WrightICT eNews
Issue 3
Welcome
Articles and further snippets via my website and Twitter. Details of both at the foot of the page.
Get Online at Home Initiatve
From 11 June 2013, the Get Online @ Home initiative is launching a £24 refurbished PC with broadband from £2.99 per month, to help the staggering number of digitally excluded Brits get online – including 10.8 million aged 15 and over who do not use the internet, 16 million who still do not have basic online skills, and 800,000 of the most disadvantaged UK schoolchildren who do not have home internet access.
Shape The Future Scheme
The computers must be for 1:1 use and you need to be a UK school to qualify.
For more information click here.
However, if it's the appeal of a cheaper tablet that's grabbed your attention it might be prudent to wait as there are rumours that Microsoft will be discounting its Surface tablets by as much as 50% for schools.
Parents' Guide to Technology
Safe Internet Searching
To learn more about how it works, click here.
To try it out, click here.
I tried using a range of innapropriate search terms and all returned a polite 'Oops. Try Again' message.
Safe Image Resource Bank
There are also sound and video files available.
You can register and upload your own images. I have and it does leave you with a good feeling when you see your pics have had x viewings. More here.
Primary Schools and Facebook
Using Images of Pupils
Google's Guide to Staying Safe Online
RiskIT 2013
RiskIT 2013 will take place between 4th-15th November. To find out more, click here.
Using Apps In School?
Handy Apps and Sites
I think that one of its strengths is the lack of formatting options. Pupils can't spend too much time in exploring frivolous animation effects as they're not there and so they'll hopefully be more inclined to focus on the content. Less is more and all that.
Class Dojo. An easy to use behaviour management tool. Simply upload your class list and each pupil is given an icon. You simply click an icon and add a behaviour statement. Positive and negative statements are provided, but you can add your own. Access is via the web, or apps for both Android and Apple devices. If you choose, the data collected can be shared with parents. Best of all... it's free.
If you have iPads and J2E, then the new J2Launch app should be on your 'things to download' list.
GeoGuesser. Use photographs from around the world and the your wits to see if you can guess where you are. You have 5 different photos for each challenge and the software gives you a score and tells you how near you were to the answer. Be warned, it can be a tad addictive.... and difficult too.
As the end of term looms, you might find a use for these summer activities on the J2E site.
WrightICT
Email: paul@wrightict.co.uk
Website: www.wrightict.co.uk
Phone: 07917160770
Twitter: @WrightICT