Google Drive & Student Portfolios for the iPad Chinese smartphone makers Huawei, ZTE target top tier BAISNet On Computing Education - The Windows Movie Maker Problem - Ross Penman - Ross Penman Computing education is not working. This has been pointed out time and time again by people in all corners of the many computing-related industries, and yet nothing is changing. I noticed that most of the perspectives from this seemed to be coming from people who had either left the education system, or were at the other end as teachers. I want to share my perspective as a 14-year-old school pupil. Firstly, computing education is not taken nearly as seriously as it should be. For the first two years of secondary school, Computing is taught less than any other subject, tied only with business management. The reason for this decision eludes me, but I imagine that it comes from the lack of respect that is given to the subject. In first year, Computing is barely worthwhile. After a year of this, you begin your second year of computing education by learning how to use Microsoft Paint. Things do begin to improve. In addition, it is simply too little, too late. So what could we improve upon?
Transforming a school ICT suite to a future proof Discovery Centre - @Ideas_Factory The blog of Julian S. Wood So as promised (a while ago) my school’s journey from a traditional ICT suite of rows of computers to a ‘Discovery Centre’ fit for the 21st century. Taking a cue from my 5 year vision for ICT (unbelievably a year to the day of posting on here) Here’s a picture of the original ICT suite, complete with rows of desktop computers and an obligatory interactive whiteboard at the front. The senior management team felt that the suite didn’t properly represent the school’s creative ethos, didn’t reflect our vision of learning and wasn’t capable of delivering the future curriculum needs of our pupils. So we started gathering ideas from pupils about what ‘future learning’ might look like and what they needed to make it happen. We asked staff about what they thought was needed to teach a future curriculum and did a lot of research! So we came up with our ‘Discovery Centre’ a multi-curricular, multi-discipline, multi-technological headquarters. We even have a secret reading den!
How to Set and Negotiate your Freelance Business Rates Thinking of going it alone? Becoming a freelancer is an attractive option for many professionals, but can you make it work for you? One of the most critical steps involved in planning and growing your freelance business is setting your rates. However, when you are charging for a service, this is easier said than done and getting it wrong (either way) can compromise your worth, your cash-flow and your business. Here are three tips for setting your freelance rates, structuring your pricing, and negotiating with clients. Setting Your Freelance Rate Pricing the service you provide as a freelancer isn’t easy and is influenced by several factors: What is the going market rate? If you are coming out of full-employment and starting on your own, a good rule of thumb to follow when determining your hourly rate is to: Calculate what your annual salary equates to as an hourly rate ($x divide by 52 (work weeks), divide by 40 (week work hours). Negotiating Your Rate Additional Resources About the Author
New BBC Bitesize for National 4 & 5 | Digital Learning Team BBC Learning have launched new BBC Bitesize content to support learners taking new National 4/5 qualifications this year. Packed with quizzes, videos and infographics, these guides are available on mobile, tablet and desktop and will help you get to grips with the new qualifications. The new material comprises nearly 5000 pages, more than 7000 infographics, 2000 photos and over 500 new quizzes, presented alongside thousands of educational video clips, mapped to the curriculum. The launch of the National 4 and 5 content is the latest step in the new BBC Knowledge and Learning online product, which when complete will bring together factual and learning content from over 100 existing BBC websites, from Bitesize and Food to Science and History. Like this: Like Loading...
Adding “Game” to Your Classroom: Can Video Games Enhance Motivation? The idea of incorporating video games into our classrooms is a relatively new, and for many of us, intimidating notion. Put simply, by planning video gameplay – or aspects of it – into our lesson and unit planning, we can reach our learners in creative and alternative ways. Many of our students spend countless hours online and using video game systems; adding “game” to the classroom is a potential way to merge the home and school spheres of interest – to boost student learning and motivation. […and your “inner” teacher asks…] I am currently planning a unit where I will use Mario Kart Wii as a vehicle to carry curriculum and address learning goals for my grade 8 students. The educational world is in flux and constantly changing. Our purpose as teachers is to educate students to be critical thinkers and lifelong learners. Start with the students.
10 Things to Watch for Independent Educational Consultants in 2011 by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA With the start of the new year—and IECA’s 35th anniversary—comes the opportunity to outline where we are headed both as a profession of independent educational consulting and specifically with IECA. Here’s my list of 10 things to watch for in 2011: 1. Increased demand among the media and the public for independent educational consultants (IECs) to demonstrate their professional competence and ethical guideposts. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. If you have goals you’d like to see IECA pursue, let us know about them! Audioboo for Education Schools and universities around the world are embracing Audioboo as the easiest, most effective way to give teachers and students a voice. Audio enriches the curriculum, engages the learner, and creates conversations that build community. Take a look at some amazing ways that Audioboo is reinventing the classroom experience. Give Your Students A Voice Your students have a lot to say! Listen to Brody proudly read the book he authored. The students at Michael Faraday School are using Audioboo to recreate history in their own voices. Mr. Student Voice Live is an initiative that strives to to create a international network of students who are empowered to tell share their stories. Enrich, Engage and Extend Learning Audioboo has thousands of amazing audio recordings that will help you create personalized lesson plans, support the flipped classroom model and motivate students to engage in learning that supports Common Core Standards. Check out these great resources from Audioboo too...