In the dark?

Glow’s not coming our way for a while but things are happening elsewhere. As someone who was, at one time, tasked with involvement in Glow I like to try to keep a close eye on where things are at…………..

Was quite amused by this chance find when I ran a Google search for Glow in Highland!!

You may find that you can’t follow the link below in school!!!!! but I’ve put up a few bits of info from this week’s edubloggers and elsewhere so you can get a feel for what’s happening out there where the bulb’s shining a little brighter!!

http://drop.io/candleinthewind

Future Technologies - Now!

I’ve just returned from two very interesting days at Stirling Management Centre where Learning & Teaching Scotland hosted an event for members of the Scottish ICT Development Group (SICTDG) on the theme of Future Technologies.

John Low, Andrew Brown and Derek Robertson from LTS put together a range of new applications, games, and presenters who are breaking new ground with their efforts in teaching and learning through ICT.

The technologies being discussed and on display were certainly not of the future but of the here and now. Most was included for its potential to become part of the kitbag of tools demanded by our new curriculum. All had the potential to help teachers and pupils achieve the outcomes envisaged under Curriculum for Excellence.

Main topics, many of which have featured already in this blog, were:

(Please note that while links to pages may be useful for teachers they may not be suitable for browsing by pupils or for use within a school environment.)

Ultra mobile PCs for 1:1 learning (Asus minibook and Samsung Q1Ultra)

Blogging & tracking of blogs and online tools such as Avatar creation and comic strip software.

Educational benefits from Games technology

Islay High School Schools of Ambition project

Geotagging

Virtual worlds technology such as Teen Second Life

Read (and comment on) the LTS Future Technologies Blog here for detailed information and outward links to areas of interest.

Asus Minibook

I took delivery of an Asus Minibook this week and so far I’m really impressed. I was browsing the Internet via a wireless network within minutes, listening to Internet Radio, using the pre-installed Skype, logging in to my FirstClass account and working on documents within Open Office. I’m even using it to update this blog and add information to my wiki.

School age pupils are going to love this versatile machine.

The model I have carries the Linux operating system but there’s a Windows version on the way. I sourced the computer from Research Machines and it cost £199. See the section of an article below.

ASUS Unites the Breakthrough Eee PC with Microsoft Windows

ASUS confirmed they will offer the highly anticipated Eee PC pre-installed with Genuine Microsoft Windows by end of this year. The ASUS Eee PC defines a new category of computing device that offers an excellent Internet experience on-the-go for work, learn and play. With the addition of Microsoft Windows, the Eee PC can now also accommodate educational and corporate requirements.

Check out the Asus Minibook website here.

Watch Andrew Brown’s (LTS) run-through of the main features:

Personal computing for all at last?

Research Machines are just about to launch the MiniBook, which looks promising. It starts around £159.00, runs on Linux, and is said to be without moving parts.

I found this brief description on a website:

The RM Asus miniBook is smaller than an A5 pad, weighs less than 1kg, has a 7 inch screen and integrated webcam…wait…it’s an eee PC , isn’t it? With another badge and a student focus? Anyhow, it costs a paltry £169.00 for the base 2 GB solid drive model and is available from next month. We’re strangely attracted to its charms (especially with the optional 3G module, although 2.5 hours battery life is pretty poor - and this, apparently, can only be achieved on the 4 GB model at £199.00 with only 2 hours available with the base model!!).

The RM Asus miniBook is the perfect choice for students who want a genuine anywhere anytime access device at a startlingly low price. Smaller than a A5 pad and weighing less than 1kg and coupled with a host of features including solid-state drive and webcam, this device has everything a student requires from mobile computing. With its stylish looks, 7″ screen, integrated card reader and optional 3G module this notebook is ideal for those looking for the latest technology on their device at prices from £169.00!

See RM’s spec sheets and pricing here.

Download an Asus pdf information flyer here.

Broadband and your school.

The Pathfinder North project, that will eventually bring broadband to your school, is currently underway - visit the project’s website here.

You can now check when your school is due to be connected. Click here for a postcode search on progress.

Glow Mentor Meeting 24/5/07

Glow Mentors assembled for their second Strathpeffer get-together in the Spa Pavilion.

After a welcome by Bob English, Andrew Sharkey from RM gave us a recap on the Phase 2 pilot and a look at what’s coming in the next phase that is due to begin next week. View his presentation here. Watch a video with an amusing take on education.- The 5 Minute University.

Joe Walsh respresenting Heriot Watt University drew parallels between Scholar and Glow. He informed us of the road travelled over the past 7 years in getting Scholar up-and-running. The experiences of the Scholar team has much to share with the roll out of Glow in terms of how much training teachers and pupils might need to develop skills in e-learning.

Jim Henderson on Blogging & Pathfinder.

Jim explained that there has been a high level of interest in blogging around Glow community. He went on to explain what a blog is and what it usually contains - tags, links, pictures, search engines………

Many local authorities have set up blogs in relation to Glow and Glow mentors Argyll & Bute, Shetland, East Lothian and Glasgow were mentioned. Jim showed his own blog. It’s likely that a blogging server will be set up in Highland by June this year. Jim suggested that this might be very useful for Glow mentors.

Jim pointed us to the search engine Technorati to keep up with the blogging world. He also mentioned Bloglines which is a more personal way of tracking blogs of interest and ENDO - another aggregator/syndication system.

Pathfinder - 3 year old project to bring broadband to the Highlands and Islands. Partners are Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Argyll & Bute, Moray, & Western Isles.

Pathfinder is a plan to connect Scottish schools - £70m project over 5 years with the priority being for schools and council buildings. Minimum specification to be 8mb for primary schools and 12mb for secondary. The service will be managed by THUS plc.

The challenge in Highland is to connect 219 schools, 43 libraries, & 14 inhabited islands. Connections start in May 2007 nd should be completed by 2009. The roll out plan is likely to be shared with Head Teachers as early as next week.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent in discussion around 20 Questions aimed at helping mentors define their future role in relation to GLOW. Feedback from discussion groups was collated in a Softease database using wireless mice and keyboards and bluetooth wireless Airliner slates - just as a small example of interactive ICT in use!!!

Empty version of the Softease database uploaded to the Public folder on my iDisk for the two or three folks who asked for it…..!!!

Visit the LTS Glow website for updates from the centre.

Highland gets GLOWing

The first meeting of Highland’s Glow mentors took place on Friday 15th December.

Twenty-nine teachers from all over Highland met at Strathpeffer Community Centre to hear from Alan Yeoman, Learning & Teaching Scotland on progress so far and plans for next steps.

There was an opportunity for mentors to start discussing and considering their future role now that details have begun to emerge from the development team. There was also a chance to feedback on the first phase of the portal pilot that had been running throughout November and early December.

Mentors were offered, and most accepted, a loan of a new laptop for use throughout the Glow implementation period. The computers are modern wireless and bluetooth enabled and were supplemented with a bluetooth mouse, a network cable, a 512mb U3 pen drive, and a very practical backpack bag.

The next meeting has been arranged for 29th March 2007.

More about Glow….

ATSS & Glow

The ATS Service is heavily involved with the LTS/RM Glow project that aims to put a national intranet at the disposal of all Scottish learners.

Our interest is both general and specific. We hope for an overall successful suite of tools that will allow teachers and pupils to engage with teaching and learning in a forward looking manner, taking account of new technologies and learning styles.

We do, however, wonder just how accessible the Glow portal will be to those with significant learning difficulties, sensory, or physical impairment?

The ATS Service will keep careful watch over developments and ask questions of the developers at every opportunity to ensure delivery of a system that is as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Highland has assigned 29 mentors to support the development of Glow - leave your comments and questions for them here.