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The BBC is currently testing a new format for its homepage. Taking elements from many "web 2.0" sites you can select your own content and order it around the page. It's in early stages, but shows potential, and the best addition is the return of the old BBC clock in the top right corner. Pointless, but reminds me of childhood TV watching.
Google, the internet search company, is entering the UK schools market - launching a website with resources and news for teachers. The free online materials show how to adapt Google Maps and Google Earth for classroom use. Google says it will support lessons in history, geography and citizenship.
Earlier this week I visited my poorly father in hospital. I travelled there straight from work as it is on my way home. When I returned to the car and hit the unlock button on the keyfob, it didn't sound right (I know - how sad!). I wandered around the car thinking that something was strange, and sure enough when I got to the passenger side noticed a big hole just at the side of the door handle.
Panic set in, and I quickly opened the boot to discover my school laptop missing. Not only had that gone, but in the bag was also my digital voice recorder, and my iPod.
Having my laptop go was bad enough, but losing the iPod, that was the worst thing, as it contained all the music for the Christmas Concert, and without it we are back to using a CD on a machine that jumps and skips.
So now I am laptop-less, voice recorder-less and iPod less, and somewhere in the city there is a scrote who thinks Christmas has come early. I only hope that (1) they are unable to access the profiles that they do not have the passwords to, and (2) that the iPod - which is a few years old now - breaks and becomes useless.
:-((
I hate these. I have never liked the idea of them, as they are so dependent on the year groups that come through each year, however I have to say that after looking on the BBC website at the results for my present school, and then comparing it with a previous school in the same authority I taught at for a short while I was pleased to see that we've done OK. I was also pleased to see that many schools in the previou deprived authority I worked in have done well - especially when their value added figures are looked at.
But it doesn't mean that I agree with them still!
Christmas is definately on it's way now. I know this for a fact. There are three "dead certainty" events that tell me this.
1. The Coca Cola advert with the lorries and THAT song are on the TV*
2. The first of my 25 special "Online Advent" posts has appeared on the school website
3. It's Saturday, and I'm thinking about whether the costumes and props will be ready in time for the Christmas production because (OMG) we only have 7 days left to rehearse!
* for those who think that the Coke advert is wrong, the one above is for 2007, this one is the one we all remember;
