If you have any comments and/or contributions to make, please send them...

• ...using the Online Comment/Feedback Form or
• ...email the editor John Dalziel at support@rsc-northwest.ac.uk
  

The Regional Support Centre eMagazine provides news of funding, current projects, initiatives and examples of good practice in eLearning, and offers ideas and support for the HE, FE, ACL, WBL, 6th Form and Specialist College Managers & Practitioners, that are supported by the RSC here in the Northwest.

"I've downloaded some excellent software from this site" (John Dalziel eLearning Adviser)

• How Google, Wikipedia Have Changed Our Lives — For Better and Worse
• ICT in MY Classroom
• Inspiring Iris
• Making your podcast more pro
• Mobile Youth report well worth a read
• Omniglot
• The Efficiency (and Shame) of Long-Distance Reporting
• This blog is designed to aid English language teachers
  

A lecturer in the U.K. made headlines this month when she banned her students from using Wikipedia and Google for research assignments in her classes. The professor, Dr. Tara Brabazon, said that students “don’t come to university to learn how to Google.” I’m sure they don’t, but I can imagine the fear that the ban struck in the hearts of her students.

Read the full blog article at http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/01/before_and_afterhow_google_wik.html . 

In Jane's "E-Learning Pick of the Day (JELPOD)", she tells us...

"you might like my latest blog - Inspring Iris.

Whilst researching new e-learning tools and resources, I frequently come across other interesting and fascinating resources of more general interest. In the past I have discarded them, but this week I decided to set up a new blog to record them: Inspiring Iris.

There are already 14 postings on it, but resources that I have found particularly interesting are:

• Rouxbe - video recipes deliver a revolutionary online instructional cooking experience that will guide you step-by-step through each delicious recipe
• FloorPlanner - the easiest, quickest, and best looking way to create and share interactive floorplans
• RenGen - short for Renaissance Generation, is a cultural movement created by the confluence of art, education, entertainment and business. This is the book by Patricia Martin

I can't promise to post a new resource every day as here at JELPOD, but it will be pretty regularly."

Take a look and see what you think at http://janeknight.typepad.com/inspiringiris/ .

"Making a radio show, a regular podcast, that kids and parents can find on iTunes and listen to in their own time, has huge advantages of class presentations or even just plopping audio onto the school website without its feed."

Read more at http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2007/10/making-your-pod.html .

"Why Andy's Black Hole? Well it was going to be called Andy's Ramblings from edge but Katrina Lambert came up with a better suggestion. What's it for? A place Andy Can dump all the things he come across that might be useful to those people living the dream of promoting e-learning.

This particular blog entry flags up a website and realted publication that Andy feels is really well worth following in you are interested in the developing mobile field.

Go to http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com/2008/01/mobile-youth-report-well-worth-rad.html to find out more or go directly to the Mobile Youth website at http://www.mobileyouth.org/.

This blog contains the Simon Ager's musings on language and languages, language learning and teaching, language-related technology, linguistics, interesting words and phrases, details of his adventures in foreign parts, and various other bit and bobs. The main language will be English, but he'll slip into other languages on occasion, just to see if you're paying attention.

What's an Omniglot?
Omniglot is a word Simon claims he coined back in 1998 and means "all languages".

To find out more visit http://www.omniglot.com/blog/ . 

"My writer friend Marlene once had a dot-com job that seemed odd. She wrote for a travel site about various countries but never traveled to those countries. She simply aggregated information from other websites and did extensive online research before writing about them and putting together guides."

Read more at http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/01/not_being_therethe_efficiency.html

This particular link, http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/2008/01/make-your-own-chat-room.html, takes you to an excellent overview of how chat rooms can be used with learners by setting them goals and tasks, as well as pointing you towards on-line software that allows you to set up your own chat room.

Or you can just go and browse the whole blog at http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/.

Here is an important reminder for YOU! http://www.getthemessage.net/index.php?id=MjA2MTA1  

• Events: RSC-Northwest Website
  
  
• AbilityNet Courses 2008
  
  
• ja.net: Managing IT Security - 12 February 2008
  
  
• ja.net: Information Security Policies - 13 February 2008
  
  
• eGuides Programme 2007 - 2008 (NIACE)
  3-Day event in Northwest - 19th, 20th February and 3rd April 2008 - Liverpool
  
  
• NIACE: Making Credit Systems work -Thursday 14 February 2008

• ALT-C 2008: Rethinking the digital divide
  
  
• UCIAS- 2008 Management Conference - Is IT good for us? -12 to 14 March 2008
  
  
• NIACE: eGuides National Event 13th March 2008 - The University of Manchester Conference Centre (NIACE)
  
  
• "Choosing and Using an ePortfolio": Thursday 10 April 2008
  
  
• JISC Conference 2008 - Enabling Innovation - Tuesday 15thApril 2008
  
  
• eGuides Programme 2007 - 2008 (NIACE)
  3-Day event in Northwest - 9th, 10th April and 13th May 2008 - Manchester
  
  
• Introduction to Management for Staff in Computing Library and Information Service Departments - 14-16 May 2008
  
  
• eGuide Plus Workshops: 3rd June 2008 (NIACE & RSC)
  
  
• SOLSTICE Centre for Excellence in Teaching: 3rd international conference - Thursday 5 June 2008
  
  
• ja.net: Firewalls: Planning and Implementation - 22 July 2008
  
  
• mLearn 2008 - Tues 7th (pre-conf. Workshops) & Wed 8th to Fri 10th October (mid-afternoon finish)
  
  
• ja.net: Wireless LAN Fundamentals - 30 October 2008
  

At Haydock Park Race Course

***ADVANCE NOTICE***

This one day event aims to provide information on the use of ePortfolios in the post-16 education sector. The programme will deal with ePortfolios, to include:

 

• eAssessment Portfolios (Used for accreditation e.g. NVQ Portfolios)
• eRARPA Portfolios (Used for non-accredited courses; Recording and Reporting Progression and Achievement)
• ePDP Portfolios (Used by learners; for their Personal Development and Planning)

The event will include:

• presentations
• workshops & case studies
• a 'marketplace', highlighting products that relate to choosing and using ePortfolios, including software, hardware, mobile technology etc.

Further details and event Registration will soon be available, on the RSC Northwest website.http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/component/option,com_events/Itemid,256/

An Introduction to Management for Staff in Computing Library and Information Service Departments 14-16 May 2008

 The Leadership Foundation in collaborative partnership with SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) and UCISA (Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association) Staff Development Group, offers the above course for those colleagues in computing, library and information service departments who are new to a management or supervisory role.

For more details on the programme and details of how to apply please see the attached flyer and booking form or see the LFHE website:
http://www.lfhe.ac.uk/evt-crs-prog/calendar/compflyermay08.doc

The following one-day JANET Training Courses are due to be held in Aston Multimedia Interactive Research Suite, Birmingham:

The security of computer, data and networks is now a matter of importance to everyone who uses them. Computers connected to a network, whether local or wide area, are exposed to many threats against their effective operation and the safety and privacy of the data they hold.

A full description of the course is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/courses/managingitsec.html

Cost (per delegate per course, including VAT):

Primary Connected Organisations : £180
Interconnect Connected Sites: £200
Full details of these categories are available on our web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/prices.html.

Payment can be made by credit card or organisations can be invoiced.

Discounts are available through the JANET Training Credits Scheme see http://www.ja.net/services/training/trainingcredits.html or further details.

To book a place, simply follow the link on JANET's web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/schedule/by-date.html

Further information on all courses and venues is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/index.html

The following one-day JANET Training Courses are due to be held in Aston Multimedia Interactive Research Suite, Birmingham:

Information is critical to most of the functions of an education organisation, whether for teaching, research, administration, employment or funding. The effective operation of all those functions depends on reliably accurate information being available when it is needed by those who are authorised to see it, and is not disclosed to those who are not authorised to see it. These factors - accuracy, availability and confidentiality - are all components of information security.  This course therefore takes a broad view of what is needed to achieve the necessary level of information security, concentrating almost entirely on people, processes and policies, not on computers or networks.   A full description of the course is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/courses/infosecpolicies.html

Cost (per delegate per course, including VAT):

Primary Connected Organisations : £180
Interconnect Connected Sites: £200
Full details of these categories are available on our web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/prices.html.

Payment can be made by credit card or organisations can be invoiced.

Discounts are available through the JANET Training Credits Scheme see http://www.ja.net/services/training/trainingcredits.html or further details.

To book a place, simply follow the link on JANET's web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/schedule/by-date.html

Further information on all courses and venues is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/index.html

The following one-day JANET Training Courses are due to be held in Aston Multimedia Interactive Research Suite, Birmingham:

Early at the inception of the Internet, attacks started to occur with an increased frequency. This lead to the development of tools to prevent unwanted communications according to a defined security policy. Firewalls now play a key part of any modern day network infrastructure and the concept has extended from a System Administration term into everyday vocabulary. The aim of this course to provide participants with practical experiences of implementing firewall systems using various platforms, knowledge of the best places to implement firewall's and to reinforce the technical knowledge required to manage firewalls. A full description of the course is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/courses/firewalls.html

Cost (per delegate per course, including VAT):

Primary Connected Organisations : £180
Interconnect Connected Sites: £200
Full details of these categories are available on our web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/prices.html.

Payment can be made by credit card or organisations can be invoiced.

Discounts are available through the JANET Training Credits Scheme see http://www.ja.net/services/training/trainingcredits.html or further details.

To book a place, simply follow the link on JANET's web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/schedule/by-date.html

Further information on all courses and venues is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/index.html

The following one-day JANET Training Courses are due to be held in Aston Multimedia Interactive Research Suite, Birmingham:

Wireless networks can be a useful complement to a wired network, freeing users from fixed network connection points and allowing more flexible use of spaces. WiFi connectivity could allow students to access library resources from a campus café, or lecturers to discuss and share resources in a common room. A lecture theatre can become an IT suite, or even a park bench the site for group work. This course aims to provide organisations and individuals with a sound overview of wireless networking, an insight into some of the issues of implementing this type of network and an understanding of how to securely deploy them at a local level. A full description of the course is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/courses/wirelesslanfund.html

Cost (per delegate per course, including VAT):

Primary Connected Organisations : £180
Interconnect Connected Sites: £200
Full details of these categories are available on our web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/prices.html.

Payment can be made by credit card or organisations can be invoiced.

Discounts are available through the JANET Training Credits Scheme see http://www.ja.net/services/training/trainingcredits.html or further details.

To book a place, simply follow the link on JANET's web site at http://www.ja.net/services/training/schedule/by-date.html

Further information on all courses and venues is available at http://www.ja.net/services/training/index.html

Brendan Riordan -Vice-Chair of mLearn2008 - tells us..

"mLearn 2008, hosted by the University of Wolverhampton, School of Computing and IT, will take place on the edge of historic and rural Ironbridge Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site."

Important dates for your Diary:

Conference Dates

• Tues 7th (pre-conf. Workshops)
• Wed 8th to Fri 10th October (mid-afternoon finish)
  

Submission Dates 

• Full papers - final date for submission for review is 14 April 2008 midnight GMT
• Short papers - final date for submission for review is 28 April 2008 midnight GMT
• Posters - final date for submission for review is 28 April 2008 midnight GMT

"Please go to http://www.mlearn2008.org/ and click on "Register Interest", to allow us to capture your email address. We will keep you updated by means of email additionally you can use RSS - it is your choice. Data gathered in this way will NOT be passed to any third party."

"Please note that we have launched http://www.mlearn2008.mobi/ which is optimised for delivery to mobile devices."

"We would very much like to welcome you to our conference in October, and can assure you of an event that will surpass your expectations!"

3rd June 2008; Liverpool.

This workshops are designed to offer you the chance to extend and refresh your skills, to provide more support with creating your own resources, discovering and repurposing existing resources, and with the delivery of your cascade training programme.

The aims of the workshops are to develop the skills and knowledge that the core programme introduced and, for those involved in early eGuide Training, to extend and refresh skills.

You can select one of four options as the main content of your workshop:

1. E-assessment: this option looks at different approaches to e-assessment including e-portfolios and will support participants in developing an outline for a basic e-portfolio.
2. Learning Platforms: this option will look at the features of a learning platform and participants will consider how to plan and implement the effective use of a learning environment.
3. Mobile Technologies: this option looks at the variety of mobile technologies available, and the potential for using them to enhance teaching and learning.
4. Online learning tools: this option looks at the variety of online learning tools available, including Web 2.0 technologies, and ways they can be used to enhance the learner journey.

Note: The materials and activities for these options are designed for self-study and/or work in small groups. There is also time to focus on creating or developing relevant and appropriate resources.

The workshops also offer an opportunity to share experiences and good practice with other E-Guides and consider how to incorporate new ideas into your cascade training.

Don't miss out: please complete the attached booking form stating your preferred option.

For maximum benefit from this training, you are advised to come to the workshops with ideas, and/or resources currently used, for schemes of work, lesson or session plans, learning tasks and activities which you would like to enhance with an ‘e' approach relevant to your chosen optional topic.

• The E-Guides Plus workshops are designed for participants who have previously undertaken some e-learning training.
• This may include staff who have been trained through the E-Guides cascade training programme within an organisation.

Candidates undertaking the Certificate in Educational Use of ICT qualification will be able to undertake the controlled assessment task (one hour) at the workshops.

Either Colin or John or both, eLearning Advisers from the RSC-Northwest will be present at the Northwest Workshops, offering both support and an opportunity for peer networking.

The day will start at 9:30 am and finish at 5:00 pm.

If the date above is not suitable you can attend other workshops across England...

• 5th February Birmingham (RSC West Midlands)
• 1st February (RSC-Northwest)
• 7th February Taunton (RSC-South West)
• 22nd April Newcastle (RSC Northern)
• 23rd May Leeds (RSC Yorkshire & Humber)
• 29th May Birmingham (RSC West Midlands)
• 3rd June Liverpool (RSC-Northwest)
• 6th June London (RSC-London)

Events begin from October 2nd in London. Maximum of 20 participants per event.

You can access the schedule at http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/TrainingCourses/eguides.htm#Schedule

• Materials have been updated
  - core remains the same. E-Guides are given contact details for RSCs and names of ACL and WBL Advisors (known at time of going to press).

• Action plans:
  E-Guides not currently likely to receive a grant, but nevertheless the cascade is expected and ongoing membership of the E-Guides mail list (managed by Becta) and E-Guides network area on Moodle is encouraged.

• Accreditation will be offered during this phase.
  Certificate in Educational Use of ICT - JEB Level 3.
  This requires assessment in controlled conditions as previously.
  There will be three ‘accreditation workshops' next year.
  
  
• E-Guides Plus:
  13 of these events are planned throughout the country.
  Funds are tight and we are hoping to recruit in greater numbers - maximum of 20 per event.
  E-Guides Plus will be open to
  
  • all trained E-Guides
    
  • and staff who have received some e-learning cascade training.
    

There are four E-Guides Plus topics to choose from:

• Online learning tools (incl. social networking)
• Mobile Technologies
• Learning Platforms
• E-assessment

Materials are currently being written for self-study at the workshops. However, it is planned that each topic will also include a focus on creating appropriate and relevant content, and a consideration of the topic in relation to cascade training.
Trainers will be seeking to encourage group interaction, even though participants will be able to follow their own choice of topic to study.

Attendance at the E-Guides core three days, and two E-Guides Plus would therefore add up to 30 hours CPD.

E-Guides materials have been (loosely) mapped to ePD framework.

E-Guides National Event 2008

Thursday March 13th in Manchester.
One-day event with focus on implementation of online and blended learning.
Details and programme will be released in November.
Further details available at http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/TrainingCourses/eguidesnatevent08.htm .

Note: There will be a substantial cost to this event, but a bursary programme will enable eligible participants to attend if their organisation cannot afford to send them.

Date: Thursday 14 February 2008

Venue: Chancellors Hotel, Chancellors Way, Moseley Road, Manchester M14 6NN

This conference will enable people involved in developing awards and provision within the Qualifications and Credit Framework to learn from some of the history of credit systems and to relate this history to their own current activities.

Audience

The conference will be of interest to:

• those currently involved in developing the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
• those previously involved in credit systems
• people working in Awarding Bodies and Sector Bodies
• providers who are beginning their involvement with the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) through the 'Fast Track' arrangements for the new Framework
• providers who are developing new programmes or awards within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) for delivery in 2008.

It is now almost 25 years since the first learners were awarded credits by the Manchester Open College Federation - the forerunner of all Open College Networks (OCNs) and the precursor for the credit systems of the 21st century.

This conference brings together some of the early pioneers of credit systems within Manchester and other OCNs, with some of the people currently involved in developing the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) which will become fully operational in 2008.

The conference will not only trace the continuity of this development over time, it will also bring key actors from both the past and the present together in one place to compare experiences across these 25 years. It will enable people involved in developing awards and provision within the QCF to learn from some of the history of credit systems, and to relate this history to their own current activities. The achievements of learners in the QCF will also be celebrated as well as the achievements of some of these 'credit pioneers'.

Keynote speakers:

• David Cavallo, Chief Learning Architect for One Laptop per Child, and Head of the Future of Learning Research Group at MIT Media Lab;
• Dr Itiel Dror, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Southampton;
• Hans Rosling, Professor of International Health, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and Director of the Gapminder Foundation.

Proposals should address up to three of the conference dimensions:

• global or local;
  
• institutional or individual;
  
• pedagogy or technology;
  
• access or exclusion; open or proprietary; private or public; for the learner or by the learner.

For more detail on these, see: http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2008/papers.html

The online submission system for ALT-C 2008 is now open at: https://alt.conference-services.net/ .

Prior to submitting please read the Guidelines for Research Papers and for Abstracts - http://www.alt.ac.uk/guidelines_papers.html - and download the Research Paper Template if you intend to to submit a research paper.

*Important note*
Some projects or teams will have more to report in September 2008 than they can summarise in an abstract written in February 2008. To take account of this, the Co-Chairs of the Conference Committee emphasise that: "in judging proposals, ALT Reviewers will take an understanding
attitude regarding proposals referring to or reporting on work taking place between now and the date of the conference".

Key dates:

Submissions open 14 December 2007
Submissions close 29 February 2008
Presenters' registration deadline: 6 June 2008
Early bird registration deadline: 30 June 2008
Registrations close: 15 August 2008

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities got to:http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2008/sponsor_information.html or
contact Hayley Willis, Events Administrator: hayley.willis@alt.ac.uk

ALT-C 2008: Rethinking the digital divide
9-11 September 2008, Leeds, England
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2008/

Date: Tuesday 15th April 2007

Venue: International Convention Centre, Birmingham

JISC is delighted to announce that registration for the JISC Conference 2008 is now open!

Following on from the success of 2007 we are confident that 2008 will be another successful year for the JISC Conference. The 2007 conference attracted over 700 senior managers, practitioners, and support staff involved in the use of Information and Communications Technology in further and higher education and research. We are expecting the 2008 conference to be even more popular so make sure that you get signed up as soon as possible!

The conference programme will be built on the theme of ‘Enabling Innovation' with a variety of interesting workshop sessions. We are pleased to confirm Lord Puttnam (Chancellor of the Open University) and Angela Beesley (Vice President Community Relations & Co-Founder, Wikia / Chair of Wikimedia Foundation Advisory Board) as the conference keynote speakers. The conference will reflect the breadth of JISC activities in providing guidance, advice and opportunities for the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education and research.

Delegates will be given opportunities to learn about the full range of JISC's work by participating in seminars, debates, workshops and demonstrations. In the exhibition area, a range of JISC services as well as corporate companies, agencies and associations will be able to provide you with advice and guidance on a range of support and resources available to your institution.
This one day event will be of interest to all those in post 16 and higher education and research involved in planning for and supporting the use of ICT, including:

• Senior managers and those responsible for developing and implementing policy and strategy

• Staff who play a role in supporting the use of ICT in educational organisations, including practitioners

• Teachers and researchers with an interest in the use of ICT

To view the draft conference programme and to book your place, please visit the JISC Conference 2008 website at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/events/2008/04/jiscconference08.aspx

eLearning and Learning Environments for the Future
Thursday 5th June 2008, Edge Hill University, UK

Building on the success of the 2007 conference, which attracted over 200 delegates from across the UK and as far away as Russia and New Zealand, the 2008 conference will focus on the relationships between research, innovation, and development. There will be a distinct spotlight on the concepts of learning environments and their elearning components - as they exist now, and as they might transpire as time progresses.

Keynote Speakers:

Les Watson, Freelance Educational Adviser, Interim Director of Information Services at the Royal Holloway University of London and Consultant to the Joint Information Systems Committee e-learning programme on Technology Enhanced Learning Environments

Eric Hamilton, Research Professor and Director, Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching, Institute for Information Technology Applications, US Air Force Academy

Call for Abstracts:

We welcome papers, presentations and workshops/demonstrations on the following themes:

• Research methods
• Theoretical bases of elearning and learning environments
• Technologies and learning environments - physical and virtual spaces
• Impacting on students' learning - cause and effect

Abstracts (up to 300 words) should be submitted via the online electronic proposal form (http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Sites/SOLSTICE/Form/Conference/Proposal.htm ) by Friday 15th February 2008.

Call for Registration:

The conference is open to everyone working in further and higher education, both nationally and internationally. You can register a place at the conference by completing the online electronic registration form (http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Sites/SOLSTICE/Form/Conference/Registration.htm ). Fees for the conference and evening seminar are detailed on the website.

For further details and a more detailed call for abstracts please visit the conference website at http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/solstice/conference2008 .

Sue Fells, Business Manager UCISA, tells us that...

"The delegate and exhibitor bookings for the UCISA2008 Annual Management Conference are now open. You will find full details at http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/events/2008/conference/ "

• PocketMod
• Printable Calendars
  
• Tech Sanity Check
• Widget Gallery
  

The PocketMod is a different way for learners/Tutors/IVs etc., to be more organized.

For many, PDAs are too expensive, and organizers/folders are bulky and hard to carry around (Especially for Work-based Learners). A folded up piece of paper, in an overall pocket perhaps, may be appropriate.

With the PocketMod, you can carry around the days notes, keep them organized in any way you wish, then easily transfer the notes to your PDA, ePortfolio, or planner when you get access to them.

The PocketMod is a small book with guides on each page. These guides or templates, combined with a unique folding style, enable a normal piece of paper to become the ultimate note card. It is hard to describe just how incredibly useful the PocketMod is. It's best that you just dive in and create one goto http://pocketmod.com/ .

A website where you can generate printable weekly planners and monthly and yearly calendars for free.

With just a few clicks you will be able to personalize these calendars by adding an image and any text you'd like. Just select the calendar type and choose from our collection of pre-selected images and quotes, click the button, and your printable 2008 calendar is ready to be printed out!

Go To http://www.eprintable.com/  

IT professionals adore acronyms and shorthand. That's one of the reasons why normal people think IT pros are speaking a foreign language when they talk amongst themselves. If you want to keep up with trends in IT management for 2008, familiarize yourself with this list of hot acronyms that your IT pros are talking about.

Find out about...

• BPM
• CMDB
• BI
• MDM
• TCO
• SOA and
  
• ITIL

at http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=591 .

Generate your own customizable widgets to embed on your learning provider virtual learning environment (VLE), blog, website, homepage and more. Here are two samples...

RSC-Northwest's Today in History

Get your own widget

RSC-Northwest's Technology Q&A

Get your own widget

Go to http://www.answers.com/main/widget_gallery.jsp to view more and to download your own.

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  • Abingdon, Accrington, Atherton, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry, Belfast, Belmont, Billericay, Billingham, Birkenhead, Blackburn, Bolton, Boothstown, Bootle, Bury, Chorley, Cannock, Coatbridge, Crewe, Crowthorpe, Croyden, Darlington, Dunmurry, Ellesmere Port, Evesham, Gateshead, Glossop, Heywood, Hull, Huyton-with-Roby, Irlam, Iver, Kempston, Kendal, Kirklees, Lancaster, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Loughborough, Maghull, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newbury, Nottingham, Oldham, Ormskirk, Penshaw, Poplar, Potters Bar, Renfrew, Rochdale, Roslin, St Helens, Sale, Salford, Sefton, Slough, Stalybridge, Stockport, Stoke on Trent, Swindon, Thames Ditton, Wallington, Walton-le-Dale, Warrington, Wembley, Whitehaven, Widnes, Winsford, Wolverhampton, and Wrexham;
  We also had viewers from...
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To...

• address the needs of individual learning providers ; managers, eGuides, ILT Champions, Curriculum Leaders, Learning Resource Managers, Staff development Leaders, etc.
  
• provide appropriate guidance with eLearning
• know someone actually reads the eMagazine ☺.
  

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Thank you!

The Learning and Skills Council will be funding the capital costs of upgraded JANET connections for all FE Colleges in England. This offer will result in bandwidths up to 100Mbit/s and will result in much faster and more efficient connections.

The Colleges will also make a contribution to the ongoing recurrent costs of this upgrade.

Letters have been sent out to all FE Colleges and to date there has already been a very positive response to the offer with 34 colleges having requested quotes for increased bandwidth.

Stephen Nichols, Contract Manager- Technology for Learning, of the LSC said:

"This increase in JANET bandwidth will really help Colleges progress their use of technology in learning and is part of the LSC's policy of encouraging colleges to e-maturity."

Tim Marshall, CEO of JANET(UK) said:

"We are delighted to be able to deliver high bandwidth connectivity for the English Colleges, thereby ensuring that they remain at the forefront of delivering the right skills and training for the tomorrow's learners."

JANET(UK) will implement a programme of upgrades to all Colleges who request one, region by region throughout 2008. The offer has gone out to 376 FE and 6th Form Colleges.

About the Learning and Skills Council

The LSC, the organisation that exists to make England better skilled and more competitive.
See www.lsc.gov.uk

About JANET(UK)

JANET(UK) manages the operation and development of JANET on behalf of JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) for the UK Further and Higher Education Funding Councils. JISC also works in partnership with the Research Councils. JANET(UK) is government funded, with the primary aim of providing and developing a network infrastructure that meets the needs of the education and research communities.

About JANET

JANET is the network dedicated to the needs of education and research in the UK. It connects the UK's education and research organisations to each other, as well as to the rest of the world through links to the global Internet. In addition, JANET includes a separate network that is available to the community for experimental activities in network development.

• Adult Education: Could John Denham be the cat's whiskers?
• Cash confusion
• Diplomas 'will undermine apprenticeships'
• Funding for 60,000 more students
• Google Scholar not scholarly enough?
• Hefce scheme encourages businesses to co-fund students
• High take up of diplomas expected in the north
• Intellectual literacy hour
• JISC roadmap of funding opportunities for 2008 (January–Summer 2008)
• McDonald's 'A-level' is launched
• Major Report on Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 (Becta)
• Migrants language lessons rethink
• Nuclear reaction
• OIA announces new head
• Parents 'buy essays' for students
• Rise in foreign students in UK
• Science and Technology Funding Council (STFC)
• TUC seeks £110 apprenticeship pay
• UK Universities Institutional Repositories search project
• 'Virtual vouchers' could replace evening classes
• We can't afford to lose all our adult learners
• Wired-GOV: QCA confirms progression route
  

Adult education classes have taken a battering in recent years. Can the new minister reverse the trend?

The welcome that greeted John Denham at the launch event was warm. Whatever the result of his consultation into what the government calls "informal adult learning", there was a general sense of gratitude that he was bothering with the issue at all. Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,,2244460,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 .

The government must deal with three long-term funding challenges for post-14 learning. The handing over of the cash for 16- to 19-year-olds by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to local authorities is one. Closing the gap between publicly funded adult skills and higher education (HE) is another. Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/opinion/story/0,,2244432,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8.

The introduction of diplomas at a time when government is trying to boost the numbers of apprenticeships looks like policy confusion, according to a report from Oxford University.

Encouraging more young people to stay on in full-time education to do diplomas could reduce the uptake of apprenticeships, its authors warn.

Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,,2245448,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8  

The government is planning to fund an additional 60,000 places for first time students in England by 2011.

The annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) also urges closer links between universities and industry.

Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7201228.stm .

Alternatively read the Guardian Article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2244410,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 . 

...have consistently taken Google Scholar to task for not revealing the sources they use, questioned the citation data it produces and asked for enhanced search options. But at the same time they have taken on board the reality that it will be used by students and therefore sought to guide them to get the most out of it.

Read the full blog at http://www.intute.ac.uk/blog/2008/01/23/google-scholar-not-scholarly-enough/  

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) announced today it will establish an "employer engagement fund" with up to £105m over the next three years to push forward the government's policy of getting businesses to co-fund students. Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2247074,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8.

More schools in the north west of England are set to offer the new diplomas than anywhere else in the country, according to estimates released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families today. Read more at http://education.guardian.co.uk/1419education/story/0,,2252376,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 .

A new report says libraries will have to change what they do or risk becoming redundant. 

Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,,2240564,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 . 

Fast-food giant McDonald's has become one of the first firms to offer its own nationally recognised qualifications.

It will offer a "basic shift manager" course, training staff in skills such as human resources and marketing.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said the company had been approved to develop courses up to the equivalent of A-level standard.

Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7211958.stm . 

Chris Swaine tells us that...

Becta, the education technology agency, has just published a key report on Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 and on document interoperability which analyses the suitability of both software packages for adoption by learning providers.

Becta recommends that learning providers review the findings of the report before considering any large-scale investment or deployment.

One of the interesting recommendations that upgrading existing ICT systems to Microsoft Vista or Office 2007 is not recommended and mixed Windows-based operating environments should be avoided. However, Vista should be considered where new institution-wide ICT provision is being planned.

The full news story, recommendations and information on how to download the report can be found at:

http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35287&page=1658&catID=1633

The government is to target free English language classes on immigrants to England who have long-term needs.

The tuition will be free for those on benefits, and aimed at long-standing residents whose English is still poor - rather than those who may not stay. Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7170125.stm .

The government's white paper on expanding nuclear energy is generating power for the higher education sector.

"...there is widespread concern about how the UK will be able to meet the skills needs involved with building new nuclear power stations.

'In the short term, we have to face the fact that we just won't be able to train people in time and we will have to look overseas to get this expertise,'..."

Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,,2241673,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 .

Note: But the new National Skills Academy Nuclear  - the skills and training body recently created to meet the British nuclear industry's needs - has chosen the universities of Central Lancashire and Portsmouth to provide "up-skilling" foundation degrees for school leavers, new entrants and individuals retraining. Go to http://www.nuclear.nsacademy.co.uk/ to find out more.

The new head of the student complaints body in England and Wales is to be Rob Behrens, a former senior civil servant, it was announced on 21st January 2008.

In May Baroness Ruth Deech will step down from the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), which she helped establish.

Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/story/0,,2244557,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 . 

or visit the OIA website at http://www.oiahe.org.uk/ .

Parents are paying hundreds of pounds for degree-course essays for their children studying at university, claims an essay-writing service.

The essay company, UKEssays.com, says that many student customers buying essays are using their parents' money. Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7187936.stm .

The number of foreign students enrolling at British universities rose by more than 6% last year, while UK entries remained static in number.

And there were wide variations across the UK, which academics are blaming on "top-up" tuition fees. Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7181806.stm .

The Science and Technology Funding Council (STFC) is the latest content partner to go live on Wired-GOV, the UK’s foremost government and public sector news alerting service.

STFC is one of Europe's largest multidisciplinary research organisations supporting scientists and engineers world-wide.

To find out more, take a look at some of their case studies on the website at http://www.stfc.ac.uk/KE/Publ/CStud/csIndex.aspx

The TUC wants a rise in the minimum pay for apprentices, as ministers plan a big expansion of the training schemes.

Most trainees are exempt from minimum wage legislation but under Learning and Skills Council rules get £80 a week. Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7209248.stm .

The Intute Institutional Repository Search of UK university research paper databases should have been launched in beta at the end of January. Find out more at http://www.intute.ac.uk/blog/2008/01/16/uk-universities-institutional-repositories-search-project/ .

The idea of switching money from traditional evening classes to "virtual vouchers" - enabling adults to fund their own informal learning - was floated by the government today.

It would let a group of elderly people form a dance class and hire their own instructor, or help scattered individuals pursue a common interest via the internet. Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,,2241112,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 .

These are increasingly desperate times for adult educators. The latest figures from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) show a drop of 1,400,000 adult learners from publicly funded education in just two years, and there has been a decimation of provision for adults over 40. Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/opinion/story/0,,2240690,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 .

The value of the Government's new Diplomas as a progression route enabling pupils to get into Universities & colleges has been confirmed by the QCA. Schools Minister Jim Knight...

...has ‘accepted' its recommendation that the new Diplomas should be judged in the achievement & attainment tables as equivalent to:

• 5 GCSEs grade A*-G at the foundation level
• 7 GCSEs grade A*-C at the higher level, and
• 3.5 A Levels grade A*- E at the advanced level
  

UCAS have also confirmed that the Advanced Diploma will be awarded a maximum 420 Tariff points - the same number awarded for 3.5 A Levels. Eventually, 17 Diplomas will be offered with the government aspiration that the Diploma becomes the 'qualification of choice' for young people in future.

...has also announced details of £28m cash funding for Diplomas in 08/09, meaning schools & colleges teaching Diplomas to 14-16 year olds will receive around an extra £1,000 per Diploma student.

• Aquinas College: Educational Development Centre
• Best Online Documentaries
• EdTechRoundup is a new podcast from an open group of UK educators
• Free teleprompter/autocue service
• Martin Dougiamas Video
• Opportunities to learn out of class
• Teacher Training Videos
• TV theme music and songs
  

Fidelma Bleasdale from Aquinas College talks about their educational development center.

This is a classroom-sized facility created to support the exploration of learning and teaching, utilizing innovative uses of technology and furniture design.

Aquinas College have converted one of their central classrooms into an educational development centre. This room includes a range of ILT equipment and innovative use of furniture. The room is used by teaching staff from all curriculum areas and has been seen as a place to pilot ideas that may be developed in their forthcoming new build.

Fidelma Bleasdale explains how this project has developed and what they have learned along the way.
To download the podcast interview go to  http://www.garageband.com/mp3/EDC.mp3?%7Cpe1%7CWdjZPXLrvP2raVCxYWxg
 

Bodocus is another documentary website where you can freely access and stream over 650 documenatary movies. No registration required, just select your movie and watch.

• Categories:
  
  • Anthropology,
    
  • Biographies,
    
  • Business,
    
  • Environment,
    
  • Foreign,
    
  • Politics,
    
  • Health,
    
  • History,
    
  • Lifestyle / Society,
    
  • Mystery,
    
  • Religion,
    
  • Science and
    
  • Technology
• Most of the listed documentaires are hosted on Google Video.
  

Check out Bodocus @ http://www.bodocus.com

EdTechRoundup is a new podcast from an open group of UK educators.

EdTechRoundup is a place where a group of UK-based educators come together for discussion and collaboration around the use of technology in education. They believe in pedagogically-sound uses of educational technology, but don't believe in ramming Web 2.0 (or anything else for that matter) down people's throats.

Find out more at http://edtechroundup.wordpress.com/ .

or visit the wiki at http://edtechroundup.wikispaces.com/ .

Features:

* adjustable speed
* forward, stop and reverse scrolling buttons
* normal and mirrored display (MS ie only)
* two screen sizes, two font sizes

CuePrompter is a free teleprompter/autocue service. Your browser works like a teleprompter -no extra software needed. Ideal tool for those of you producing podcasts and or videocasts. Have a go at http://www.cueprompter.com/ .

Mark J. Clark, eAdvisor: Technology & Infrastructure Management at JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West, tells us that...

"The Mr Moodle event in Glasgow where Martin Dougiamas delivered a talk last October was filmed and is now available on the RSC SW Scotland website at http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/Technical/dougiamas.htm"

Walk to college/work placement/other learning venues or ride? Bus, train, car or bicycle?

Many learners travel considerable distances to colleges/work placements/other learning venues. Is this a waste of time or a useful period?

The answer may lie in what is on their iPod. When they synced it last night with iTunes what downloaded may have been things they did not think they would want to listen to.

They naturally have the music they want, but podcasts may also have come across from their computer.

When 40% of an organisation’s learners regularly log on to their learning provider’s digital environment (VLE) on a Sunday, one can only assume this is done voluntarily. When their learning provider has created podcasts giving commentaries on how to answer exam questions to achieve high grades, or has provided podcasts that provide a library of extension material, these may make appealing listening. It is the students’ choice - when they discover they are already on their iPod.

Phones and small devices such as MP3 players and iPods fit in students’ lifestyles. If they have ways of working, using these, which are more amenable to them, it makes sense for learning providers and teachers to look at ways to support this.

For the students it represents a change in their lifestyle, with the boundaries between learning time and leisure time becoming fuzzy.

Is this an invasion of private time, or a welcome acknowledgement by teachers that learners really want to take opportunities to learn out of class?

Russell Stannard's http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/ website is well worth a visit as a teacher (especially of English) or you are responsible for staff development.

The videos aren't pedagogical type classroom videos of teachers working with students, but are video tutorials which show how to use various software and websites to develop your teaching.

The site is aimed at English Language Teachers who are interested in developing their technology skills for teaching purposes. The main content of the site is split into three main categories, which you can find in the left-hand column of the homepage.

• ‘General teacher training videos' - PhotoShop basics, how to use ITunes and download podcasts, how to create a Wiki, how to create a Blog and PowerPoint tips etc.
• ‘ELT training videos' - looks in-depth at ELT related websites and how best to use them, reviews of some of the best ELT podcasts as well as a series of videos on how to use Podomatic to create and upload your own podcast.
• ‘Multimedia learning videos' - contains videos for anyone who wants to learn how to use some of the major authoring programs to create e-learning materials. The main focus on Flash and Director. From the basics of understanding the tool set to some of the more demanding tasks, such as animation.

They are free. A wealth of free development for anyone really interested in improving the tech skills and using ICT with or to create materials for their students. Go to: http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/ to find out for yourself.

Features

• Browse tunes by movie or show name. Over 4300 tunes (and growing).
• Download and save tunes as MP3 files or just listen to them online.
• Email favorites to friends.
• ‘Name That Song' game: Fun game to test your TV knowledge.
• Follow-up on latest theme song additions via RSS feed.
• Contribute by recommending missing tunes.

Note: All TT theme songs and clips are copyrighted by their licensors and are intended for educational and personal listening only. 

Find out more at http://www.televisiontunes.com/  

• Accessibility Interoperability Alliance
• Managing IPR in Digital Learning Materials
• MoLeNET Overview
• Reflect (NRDC Issue 9)
  
• Want construction work done safely?

The AIA is a group of leading Information Technology (IT) and Assistive Technology (AT) companies, content providers, and other key engineering organizations, working to create and harmonize standards for accessible technology.

Because the need for accessible technologies is growing -- an estimated one in four computer users today could benefit from some kind of AT application – in addition to developing and enhancing standards, the AIA also works to ensure their mainstream adoption.

A number of Publications, as pdf files, are available at http://www.accessinteropalliance.org/resources/index.html .

Authors: John Casey, Jackie Proven & David Dripps

The final outputs of the JISC TrustDR project are now available.

Managing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Digital Learning Materials: A Development Pack for Institutional Repositories  

Distributed under a Creative Commons License - Attribution 2.5 UK: Scotland

Download from:

http://trustdr.ulster.ac.uk/outputs.php

The pack is aimed at those who are setting up or running digital collections of learning materials that are managed at an institutional level.  

This publication provides an overview of the MoLeNET initiative, the UK's largest and most diverse implementation of mobile learning. The Learning and Skills Council and consortia led by Further Education colleges are together investing well over £7 million in MoLeNET with 32 projects, supported by a Support and Evaluation Programme led by LSN, in 2007/08

To download a FREE copy or order a FREE copy go to https://www.lsneducation.org.uk/user/order.aspx?code=080015&src=XOWEB. 

The NRDC's issue 9 of Reflect includes a special report on why workplace learning needs to be specially tailored. In the article ‘Made to measure rather than one size fits all’  Sue Southwood argues that learning providers must heed the wishes of employers and their workforce if the Leitch targets are to be met.

You can access the article online in Issue 9 (pdf format) on the NRDC Website at http://www.nrdc.org.uk/.

Reflect is the magazine of the National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy. It features articles and reviews on research, policy and strategy in the areas of adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL. The magazine is available online or you can also register for a free subscription.

A quick guide for clients on the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007

Who needs to know about the Regulations?
Anyone having construction or building work carried out has legal duties under the
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007), unless they
are a domestic client.
A domestic client is someone who lives, or will live, in the premises where the work
is carried out. The premises must not relate to any trade, business or other
undertaking. Although a domestic client does not have duties under CDM 2007,
those who work for them on construction projects will.

Download a free pdf file from the Health and Safety Executive 'Construction' website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm

The leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but
which may be found helpful when considering what you need to do.

or go directly to http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg411.pdf

• 100 Words
• Active Reading Resource
• Animation on how a heart works
• Becta: Next Generation Learning
• Etymology
• Fully-formatted citations
• Google: Latest Ideas!
• Live Wires
• Phonetics Focus
• Portfolio, Programme and Project Management
• Putting Public Art on the Map
• Reading in BookGlutton
• Research Right
• The Naked Violin
• Write Right
• YouTube comes to iPod
  

Want to be at the cutting edge? Take a look at what is claimed to be the first social tasking website.

"100 Words is about purpose. Writers come here to be productive, to be creative, to be inspired."

This is an exercise in disciplined creativity. Writing exactly 100 words at a time -- not a single word more, not a single word less -- isn't as easy as it sounds. The word count may be arbitrary, but the motive is not. To borrow from Proust, the tyranny of rhyme often brings out the poet's best work. By working within a standardized form, the writer can concentrate on other matters.

• Membership is free, easy and without obligation. Goto http://www.100words.com/
  
• Complete writing guidelines are at http://www.100words.com/guidelines.php.
  
• Important copyright information is at http://www.100words.com/copyright.php.

...learners retain information best when they are actively thinking during the reading process. Yet many learners need practice in order to master this skill. Teaching active reading to learners helps them become more engaged in a text, increasing both comprehension and retention.

Guide your learners through this Active Reading organizer during the first couple of uses in class. Make sure they understand the difference between a FACT, QUESTION and RESPONSE. Once learners grasp the concepts, they can use the organizer independently for assignments or homework.

Go to http://educator.answers.com/main/active_reading.jsp to find out more and/or to download the FREE Resource.

This flash based animation allows users to...

• Play the animation which will then loop endlessly, allowing the viewer to watch a complete cardiac cycle multiple times without stopping.
• Stop the animation at a particular frame in the animation
• Move the animation forward, or back, ONE frame each time a control button is clicked
• RESET the animation back to the first frame of the animation (atrial systole). An easy way to 'step-through' by starting at the beginning.

It also has a Tutorials pop-up menu contains links to the Cardiac Cycle Phase descriptions providing a brief summary of what is occuring in the cycle at particular points in time. Anytime the pointer moves over the TUTORIALS button, the menu appears allowing the user to select any phase tutorial. 

See for yourself at http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~johnson/teaching/transport/animations/HyperHeart.swf . 

Gemma Hammond, Communications Officer for the ICT & Learning Team for NIACE, tells us that...

"BECTA has launched it's national campaign; Next Generation Learning.

Next Generation Learning is about using technology to make learning a more exciting, rewarding and successful experience for people of all ages and abilities. Get Next Generation Learning at http://www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk "

Quote from the resource...

"Evidence shows that technology significantly improves results for all learners. Despite this, technology is fully exploited by only 20 per cent of schools and colleges."

Learning basic etymology tips gives learners the tools they need to break down new and unfamiliar words. Potential for use with ESOL, Family Learning etc.

Find out more and download the free Resource at http://educator.answers.com/main/education_etymology.jsp .

As Internet plagiarism becomes a more serious issue, Answers.com has incorporated citation functionality, to help students cite their work. Clicking on the "Cite" button (which can be found next to each copyright at the bottom of each Answer Page), will direct them to a fully-formatted citation, ready to include in a bibliography. They can even choose from the MLA, Chicago and APA styles.

Answers.com have also produced a helpful handout with clear samples and directions on citing various types of internet sources, including personal homepages, professional sites, newspaper articles, online reference tools and eBooks.

Go to http://educator.answers.com/main/education_citations.jsp to download the pdf and to find out more.

Google itself is interested in alternative ways to search the web, the company has announced an interesting set of new, experimental search tools. You can try them now at http://www.google.com/experimental/index.html .

The Missing kit, developed by LiveWires Design Ltd, teaches children how to surf the Internet safely. It includes a CD-ROM game for children, a parent/teacher guide, a video and a poster. This web site has information on internet safety issues for parents, teachers and librarians.

Go to http://www.livewwwires.com/  

Maths has never been so much fun as playing the Transformation Golf game. You have to try to work out the transformations will help putt the ball into the hole.

So basically a knowledge of reflection, rotation and translation is handy! Good luck 'Tiger!'

Go to http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/transform/golftrans.html to play golf or  http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/transform/transform.html for more Transformation Games.

Thanks to Web User for 'flagging u' this resource.

MonkeySee is a new destination website providing free access to a large collection of professionally-produced and user-generated how-to videos. Visitors to MonkeySee will find a rapidly-growing library of videos on a wide variety of topics, presented in deep detail by accomplished, credible experts. It's a great way to learn something new, and the perfect platform for experts to share their knowledge and increase their credibility, while gaining valuable promotional exposure for their business or hobby.

See for yourself at http://www.monkeysee.com/. 

"...a real wealth of authentic materials that can be incorporated into lessons for both the listening / viewing practice and  for the value of the content / information itself. Potentially very motivating stuff." Nik Peachey (in his blog; http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/2008/01/using-how-to-videos.html )

Nik Peachey, a freelance learning technology consultant, trainer and content designer who specialises in developing computer based learning materials for language development and teacher training, tells us in his Learning technology teacher development blog for ELT...

"I have to say that it's rare to find really good computer based pronunciation materials, but to find them for free is a real exception. They are really nicely designed, work well, load pretty quickly and have made really good use of multimedia. This is a fantastic free resource that will be useful for teachers and for students of any level or age too.

Be sure to check it out"

To do this go to http://cambridgeenglishonline.com/Phonetics_Focus/ . 

Katherine Eade, Operations Manager JISC infoNet, tells us that...

JISC infoNet is pleased to announce the launch of a new suite of linked resources.

As the maturity of project management within the sector grows we increasingly talk about Project, Programme and Portfolio Management ('P3M' for short). Each aspect of P3M fulfils a different function and requires a different skill set. Effective management of all 3 is essential if your organisation is to run projects that help you achieve your overall Mission and contribute to organisational growth.

Our set of linked infoKits look at each element of P3M in turn and suggests some tools and techniques to help you succeed.

Find out more at http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/p3m .

Note: This may take a little time to load. If you get a pop-up that says "A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped. You can stop the script now, or you can continue to see if the script will complete." Click the Continue button.

The Big Art Map above is from the...

website at http://www.bigartmob.com/.

Why not join me in adding more images in the North West! My Moblog is found at http://www.bigartmob.com/blog/acljohn/

Reading in BookGlutton is different.

BookGlutton is an online book community for people who want to read, share, annotate and discuss, right inside the text. But we're using something new that we call proximity chat, so that you can talk to people in the same chapter or paragraph of the book (without giving away endings). You can read books from the catalog or upload your own. BE A BOOKGLUTTON!

Go to http://bookglutton.com/ to find out more. 

Starting a research project is exciting, but the process is often frustrating for learners. To reinforce the skills necessary to conduct thorough and organized research, Answers.com have prepared a Research Right guide and its accompanying worksheets. 

Go to http://educator.answers.com/main/research_center.jsp to find out more and/or to download the Free Resources. 

Tasmin Little’s latest album of solo violin music entitled The Naked Violin, has been made available as a free download. In addition to music there are also suggestions for classroom activities, information on each piece and an overview explaining what’s on offer. Take a look at the “Three Step Challenge” at the bottom of the webpage:

• Step 1 Listen to my spoken introduction and download my CD.
• Step 2 Take some time to listen and get to know these pieces. Then write to me and tell me what you like (or don’t like) about each piece.
• Step 3 Go to a concert, buy a CD or write and tell me what barriers still remain to prevent you from wanting to do either!

Good things always come in threes and there are three works on the album:
1. J. S. Bach’s Partita No. 3 in E BWV 1006
2. Paul Patterson’s Luslawice Variations
3. Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata No 3 in Dm “Ballade”

For those intending to burn the content onto a CD, there is also a downloadable cover (artwork, titles, composers’ dates etc.)

Go to Tasmin's website at http://www.tasminlittle.org.uk/index.htm  

or download page at http://www.tasminlittle.org.uk/free_cd/index.html

Write Right: 10 Tips for College Journalists poster is full of useful tips for writers at any level.

Find out more and download one or both versions of the Free Resources at http://educator.answers.com/main/journalist_poster.jsp  

Browse, Search, and Download YouTube Video directly to your iPod!
It's fast, it's simple and it's free! Go to http://www.tooble.tv/ to find out more. 

• Best Free and Freeware Software for Windows
• Celtx
• Class Tools
• POODWADDLE
• Visible Body
• vozMe
  

A very nice listing of free and freeware software that can be operated on Windows (and are useful both at home and at work). It has tools listed under several categories including:

• Office tools
• Multimedia
• Security and Privacy Protection
• Graphic / Desktop publishing tools and
  
• Internet

Celtx is a nice free project work tool that can help give real shape to class projects and make for much greater involvement and collaboration between learners. It's a fee piece of software designed for creating media type projects such as movies, advertisements,  screen plays, theatre plays etc.

Find out more at http://www.celtx.com/ . 

Classtools.net is the work of Russel Tarr, Head of History at the International School of Toulouse, France.

There is no charge for creating or using any of the templates.

Each template can be saved as a stand-alone HTML file or as a Widget that can be embedded into a blog or wiki.

Note: The templates need to run "live" from the server. An internet connection is therefore needed.

Go to http://www.classtools.net/ to find out more or download the pdf flyer using the link below...

Here is a sample 'Random Name Picker' where you can add learner names for example...

Click here for full screen version

Learners may like to create their own home page with a search engine, dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, maps, calculator, games, and more. Its easy. Simply click Home Page Editor and give it a try. Find out more about Poodwaddle at http://www.poodwaddle.com/index.htm .

This entirely Web-delivered application offers an unparalleled understanding of human anatomy.
The Visible Body includes 3D models of over 1,700 anatomical structures, including all major organs and systems of the human body.

Free to use - Free to register but will your IT Support allow you to use it? Note: -

Suggested system requirements:

2 gHz Pentium 4 processor, or equivalent
2 GB RAM
Windows XP/2000/Vista (32-bit)
DirectX 9.0c
3D-enabled video card with 256+ MB on-board RAM
Internet Explorer 7 (32-bit)
Anark plug-in 4.0
Adobe Flash Player plug-in 8.0+

Minimum system requirements:

1 gHz Pentium 3 processor, or equivalent
512 MB RAM
Windows XP/2000/Vista (32-bit)
DirectX 7.0+
3D-enabled video card
Internet Explorer 6+ (32-bit)
Anark plug-in 4.0
Adobe Flash Player plug-in 8.0+

Find out more at http://www.visiblebody.com/

A very simple little tool:but so effective.

Type in some text and it will be converted into an MP3 file.

They also provide some text for getting the file onto your website/blog etc.

I've had a play with the script in eXe (eLearning XHTML editor) and, if used on the pages produced, it will provide an option for learners/staff/readers to listen rather than read. Other scripts allow users to highlight text, which can then be listened to. The resulting mp3's can also be made available to learners etc. to listen to on their mp3 players.

Go to http://vozme.com/index.php?lang=en.

• Befuddlr
• Cartoons: But Oh So True
• Changing Your Perspective
• Etiquette
• Faces in Places
• Important things in life (humour)
• SymFace
• Vista: Error
• Vista: Security
  

Befuddlr , a great little visual puzzle tool. It takes any online image and produces a slider puzzle that is ideal for working on the Interactive White Board. As the creators, Eric Kastner and Amy Hoy state, “a delightful diversion.” Go to http://www.befuddlr.com/ and have a go yourself; I enjoyed 'befuddlring' my flickr images.

Using Befuddlr in the classroom

Tom Barrett's professional blog provides some tips-n-tricks about using Befuddlr in junior schools; ideal for Family Learning perhaps or adapting for use in adult education? http://tbarrett.edublogs.org/2007/12/09/using-befuddlr-in-the-classroom/

Brighton College has introduced a compulsory etiquette course for its pupils covering such topics as when to remove one's jacket at dinner, which fork to use when and how to waltz.

But how's your grasp of modern manners? Test yourself.

Go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7180661.stm .

...a showcase of images of faces that people have found in the most unusual places, has been voted the winner in Yahoo's Find of the Years Awards in the Weird & Wonderful category.

See for yourself at http://www.facesinplaces.blogspot.com/ . 

Think the left and right sides of your face are alike? Well, they might be... but you'll never know for sure until you try it!

Go to http://www.symface.com/
 

• 5 Ways to Go Easier On Your Eyes
• Firefox Tips you may not know about
• Flickr: Use your eMail
• Interactive Whiteboard Top Tips
• Picture This
• Sync Files between PC and USB Flash Drive
• Slow Down, You’re Going Too Fast
  

Although every care has been taken in the preparation of this eMagazine, no warranty is given by the author or the Regional Support Centre-Northwest as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained within it and neither the authors nor the RSC-Northwest shall be responsible or liable for any errors or omissions.

Note:- you will find a separate menu of tips-n-tricks on the left, under the tips-n-tricks Main menu.

and we will attempt to answer them in future tips-n-tricks.

"Every day I find new Firefox tips and tricks that I didn't know about and then I find out that other people didn't know about them either. So here's what I discovered recently to make you more of a Firefox power-user. Some of them are useful keyboard shortcuts to keep your hand away from that mouse, and others are just regular tips to optimize and improve your use of Firefox."

Go to http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/firefox-tips-you-may-not-know-about-part-2/ to find out more.

My learners can't access Flickr accounts as our firewall blocks the Flickr site. How can they upload images? 

They can use Outlook, Evolution, Thunderbird, Gmail, or any other email client to upload your photos to Flickr.

• Login to the Flickr account on a PC that isn't blocked by a firewall.
• Go to http://flickr.com/account/uploadbyemail/ 
• On the right hand side of the webpage, find the email address beneath Email your photos to this address. It will be some random words and numbers followed by @photos.flickr.com.
  Note: If you don't like the generated address, click the RESET button at the bottom of the page, under Refresh your address. When you have an address, add it to your contact in your mail client.
• Now go to the Add these tags each time textbox and add the tag(s) you wish to use. It might be beneficial to keep this rather general but separate from your other tags. You can specify more specific tags at the time you upload the image.
• Click the Save button.

You are now ready to upload photos from your email client. To do this:

• Open the email client and compose a new message.
• Use the Flickr generated email address for the To section.
• In the subject line, input the following:
  <photo title> tags: <your tags here>
  using any additional tags you wish to add to the photo (remember, you already assigned 1 or more tags for any email generated photos).
• Add the desired image to be uploaded as an attachment.
• If you want to assign a description to the photo, input it into the body of the message.
• Send the message.
  Your image will be posted to your Flickr account.
  

Note:

1. It is a good practice to do one photo per message to avoid posting conflicts.
2. Another benefit of using the email client to post is that you can give another person the ability to post to your Flickr account without giving them direct access to your other photos. When you want to stop them from posting to your account, simply go back and reset the Flickr email address.

A self-confessed "technophobe", Simon Botten had never owned a PC until he began using his classroom computer as an NQT. Now he's a primary school deputy headteacher and has been an ICT subject leader for seven years.

Simon became involved in the development of ICT within the curriculum as an NOF trainer for the SWIFT/GWIST training consortium six years ago. He delivers seminars at regional and national ICT events and contributed to this year's BETT show.

When you first come to install interactive whiteboards there are a few things to consider: Find out what Simon says at http://www.teachers.tv/ict/whiteboardtips .

• Wants to improve your photography skills while helping other people improve theirs? Picture This sets a weekly project
• You take the brief, your camera and interpret it however you want
• You upload your best shot
• The community gives you supportive comments on your work
• You can upload as many new versions as you like until you're happy
• The 'Picture This' judges may check out your work and feature it on TV

Go to http://picturethis.channel4.com/

"I have a USB Pen Drive, I find it great for backups. I find it hard-work at times to copy files and folders to and from my hard drive and USB Stick. Is there an easy way to sync files between my hard disk and USB Flash Drive?"

There is indeed...

Here's how:

• Download SyncToy (SyncToy helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers quickly and easily.) and install it (go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en )
  
• Run SyncToy from the Start Menu
• You will now have to create a Folder Pair
  • Choose a Left Folder (this is a folder on your PC's hard disk)
    
  • ...and a Right Folder (this points to your removable USB Pen Drive)
    
• Choose a Synchronization Method. This could be anything from:
  • Synchronize: Two Way Synchronization (left to right as well as right to left).
  • Echo: Transfer happens Left to Right. Renames and Deletes are also synced from left to right.
  • Contribute: Left to Right Syncing. Renames are done on right with left as the source. No Deletions occur.
• In the window that appears, click on Run to start the Syncing Process. In case you want to be able to preview the changes that’ll be done, use the ‘Preview’ option to have a look at the upcoming actions that’ll be taken.

Many students across the country use the Rock School's graded books for the performing components of Standard Grade, Higher and Advanced Higher Music.
One of the advantages of the CD which comes with each book is that pupils can play along with a professional accompaniment. This is only a problem when the song concerned is up tempo.
By the time a pupil is sufficiently skilled to play along, the primary reason for doing so is no longer relevant.

In such cases, a possible solution is to slow down the original track using two free programs:

1. iTunes from Apple
2. Audacity from Source Forge

Follow the steps below:

• Import CD track(s) into iTunes (free download form Apple): To check that they will import as wav files (the best sound) follow the route below:
  • Edit / Preferences / Advanced / Importing
  • Then check that the pull-down window is set to wav
  • mp3 will work as well but the sound is not as good
  • Apple's own format called AAC (advanced audio coding) will not work in this procedure!
    
    
• Download Audacity free of charge from Source Forge
• Then open a track in Audacity
• Before doing anything, the program needs to know which part you want to change - in this case it's the whole track so Select All (short cut Ctrl+A)
• Go to the Effect menu and go down to Change Tempo be careful not to choose Change Speed - as this will alter the pitch of the notes too - it's ok for a laugh, but you'll be in the wrong key! Until you get used to this, I'd recommend just using the slider rather than entering figures in the dialogue boxes - you can see the figures change as you do it.
• Experiment a few times and you'll see how much you need to go - the faster the original song the more you'll need to slow it down to be able to play along
• Remember that when you open a tune in Audacity you haven't lost the original file - Audacity simply makes a copy in its own style e.g. song_name.aup - which then can't be opened in any other program.
  

We currently have, running on Auto-pilot, the February 2008's storyboard of video clips (Looping approximately every 24:42 min) The clips provide an overview of iPod in Education and Google Maps (beta) for mobile phones with internet access...

1. Online Photo Sharing in Plain English (2:49 min)
2. Enerjy For Java Development (02:46 min)
3. eGuide Conference (03:15 min) (Booked your 2008 place yet? March in Manchester)
4. eLPS Tool (07:25 min)
5. Answers dot com (08:27 min)
   

Why not take a look yourself and go to http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/acl/RSC_TV/index.html and watch the RSC-Northwest's TV channel

RSC-NW TV Channel, will aim...

...to provide news of...

funding,
current projects,
initiatives and examples of good practice in eLearning

...to offer ideas and support for the Higher Education, Further Education, Personal and Community Development Learning (ACL), 6th Form College, Work Based Learning and Specialist College Managers & Practitioners etc., that are supported by the RSC here in the Northwest.

...to produce videos of events and/or training and to show them...

...so that those who are unable to attend face-to-face events, will be able to experience martini learning (any time, any place...)

When you visit the TV Chanel, "Give it a little time to 'Fine Tune'"...

UK Viewers during January 2008

Good news, the number of viewers of RSC-NW TV is increasing; new viewers are in Bold Type. In the UK we have viewers from...

Atherton,
Aylesbury,
Barrow-in-Furness,
Basildon,
Bath,
Belfast,
Billingham,
Birkenhead,
Bolton,
Bootle,
Bredbury,
Burton on Trent,
Burtonwood,
Bury,
Cannock,
Canterbury,
Chester,
Crewe,
Crowthorne,
Derby, Evesham, Heywood, Hucknall, Huyton-with-Roby, Kearsley, Kendal, Kings Langley, Kirklees, Knowsley, Lancaster,Leeds, Leek, Leyland, Liverpool, Livingston, Loughborough, London, Macclesfield, Maidenhead, Manchester, Newbury, North Tyneside, Oldham, Ormskirk, Poplar, Preston, Rawtenstall, Rochdale, Runcorn, St Helens, Sailsbury, Sale, Salford, Sefton, Sittingbourne, Solihull, Stalybridge, Stockport, Swansea, Swindon, Teddington, Walton-le-Dale, Warrington, Watford, Wembley, Westhoughton, Widnes and Winsford.

We also have viewers in India (New Delhi), Hungary (Szigetszentmiklos), Japan (Shinjuku), Netherlands (Panningen), Sudan (Khartoum), Taiwan (San-Ch'Ung), Turkey (Istanbul) and the USA (New York, Texas, Virginia, Washington).

Manager...

Andrew Quarmby
Tel: 0152 493 802
aq@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

 

Administration...

Christine Hulme
Tel: 0152 459 3797
Fax:0152 459 3798
admin@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

eLearning Advisers...

Chrissie Turkington (Learning Resources/Higher Education Colleges)
Tel: 0152 459 3801
ct@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Colin Gallacher (Work Based Learning)
Tel: 0152 459 3801
cg@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

John Dalziel (Adult & Community Learning / Personal & Community Development Learning)
Tel: 0152 459 3801
jd@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Keith Wilson (Technical)
Tel: 0152 459 3799
kwil@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Kevin Hickey (Further Education/6^th Form Colleges)
Tel: 0152 459 3799
kh@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Lisa Valentine (Specialist Colleges & Accessibility)
Tel: 0152 459 3799
lv@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Events Coordinator...

Helen Metcalfe
Tel: 0152 459 3797
Fax:0152 459 3798
hm@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Support Desk...

Duty Adviser
Tel: 0152 459 3797
support@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Address & Telephone/Fax Numbers...

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
Regional Support Centre - Northwest
Lancaster University
Bailrigg House
Lancaster University Campus
Lancaster LA1 4YE

Tel: 01524 593 797
Fax: 01524 593 798

Web Address (URL)...

http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk