Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Have Your Say, June 2008
Opportunities for learners and teachers to have their voices heard as well as interesting new free resources and events.
Routes into languages, a three year programme involving over 50 universities has recently been launched in the UK. The £8 million funding has been provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the DCSF. Based at Southampton University but with centres all over the country it’s brief is to promote modern language study in schools and to increase the take up at university level. There are regular events all over the country as well as opportunities to take part in exciting projects and free resources. Follow the link to see what is happening in your area, or to arrange for one of the Language Ambassadors (University Language students) to visit your school. Click here
Arts Council England are running a Participation in the Arts Conference on July 2nd at the Barbican centre, London and all those involved or interested in arts at a local level are invited to attend. Tickets are free but limited. If you are in or near London follow the link for more details. The national conference will have key-note speakers, seminar sessions and the launch of new research and guidelines on increasing local participation in the arts.
The BETT Awards 2009 opened for entries on 25th June 2008. The annual awards are perhaps the most prestigious and influential in recognising the creative use and development of technology for teaching and learning in the UK. There are several categories of award rewarding talent and innovation in digital product design from early years to further education. The winners are announced at a Gala Dinner at the annual Bett Show, which will be held at Olympia, London, 14-17th January 2009. To nominate or enter, visit the websiteor for more information about the BETT Show 2009 click here.
The Next Generation Learning Awards 2009 (Technology Excellence in FE and skills sector) are a new awards scheme run by BECTA and sponsored by OCR In their first year the rewards are going to focus on identifying and rewarding excellence in the effective, innovative and confident use of ICT in the further education and skills sector. There is an award, Further My Learning, designated for learners to nominate their education provider, the other six are for providers to enter their own institution. Winners, announced in early 2009 will receive a cash prize and opportunities to present and share their excellence in practice throughout the year. Closing date is 9th July. Find out more or register for an award. Schools cannot enter for the Next Generation Learning awards this year, although the ICT Excellence Awards is a similar awards scheme run by BECTA to recognise ICT innovation and best practice in schools. The shortlist for the 2009 awards is announced in September.
Free resources are available to all schools who sign up to the Schools Food Trust’s Million Meals Campaign. The aimis to enable schools to improve the food they serve by making small and affordable changes, supported by the trust’s free resources and advice. Registered schools have access to question and answer sessions with well-known school food champions and case-studies of successful menus and initiatives. Over 2,400 schools are currently registered. Visit the website to register.
Every child starting either Primary or Secondary school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this September will receive two books to take home under the ‘Booktime’ and ‘Booked Up’ schemes launched by the charity Booktrust with support from the DCSF and Pearsons Publishing.
The Booktime scheme was set up with the ambition of making sure every child who starts school has a book of their own. Now in it’s third year the children will receive a fiction book and a book of poetry in a pack which includes guidance for parents on how to enjoy sharing reading with their child. Schools will also receive a pack of resources on how to use the books in class and school time.
The Booked Up scheme for those starting secondary school in September gives students a choice from twelve titles and they will also receive an anthology of poetry. A panel of reading and literature experts including Michael Rosen have chosen the 12 titles.
To see the selections for September or to make sure your school is registered click here.
The DCSF have launched a full consultation on proposals to improve the transparency of the School Admissions Process in England and Wales. The allocation of school places, both Primary and Secondary received a lot of publicity when allocations were received by parents in March this year and this is a chance to schools, parents and pupils to give their views on the suggested changes. The consultation runs until October 2nd and can be accessed here.
Exploratree is a free resource website created by Futurelab to support and encourage thinking skills in the classroom. It contains a range of resources and thinking guides each focusing on a different aspect of the skill ofenquiry. The resources are templates for classes or individuals to complete with the facility to send work to other members of your class for comments. Registration is free.
Give your computer a Scottish accent. A team of researchers at Edinburgh University have developed a computer speech engine which will read documents in an authentic Scottish accent and it’s use is free for all schools in Scotland. The voice, named Heather, once installed on your computer will enable you to use it with a wide range of programmes.
The Scottish government have paid for ‘Heather’s voice’ to be available free to all schools in Scotland. Just go to the website and download.