The Local Authority has consulted the Norfolk Schools Forum on the distribution of the Harnessing Technology Grant (2008-2011). It has been agreed that 20% of the total funding will be distributed to schools using a commissioning process to produce high quality learning resources.

Guidance and an application form can now be found on the Norfolk Schools website.

Some exciting days at UEA coming up - please see attached documents

Computer Games Programming Application.pdf

Computing Science mailout.pdf  

Please see MI Sheet MI 77/09

In MI Sheet MI 25/09 we indicated that 20% of the Harnessing Technology Grant (Commissioned Element of Funding) would be made available to schools for curriculum development projects. Projects could attract funding of up to £20000.

The intended outcomes of these projects must be improved learning and teaching, raised achievement and high quality online learning and teaching resources shared on the Norfolk Learning Platforms. To ensure a coherent and successful approach to this exciting development there are detailed criteria and processes as well as support and guidance. There will be termly opportunities for project submissions to the Learning Platform Board during 2009/10.

If you want to find out more and think you might like to be involved, we are inviting schools to one of 3 briefing sessions taking place on:

	14th May from 9.30am to 11.30am at West Norfolk PDC
	14th May from 4pm to 6pm at the Norwich PDC
	15th May from 9.30am to 11.30am at Norwich PDC

Attendance to these briefing sessions is not a requirement for the submission of project proposals.

All information and guidance will be made available online to all schools from 14^th May 2009. The first opportunity for submission will close on 15^th June 2009. Schools planning to submit a proposal this term are strongly encouraged to attend one of the briefing sessions.

To register a place at any of the briefings please email: Anne Mitchell confirming which session you would like to attend, (please include all name(s) of attendees) by 8^th May 2009.

The new ‘Inspired’ from Futurelab has interesting material in as always. Here’s just some of the ones for ICT:
·          X48 game camp Participants were asked to work to a brief that enabled them to showcase games that might move beyond traditional puzzle and shoot-em-up formats and open up new and interesting 'conversations'.
·          Postgraduate courses in Computer games technology research at The University of Abertay Dundee.
·          Using augmented reality technologies to help a latter-day Macbeth enabling him to negotiate the corridors of his castle while seeing and interacting with computer-generated images projected on top.
·          Alternative/Improved(?) web searching using Kosmix.
·          There's a succinct account of the recent BSF conference held in London on Futurelab's blog, Flux.

There’s loads of other stuff as well for many different areas.

E2BN Annual Conference

23rd - 24th June 2009, The Robinson Centre, Wyboston, Beds, MK44 3AR.

A two day conference and exhibition for heads, teachers and everyone interested in the impact of new technologies.

Further details on the website - http://conference.e2bn.org/index.php

National Agencies continue to issue more advice and support to help teachers and parents in their efforts to educate young people to be safe.

Becta has just issued advice called: Acceptable Use Policies in context: Establishing safe and responsible online behaviours.  You can find it online, where hard copies can be ordered too: http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=pb&catcode=ss_pb_es_02&rid=16252

Childnet has now produced dedicated resources for Primary schools.  They are available online at http://www.childnet-int.org/kia/primary/.  Surely video footage is always a bonus for such lessons?

At a recent conference David Anstead (National Adviser for ICT) presented the findings of the Ofsted Report into ICT: The importance of ICT: information and communication technology in primary and secondary schools, 2005/2008

There are some real successes as well as some national concerns - how does this relate to your school (experience)?.

 Successes include:

• improving trend for achievements and standards in ICT
• strength in ICT at KS1
• investment in ICT improves teaching
• upward trend in quality of leadership for ICT

Concerns include:

• narrow curriculum (overemphasis of communicating and exchanging information)
• weaknesses in assessment of ICT
• lack of challenge for higher attainers
• questions about the value of some qualifications offered (KS4 vocational)
• lack of opportunity to develop transferable skills

From TeacherNet: 

Red Nose Day 2009

Becta and Comic Relief are calling for schools to get involved in Red Nose Day 09 with a schools competition to find Britain's top classroom talent. In support of this year's theme 'Do Something Funny for Money' this competition encourages schools to 'Perform Something Funny' and upload their content onto the Red Nose Day Schools Showcase. Participating schools are in with a chance of winning £5000 worth of ICT equipment.

We've recently informed all schools of the funding arrangements in relation to the Harnessing Technology Grant.  The key objective of the additional resources are to ensure that all ICT in school is used effectively to enhance learning.  Details of the guidance can be found on the e-courier.  School leaders are encouraged to read both the Norfolk and Becta guidance provided for this funding and base the developments for their school on the outcomes of the Becta Self Review Framework.

There are high expectations that schools focus their efforts on making best use of ICT in the classroom and via the learning platforms.  Since 2008 all Norfolk pupils have been entitled to use their personal online learning space provided through the Learning Platform (Netmedia in Primary and Fronter in Secondary Schools).  We already have some great examples of how schools are using these new tools to provide more engaging lessons, set homework online, engage parents in their children's learning and share best practice across Norfolk.  We will also provide additional opportunties for schools to develop curriculum content collaboratively and an announcement is expected at our ICT Conference.

We have identified the following priorities, which should guide schools in the use of this grant: 

Effective use of Learning Platforms (VLE) by staff and pupils to support learning, teaching as well as communication and overall school effectiveness.

• Ensure that all pupils have access to their electronic online learning space
• Encourage teachers to create new resources on the learning platform and to transfer existing resources there.
• Encourage teachers to include opportunities for using ICT at home when planning programmes of work and setting homework.

Develop a coherent and whole school approach to e-safety. 

Schools are encouraged to review their curriculum, policies and procedures using the new Norfolk e-safety documentation and advice.  Schools should consider the use of e-safety monitoring using software tools as part of their pastoral systems to monitor e-safety.  This will be a requirement for schools wanting to move to the more liberal e-learning filtering setting.

Enhanced parental engagement through the use of ICT.

Norfolk Children’s Services are working hard to develop the technical solutions as well as models of best practice.    Some Norfolk Schools are involved in a BECTA pilot for this to develop school processes and policies.  Further guidance and advice will follow in 2009.

Ensure that use of management information systems and learning platforms improve school efficiency.

There is significant support and guidance on assessment, tracking, reporting and intervention for example through the National Strategies.  It is important that ICT Systems in schools are used effectively to support these processes. 

Implement the Framework for ICT Support and Financial Management in Schools. 

Teachers and pupils should be confident that ICT resources are available, reliable and thus support learning.

We are very pleased to announce the release, for consultation with schools, the eagerly awaited final draft Norfolk E-Safety Toolkit!

The E-Safety Toolkit has been developed in consultation with the Joint Consultative Committee, unions and representatives with expertise in teaching and learning, Safeguarding Children, HR and ICT.

The E-Safety Toolkit includes policy and guidance on the use of ICT in teaching and learning in school and the extended school, through to home and mobile access. The guidance covers a broad range of ICT applications from the traditional PC, to mobile devices, learning platforms and social networking. We have also included some useful tools to help you assess where your school is now in terms of E-Safety and guidance to support you in developing local policies.

We need you!

Every school has a different approach to the use of ICT in teaching and learning. For example, some schools will encourage the use of personal devices in the classroom, or filtering that permits social networking for some groups. We have developed the E-Safety Toolkit with this in mind, but you are the experts and we need you to tell us if this toolkit will work for your school!

Consultation

The E-Safety Toolkit is available for consultation until the 20th February 2009. Visit http://www.eficts.norfolk.gov.uk/esafety for more information and to access the E-Safety Toolkit.

Feedback

Please send all feedback to sharon.knight@norfolk.gov.uk.