Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Have your say. May 2008
Round-up of opportunities and consultations for teachers, leaders and learners.
Children asked for advice on how to design the best playgrounds and play spaces.
The first ever UK national consultation on children's play has been launched by the government and children are being asked directly for their views and ideas. Visit the interactive website where children aged 8-13 are asked a set of questions and asked to design play areas and activities. The emphasis is on making the experience of contributing fun for the children who win points to use to design play areas with each question they answer. There is also a poster competition. The consultation is to be followed by an initiative to build 3,500 more play areas across the country and funds of £2 million for each of 30 local authorities to invest in new adventure playgrounds. To have your say and design a play space, click here.
Next Practice Acceleration Space for school leaders
This service has been set up by The Innovation Unit to connect school leaders who are implementing innovative practices in their school. Leaders are linked with colleagues in other schools who are following similar ideas and practices in order to support each other and share experiences. The space also hosts practical guides for all four Next Practice in Education strands identified by the Innovation Unit. (System Leadership, Resourcing Personalisation, Communities Engaged in Learning and Parents and Carers ). Click here to visit the site.
Opportunity for young linguists to go on European tour with band.
Shine production company in conjunction with Channel four are looking for AS and A2 level students who have a love of languages and an interest in music to tour with an unnamed "well-known" band in Europe, using language skills to help organise events and arrangements for the band. The closing date is June 13th and the link takes you to the details and a letter and flyer for your school or college. The project is being run in conjunction with the DCSF and Channel Four to encourage the study of European languages in secondary schools. For more information click here
BBC's New Interactive Adventure Website Rocks !
BBC is investing more money in free interactive services recognising children and young people are choosing to spend less time watching standard television programmes and are using interactive and internet services. One of the latest services is Adventure Rock, where visitors take part in challenges which are set each month. The game has had 2 million page views a month since its launch. To visit the site click here
Cheap subscriptions for schools on a range of areas of academic interest, organised by BECTA, in conjunction with JISC Collections.
Becta and the National Education Network have formed an initiative with the media group JISC Collection to provide schools with significantly reduced subscriptions for unlimited access to online resources including The Times, The Guardian and The Observer digital archives dating back to 1785, as well as 50,000 copyright-cleared images chosen for suitability for use in learning and teaching. All resources are suitable for use on learning platforms and each school has unlimited access for all pupils at home as well as at school.
For details click here:
Take part in research into learner voice.
Futurlab is conducting research into learner voice initiatives, commissioned by BECTA. To contribute ideas of your own or practice in your school and to read those of others. Go to this site:
English Secondary Students Association
The English Secondary Students Association has been set up to facilitate student voice in the UK. The organisation is run by students for students and provides training, advice and support to young people in getting their voice heard and valued. There are regional student advisors for all areas of England. The website also links students in the UK with those in other countries who are involved in promoting student voice in their schools. Click here to visit the site