BETT awards - E2BN resources shortlisted again!

E2BN's great online activities, Cookit and Myths & Legends, are both on the BETT awards shortlist. For Myths & Legends, it's the second year in a row that it has been honoured in this way.

Cookit sets out to improve pupils' skills, understanding and enjoyment of healthy eating. It includes a searchable list of recipes, and schools can share their own recipes and cooking ideas with others. You can also take a trip through centuries of cooking including Prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and World War 2 meals. Each section includes recipes and shows the authentic surroundings and processes from the period.

Myths and Legends is used throughout the UK, as well as worldwide. It is a learning resource for pupils, teachers and all those who enjoy stories and storytelling. Pupils of all abilities can enjoy reading and creating stories using the tools available on the site. These tools include a unique story-making tool that allows pupils to make and playback their own myths and legends, and a sound and picture gallery.

For links to each of these great activities click here.

Unscheduled Downtime - Schools' Remote Access

IMPORTANT: Unscheduled Downtime – Schools’ Remote Access

Purpose: Alert all Schools using the Staff and Pupil Remote Access system of unscheduled downtime
Audience: All School Staff/Students using Remote Access Solution

PLEASE ENSURE THIS INFORMATION IS PASSED ON TO ANY MEMBERS OF STAFF, AND COMMUNICATED TO ANY STUDENTS, USING THE STAFF/PUPIL REMOTE ACCESS SOLUTION.

We have identified a number of issues with Barracuda SSL VPN (used for Staff and Student Remote Access):

To resolve this issue we need to take the system offline on Friday 6th November 2009 between 09:00 and 13:00 hours.

Twitter for Educators

If you're not sick to death of hearing about Twitter, you might find this Powerpoint show from Bhupesh Shah interesting.

http://www.slideshare.net/Bhupesh/twitter-for-educators-2344887

Apart from Twitter specifics for teachers and students, it's set in the context of Personal Learning Networks which adds to its relevance in a world of Learning 2.0, as some people have called it.

Central hosting major upgrade

Purpose: Advance warning for centrally hosted schools

Audience: All schools using central hosting

During November, the ICT Service has to carry out a major database upgrade that also involves commissioning new equipment. We have looked at a variety of ways of minimising disruption to services, but it will involve loss of service on two weekends: 14/15 November and 21/22 November. There will be no access to central hosting on the Saturday and a part of Sunday on those dates, though we hope to restore service as soon as possible on the Sunday. The Central Hosting Portal (which will still be available) will provide more information on the actual weekends. The ICT Service apologises for the length of these planned works, but these are the shortest times we can manage outside of normal school hours.

Online Reporting and SIMS Learning Gateway

Purpose: Invitation to participate

Audience: Secondary Headteachers and SIMS Managers

Secondary schools using SIMS will have received a letter advising them of an opportunity to start using SIMS Learning Gateway to meet the government expectation to report to parents online by September 2010. The letter gives details and a faxback form allowing schools to nominate the principal contact in the school for the ICT Service to work with. This project is heavily subsidized by Harnessing Technology Grant to reduce costs to schools.

Primary schools’ invitations will go out later this term as their target is September 2012.

ESafety in the Primary Classroom

Purpose: Spaces available

Audience: Primary Teachers, TA's, ICT Subject Leaders

Are you and your colleagues ESafety aware?

Do you know what the key issues are?

Would you like to know more?

There is a half day course that will help you to review Esafety issues and help you to address the teaching and learning of esafety in your classroom.

The course will investigate practical examples you could readily use in the classroom based on nationally available resources and look at esafety within the Starz Primary Learning Platform.

Thursday 22nd October 2009 09:30 - 12:00 at Education ICT Service, Godmanchester

Please note we are unable to accept bookings over the phone. You may call to check course detail and space availability on telephone 01480 376670 or email: ict.courses@cambridgeshire.gov.uk , unfortunately no places can be provisionally booked.

Cambridgeshire Impulse Conference 2009

For Heads and Senior Leaders

Leadership, Management and Information

Millennium Hall, Buckden
Tuesday, 17th November 2009 - 09:30 - 15:30

Oliver Cromwell Hotel, March
Wednesday, 18th November 2009 - 09:30 - 15:30

Cambridge Professional Development Centre
Wednesday, 25th November 2009 - 09:30 - 15:30

‘Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People’

Guest speakers include: Nigel Battey, Gordon Wilkinson, Angela Scott, Celia Davis

MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE: 2 free places for each school including lunch .

Please note we are unable to accept bookings over the phone. You may call to check course detail and space availability on telephone 01480 376670 or email: ict.courses@cambridgeshire.gov.uk , unfortunately no places can be provisionally booked.