly a passion for the sea, snow and……I guess education?

Judges' comments: "Stephen Heppell's contribution goes back to the earliest days of ICT in UK schools (1980 with the national organisation MicroElectronics Education Programme) which is why the judges considered him to be the very best person to receive this inaugural award. Stephen has worked to raise the profile and application of ICT for learning right across education - with learners, teachers, school leaders and even governments.”

Content-Free Tools
Softease for Podium – I think Podium is great! Intuitive, Simple, Effective and Reliable!

Judges' comments: "It supports planning, structuring, creativity and collaboration. It is easy to use and supports a complex area that some teachers may shy away from. The instructions are good, and it breaks down complex tasks into simple and achievable elements."

 

ICT Company of the Year
2Simple Software – I have been so impressed with their 2 DIY Software.

Judges' comments: "This is a company that responds totally to the needs of schools and children. It is a partnership organisation that supports learning and teaching with staff and management that cares about the children and teachers – both here and overseas – that use their products."

 

E-Safety
Childnet International for Know IT All for Parents – another great resource that links nicely to our Internet safety and Responsible Use training that we have been running in East Lothian.

Judges' comments: "It offers comprehensive coverage of the e-safety agenda. The navigation is clear and intuitive. This resource could have a big impact on parents and carers who are essential partners in children’s learning and it does this in a professional and engaging way. It is engaging and informative, meeting a wide range of user expectations – parents’, carers’, teachers’ and so forth.”

BETT 2009: Promethean (3of3): Activsound and Activremote

As well as Activesoftware Inspire Edition Promethean also launched a new version of Activsound at BETT 2009. Again I like the idea of this and know that teachers use microphones to improve their voice in lots of classrooms all over the world. It looks like this is about to catch on in the UK as well.

The new Activsound system looks pretty good. It’s a lot smaller than previous versions and again like all Promethean products its well thought out. One of the exciting possibilities of using the Activsound for me would be to use it with Activesoftware Inspire Edition to enable the teacher to capture the whole lesson (teachers voice, students voices and IWB content) as one movie that could then be podcasted or used as a revision aid. There are also obvious benefits for teacher health.

One of the versions of Activsound is portable which means it can also be transferred between classrooms. I think there is a lot of potential here – I would be keen to try and get my hands on one of these and give it a real robust classroom test. The other thing I want to try out is the new Promethean Activremote that they also launched at BETT. I didn’t get a chance to see one of these in action. But again I like the idea of such a piece of hardware. I see too many teacher tied to their interactive whiteboard teaching the class from the front of the room. The Activeremote combined with other devices like the Activslate are the first steps to help some members of staff challenge this and get them more active around the class.

Great stuff, both products well thought out and really robust for classroom use!