| Digital - teacher | Education in a technological world

Animoto Beta

I was sent details of this new website - upload your photographs, add some music (you can use their choice - no copyright issues then) and then the site magically mixes them together to produce a video.

Cosmetic changes

As you can see, I've made some changes to the look of this website. Gone is the list, on the right of the page, of sections that I write articles into. This is now below the banner on every page. Talking of which, I've cleaned up the look of the banner too. I've altered the colours of the site, and redesigned the layout so that no matter what size monitor you're viewing on, the content will display in the middle 800 pixels of the screen.  And finally there's a clever bit of Amazon coding at the bottom of the page. It "reads" the content of the page, and then tries to show relevant products from their website. (Mind you it's struggling with some of the posts as it can't decide what is relevant and what isn't)

MyPoliceSpace

A man was caught vandalising hanging baskets after a video of him in the act was posted on the internet and spotted by an off-duty policeman.

The film of [removed name], tearing down hanging baskets on a walk home in Chatteris, Cambs, was posted by friends on networking website MySpace. The police officer recorded the video, called "Skeggsy destroying Chatteris in Bloom!", and went to see the offender.
[ He ] was issued with an £80 on-the-spot fine for criminal damage.

Cambridgeshire Police Insp Robin Sissons said: "People have to be careful if you are playing around. "Don't forget that the police also watch the internet and sites like MySpace."

Going widescreen

Well, as ICT coordinator it's my job to keep the school running when it comes to using the technology. So my maths group head to the suite for their lesson using the laptops. Only problem is... 28 laptops don't work with 30 children!
So I mention this to the HT, and ask if we can have two more laptops to make sure everyone gets a machine. That's not a problem (brilliant!). The problem is that the machines we have have been superceded by the manufacturer, and the new versions are now widescreen, and I don't want 28 kids on one type of machine, and 2 on another.

But there is a solution - my laptop will become a suite laptop and guess who gets the shiny new widescreen one? Yep - me!! Plus, one other teacher will also have to forgoe there older machine for the other shiny new one.

Who will it be?

Back to that old routine

Well, after a scorching (!??!) summer break, it's back to the day job. These first few weeks are always the killers. If it's not the feeling of exhausting from going from a sedate speed in the summer to all-out-rushing in the space of a day, or the feeling of how different this class is (and the thought "will I ever get them to the standard of last years?"), then it's the battle against the first virus invasion that enters the school with the kids.
So far, I've suffered just from the first and second, but I can see children hacking in class and thinking it's only a matter of time before their bugs strike me down.

Just for the kids

We've been contacted by a new website for children; Webbliworld, telling about what they offer.

WebbliWorld, has recently launched a website for children between the ages of 6-10 years old.

www.WebbliWorld.com is a vibrant, interactive and highly animated virtual world for children, designed and developed in association with Aardman animations. The website is currently running a competition and has games available where you and the children will have the opportunity to win prizes from Puffin Books and WWF.  We felt the competition was a great way to get children involved on both an educational and personal level.

You can also read what the owners, Justine & Camilla have to say about the safety of children online by viewing their blog. They would love your input and any suggestions you may have.

I've taken a look, and if what they say regarding the moderation and filtering is true, it offers a great opportunity for kids. One to keep an eye on!