Northumberland ICT & eLearning

iPad @TheSill

18th June, 9.30am-4.30pm

Join us at The Sill on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, just a stone’s throw away from Hadrian’s Wall, to explore how we can use technology to enhance cross curricular classroom projects. Hear from teams at The National Park, The School Library Service and The Northumberland Archive about how they can help you bring topics to life! Take part in hands on workshops including a guided walk along a section of Hadrian's Wall.

For full details follow this link, or scroll to next section of the newsletter.

Cyber awareness

12th June '24 3.45-4.55pm, online.

This session will be delivered by Maria Bartley, a Force Specialist Cyber Protect & Prepare Officer with Northumbria Police. Maria will take us through the risks we should all be aware of and the key actions we can take to protect our personal accounts and our school network.

Annual online safety update

1st May or 24th June '24 3.45-5.00pm, online.

We recommend that all members of staff attend this session annually. In it, we'll cover key areas of risk and how to mitigate these. We'll then move on to cover recent trends, risks and key actions you can take as well as highlighting some new resources to ensure your team is up to date and prepared for the year ahead.

Teaching Online Safety

8th May '24 3.45-430pm, online.

In this session we will discuss the importance of a whole school, cross curricular approach to online safety. This session is aimed at those who may be new to teaching online safety and also those who might be looking to review their online safety provision.

Please email jennifer.harris@northumberland.gov.uk to reserve any places.

We've all experienced the often challenging prospect of engaging parents and carers on the subject of online safety. We have found that one of the best ways to grab their attention is to involve their children and task them with spreading the word.

As part of this process pupils will consolidate their understanding of key online safety messaging as they research, organise, script write and rehearse their presentation / film.

The fantastic Digital Leaders at Burnside Primary School, Cramlington have written and produced this brilliant online safety film to share with their peers and families, via their school website. Why not use this to show 'what a good one looks like', before tasking your class to create their own?

If you would like to know more about setting up your own Digital Leader initiative in school, get in touch to find out how we can help.

Sextortion is reportedly on the increase. The Internet Watch Foundation reported a record amount of cases (eightfold in a year). Although anyone can be targeted, the main area of growth is in boys aged 14+ and cases are usually financially motivated. In many cases offenders threaten to share intimate images or video clips of the victim with friends and family, but threats of violence and other tactics are also used.

It's vital then that we as professionals and parents and carers, are able to identify the possible warning signs of sextortion, know how best to support young people to be aware and think critically about their online activity and know where to go for help should the worst happen. Internet Matters have produced a comprehensive guide, which we've linked below.

Common Sense Education have compiled a really thought provoking article around building intentional habits to help navigate our online lives and consider the way we interact with technology.

'One of the biggest flip sides to digital citizenship is the off-screen element of Media Balance & Well-Being. Being able to resist the siren call of notifications, pick up a book instead of scroll, and funnel that need for belonging and affirmation into other activities are all ways we can find that balance. Being mindful of why we want to use a device, open a particular app, or continue to watch/scroll/play is essential to finding balance with off-screen activities—plus it's a great life skill! If kids can use media and technology intentionally and know other ways to deal with uncomfortable feelings, it not only helps their digital citizenship skills, but also boosts their overall well-being.'

Access the article and lessons via the following link to help your pupils become more mindful of their use of technology and to give them the skills and knowledge to be in control of their tech, rather than it having control over them.

Our loan equipment is almost always fully booked across the school year. If you haven't already done so, please get in touch to let us know what you would like to reserve for the next academic year and your preferred half term. This service is available to schools in our support SLA (1) and training is available to ensure your full team can make the most of the devices in classrooms throughout school.

Our current set includes the following:

Sphero Indi - The robot for early learners that is driven by colour

Speed into STEAM with indi—the most approachable entry-level learning robot for ages 4+. indi inspires imaginative, play-based learning by empowering kids to design and build their own mazes while creating opportunities for students to learn the basics of coding, solve problems, and nurture computational thinking skills.

Sphero Bolt - the ultimate coding robotic ball!

Designed for educators who want to inspire their students' curiosity in STEM, Sphero BOLT is a game-changing tool that empowers students to explore their creativity, coding skills, and inventiveness. With its advanced sensors, programmable LED matrix, and innovative technology, Sphero BOLT is the perfect way to integrate some fun into learning and make your classroom a place where students can't wait to explore!

Ozobots

Ozobots are desk-friendly coding robots that come with infinite ways to create, learn, and share. Program with screen free colour codes or use block based programming by connecting to a Chromebook, iPad or laptop.

Blue Bots

We're all familiar with Beebots in EY and KS1. These bluetooth enabled versions allow further challenge and interest in the classroom as children learn to sequence commands and debug simple programmes.

Microbits

The Microbit is a fantastic tool to help pupils learn to code. This versatile device can be used as a datalogger and form the basis for many different cross curricular projects. You'll find an abundance of units of work, activity ideas and resources on the BBC Microbit website.

iPads

We also have a set of iPads, already set up with the latest apps for schools hoping to trial before they buy. In our opinion, iPads are the device of choice for teachers embarking on creative, multimedia projects. Try your hand at film making, music composition, photography, podcast creation, ebooks and so much more.

Adobe continue to provide some great cross curricular resources linked to current themes!

Lesson plans with video tutorials

With Earth Day coming up, check out the Pollination, Sustainability and Climate Change video tutorials. There’s a Titanic one too which is proving very popular this month.

90 minute live lessons

Book your free, virtual, Adobe Express live lessons for classes of 8-13 year olds on the following themes: Earth Day / Titanic Anniversary / UK Space Day / VE Day - WW2

Drawing with Kyle

The Gingerbread Man is the latest KS1+ drawing challenge video tutorial. Appropriate for any age looking to learn how to draw digitally, we’ve purposely chosen KS1 themes so our younger learners can start using Express.

Access your Adobe Express Edu account via School360.co.uk.

eSchools are releasing a new website editor in the Spring.

Make sure you’re prepared by joining one of our introductory sessions, led by Nick Neal at eSchools.

Each session will last for approximately 40 minutes with time for a Q & A afterward.

Monday 22nd April – 1.45pm

Tuesday 30th April – 3.45pm

Contact us to reserve your place.

Look out for next year's Northumberland ICT training guide in our next newsletter, released at the start of June.

Please get in touch to request support or reserve a place on any of our training sessions.

jennifer.harris@northumberland.gov.uk

jordan.graham@northumberland.gov.uk

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