Computer Basics

Synopsis: This course will give those with limited knowledge of computers a basic introduction to general P.C. management and some basic packages

Achievements: Delegates will have gained skills, knowledge and will have developed confidence in using the PC for generic use to aid their personal use and for teaching and learning.

Making an impact with PowerPoint for Muliti-Media Teaching and Learning

Synopsis: Many teachers find creating multimedia presentations is a powerful teaching tool and one of the most rewarding of the Year 6 QCA Units for ICT, as children begin to appreciate the creative power of being able to weave together pictures, sound, music, text, video and animation. However, the many will agree that the majority of pupils are ready to begin to develop the relevant skills for multimedia creation in KS1, so this course is aimed at the teacher for their own use, KS1 and KS2 practitioners.

Achievements: Delegates will have gained skills, knowledge and will have developed confidence in using a variety of readily available resources to support their own presentations and the teaching of a multimedia application.

Getting to know your Interactive Whiteboard

Synopsis: An Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) has the potential to enrich learning and teaching across the curriculum. This one day course is intended as a practical introduction to your board whether it is a Smart Board or Promethean Board.

 Achievements: Participants will have a greater understanding of the place and potential of an Interactive Whiteboard in the classroom. They will have greater confidence in its use and have experience in using the range of resources available to them. 

Advanced use of the Interactive Whiteboard

Synopsis:  This one-day course is designed to take any user of a Promethean or Smart interactive whiteboard and user to an advanced level. The session covers all skills and functionality, is very hands-on and encourages practice on the boards throughout the day.

Achievements: Participants who have already made a good start in using their interactive whiteboards will have a greater understanding of features and functions of all it has to offer to enhance teaching and learning across the curriculum.

 Using an Interactive Whiteboard in the Foundation Stage

Synopsis:  This one day course, aimed specifically at Foundation Stage practitioners, outlines how interactive whiteboards have the potential to enrich learning and creative and innovative teaching across the Foiundation Stage curriculum.  This course is designed for users of a Smart Board or Promethean Board.  

 

Achievements: Practitioners will understand that interactive whiteboards can have a positive effect on learning and teaching but as with any ICT tool, the impact on learning and teaching depends on how successfully they are integrated into classroom practice. They will leave with a wealth of ideas on how to use the specific board’s software, on-line resources and other software applications suitable for young children. 

The Renewed Primary Frameworks

An Introduction to the on-line resources

Synopsis: The renewed Primary Framework has a much greater emphasis on children’s use of ICT to support learning. This one day course will give delegates an overview of the Framework and how to access ICT resources.

Achievements: Delegates will have gained skills, knowledge and will have developed confidence in using the resources available to support the use of ICT in the renewed Primary Framework.

 ICT in the Renewed Primary Frameworks  

A Survival Guide

Synopsis: The renewed Primary Framework has a much greater emphasis on children’s use of ICT to support learning. This course will give delegates the skills necessary to make full use of the frameworks’ suggested uses of ICT to support learning and teaching.

Achievements: Delegates will have gained skills, knowledge and will have developed confidence in using the resources available to support the use of ICT in the renewed Primary Framework.

Supporting the use of Audio in Literacy Learning

Synopsis:  The renewed framework for literacy exemplifies exciting and innovative applications of ICT in the primary classroom. It is recognised however, that in order for teachers to be fully able to exploit the potential of ICT to raise standards, they will need supporting. This course will focus on the requirement to use ICT audio devices and techniques to record, develop ideas and share outcomes

Achievements: This course aims to provide the target audience with the necessary ICT skills, knowledge and understanding to support colleagues in the implementation of those literacy units which use audio. 

Supporting the use of Still Images and Animation in Literacy Learning

Synopsis: The renewed framework for literacy exemplifies exciting and innovative applications of ICT in the primary classroom. It is recognised however, that in order for teachers to be fully able to exploit the potential of ICT to raise standards, they will practical support. This course will focus on the requirement to use digital cameras, images and stop-frame animation techniques to record, develop ideas and share outcomes.

Achievements: This practical course aims to provide the target audience with the necessary ICT skills, knowledge and understanding to support colleagues in the implementation of those literacy units which use still images and animation.

Supporting the use of Digital Video in Literacy Learning

Synopsis: The renewed framework for literacy exemplifies exciting and innovative applications of ICT in the primary classroom. It is recognised however, that in order for teachers to be fully able to exploit the potential of ICT to raise standards, they will need practical support. This course will focus on the requirement to use video devices and techniques to record, develop ideas and share outcomes.  This course outline can be tailor made to encourage boys’ writing.                    

Achievements: This practical course aims to provide the target audience with the necessary ICT skills, knowledge and understanding to support colleagues in the implementation of those literacy units which use video.

Using ICT to encourage Speaking and Listening skills in FS and KS1

Synopsis:  This one day course will offer support in the area of speaking and listening to FS and KS1 teachers to complement the objectives for reading and writing.   This course is designed to answer the thoughts of many foundation stage and key stage one teachers who complain that the language skills of each fresh intake of children appear to be deteriorating. 

Achievements: Practitioners will learn more of the value of "soft" learning that places play and conversation at the centre of nursery, reception and KS1 classes. They will leave with many practical ideas of how to create games using a variety of ICT hardware and software to incorporate speaking and listening activities across the curriculum

Using ICT to Support Reading and Writing at KS1

Synopsis:  The aim of this one day courseis to give teachers the techniques to develop their pupils’ reading and writing skills using a wide variety of ICT applications.   Using a diverse range of ICT, teachers will be able to inspire even the most difficult to motivate readers and writers in their class.

Achievements: Teachers will take away a wide variety of techniques and skills on how to use ICT to enhance the reading and writing levels of their children not only in literacy lessons, but across the curriculum.

Using ICT to Support Reading and Writing at KS2

Synopsis:  The aim of this one day course is to give teachers the techniques to develop their pupils’ reading and writing skills using a wide variety of ICT applications.   Using a diverse range of ICT, teachers will be able to inspire even the most difficult to motivate readers and writers in their class.

Achievements: Teachers will take away a wide variety of techniques and skills on how to use ICT to enhance the reading and writing levels of their children not only in literacy lessons, but across the curriculum.

Using Clicker 5 to support Writing in the Classroom

Synopsis: Clicker is a writing support and multimedia tool - it enables you to write with whole words, phrases or pictures! It is a very powerful tool and is easy to use, and supports all areas of the curriculum. This half day course aims to explore and familiarise delegates with the many features of the software.

Achievements: Participants will be able to modify and create Clicker 5 Grids. The will take away a number of grids to be used in the classroom.

Using ICT to support Maths and Problem Solving in KS1

Synopsis:  This one day course will help practitioners find out what is meant by a problem-solving approach to teaching mathematics at an appropriate level for their children.  It will help them help their students construct an understanding of how ICT can aide mathematical ideas and processes by engaging: creating, conjecturing, exploring, testing, and verifying.

Achievements:  Practitioners will leave the course being more able to support children in developing their understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy in a broad range of ICT contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practise and talk about their developing understanding. Practitioners will be able to offer opportunities for these skills to be practised, in order to give children confidence and competence in their use in a fun way.

Using ICT to support Maths and Problem Solving in KS2

Synopsis:  This one day course will help practitioners find out what is meant by a problem-solving approach to teaching mathematics at an appropriate level for either KS1 or KS2.  It will help them help their students construct an understanding of how ICT can aide mathematical ideas and processes by engaging: creating, conjecturing, exploring, testing, and verifying.

Achievements:  Practitioners will leave the course being more able to support children in developing their understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy in a broad range of ICT contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practise and talk about their developing understanding. Practitioners will be able to offer opportunities for these skills to be practised, in order to give children confidence and competence in their use in a fun way.

Using ICT in the Foundation Stage

Synopsis:  This one day course is aimed to support all Foundation Stage staff in becoming more aware and familiar with ICT in the Foundation Stage. Our children are growing up in an ICT rich environment, so we need to give them meaningful ICT experiences in school.  Practitioners will learn about where ICT is included in Knowledge and Understanding of the World, but more importantly where there are learning opportunities in all six areas of development.  Teachers will learn that ICT is not just about computers and there will be plenty of hands on experience; time to 'play' with recommended hardware and software. 

Achievements: Foundation Stage Practitioners will have had a fun day with ICT, having had plenty of hands on experience and practical ideas for recommendations for software, hardware and resources, planned ICT experiences and examples of uses of ICT.  Teachers will be more confident in using ICT as a tool that helps children develop their learning potential. It can also be fun, motivating, enabling and is entirely relevant in young children’s lives today.

Using an Interactive Whiteboard in the Foundation Stage

Synopsis:  This one day course, aimed specifically at Foundation Stage practitioners, outlines how interactive whiteboards have the potential to enrich learning and creative and innovative teaching across the Foundation Stage curriculum.  This course is designed for users of a Smart Board or Promethean Board. 

Achievements: Practitioners will understand that interactive whiteboards can have a positive effect on learning and teaching but as with any ICT tool, the impact on learning and teaching depends on how successfully they are integrated into classroom practice. They will leave with a wealth of ideas on how to use the specific board’s software, on-line resources and other software applications suitable for young children. 

Using Emailing to enrich the curriculum from FS – KS2

Synopsis:  Why leave emailing until year 3?  This half day course will discuss this question and give valid reasons, ideas for activities and examples of appropriate software to use to encourage use of emailing from the Foundation Stage upwards.

Achievements: Teachers will leave the course with a good idea of how to use email across the curriculum in a progressive way from FS to KS2.  They will have many examples of activities they can use in a practical classroom setting and feel inspired to plan emailing into their lessons for a more creative curriculum.

Using ICT to enhance Science in the Primary School

Synopsis:  Science lessons can be brought to life with the use of ICT.  It’s true to say that ICT peripherals such as a data logger or microscope can record data that is virtually impossible to document in any other way.  This one day course will show you how to use this equipment and how to plan exciting and motivating investigations.

Achievements:  Primary Science has three aims; to develop scientific process skills, to foster the acquisition of concepts and to develop particular attitudes.  This course will help teachers build their knowledge and understanding of these aims and will give them the ICT know-how to enable them to be accomplished.

Using ICT to support Science and the Foundation Subjects for the Primary Curriculum

Synopsis:  This is a one day course intending to give a practical overview in how to make use of a variety of ICT including an Interactive Whiteboard, peripheral hardware, on-line resources and software to deliver Foundation Subject lessons in a creative way.

Achievements:Delegates will have gained skills, knowledge and will have developed confidence in using a variety of readily available resources to support science and the foundation subjects.

ICT and the Visual Arts in the Primary Curriculum

Synopsis:  This is a fun and practical one day course which aims to provide practitioners with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to fully exploit the power that ICT can bring to teaching and learning in the visual arts.  This course includes ideas for use across the many subject areas for those interested in a more creative curriculum.

Achievements:  Teachers will never look at visual arts in the same way again!  They will finish the course having had a lot of fun, but also with many ideas of how to manipulate standard ICT software and equipment they most probably use every day to create interesting and motivating art activities.

ICT and the Creative Arts across the curriculum

Synopsis:  Increasing creativity has the potential to enrich learning and teaching across the whole curriculum. This one day course is intended to give a practical taster in how to make use of a variety of ICT including an Interactive Whiteboard, on-line resources and software to deliver lessons in a dynamic and fun way.

Achievements: Delegates will have gained skills, knowledge and will have developed confidence in using a variety of readily available resources to support the use of creative Arts across the curriculum.

Using Emailing to enrich the curriculum from FS – KS2

Synopsis:  Why leave emailing until year 3?  This half day course will discuss this question and give valid reasons, ideas for activities and examples of appropriate software to use to encourage use of emailing from the Foundation Stage upwards.

Achievements: Teachers will leave the course with a good idea of how to use email across the curriculum in a progressive way from FS to KS2.  They will have many examples of activities they can use in a practical classroom setting and feel inspired to plan emailing into their lessons for a more creative curriculum.

Video Conferencing Projects in the Curriculum

Synopsis:  Why Video Conference?  Why not? This is a great time to start video Conferencing as the price of equipment is coming down and there are more and more museums and other institutions providing, usually free, and an increasing range of videoconferences. This one day course will provide ideas for using VC across the curriculum and the benefits it brings to learning.  Skype or other free software will be used on the course on a broadband connection only.

Achievements: Attendees will learn the best opportunities for using VC across the curriculum for all age phases, where to begin planning for such projects and the practical and technical implications to see one through.  Teachers will learn about opportunities to enable their children to experience life beyond their own school and how VC can help to inspire letter writing, cards and invitaiton, drawing maps, plans and diagrams among many other skills.

A Survival Guide… To Control Technology in FS and KS1

Synopsis:  This half day course will aim to clarify the role of control technology in the Foundation Stage and identify ways in which ICT may be used to support the Early Learning Goals and the KS1 QCA units.  Teachers will have time to play with remote control toys, floor robots and additional resources for a variety of games that enhance cross curricular work.

Achievements:  Practitioners will have a deeper understanding of how to use, plan for and extend the use of control technology across the curriculum.  They will have a bank of ideas of how to integrate this aspect of ICT to encourage more creativity in their children’s’ learning.

A Survival Guide… To QCA ICT KS1 Schemes of Work

Synopsis:  This is a MUST DO one day course to give KS1 teachers an in-depth understanding of the QCA Units of work for ICT from Unit 1A to 2E. 

Achievements: This course will give teachers the confidence to teach all of the ICT Units of Work in KS1 alongside an understanding of progression within areas of work.  They will leave with many ideas for cross-curricular opportunities to ensure children are not receiving their ICT lessons in isolation.

A Survival Guide… To QCA ICT Year 3 Schemes of Work

Synopsis:  This is a practical course which aims to equip teachers with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to teach the Y3 ICT curriculum. Delegates will learn how various software titles can be used to deliver the Y3 curriculum confidently and effectively.

Achievements: Teachers will have knowledge of resources and ideas to deliver the following Units confidently: 3A, 3B, <metricconverterproductid3C>3C, 3D, 3E.

A Survival Guide… To QCA ICT Year 4 Schemes of Work

Synopsis:  This is a practical one day course which aims to equip teachers with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to teach the Y4 ICT curriculum. Delegates will learn how various software titles can be used to deliver the Y4 curriculum confidently and effectively.

Achievements: Teachers will have knowledge of resources and ideas to deliver the following Units confidently: 4A, 4B, 4C, 4C, 4D, 4E

A Survival Guide… To Control Technology in KS2 using Flowol

Synopsis:  Control Technology, that difficult to teach area of ICT, seeks to enable children to understand how devices attached to a computer can be programmed to perform simple functions. This one day course is designed to enable all children at Key Stage 2 to write and test simple procedures using Flowol simulations to turn on and off lights, buzzers and motors, and use a switch to control when and how frequently such events will occur. 

Achievements: The teachers attending the course will feel more confident using this ‘tricky’ and ‘hard to teach’ area to be able to demonstrate computer control and show appropriate examples for different levels, apply mimics for simulation, which aids differentiation and simplifies pupil assessment, add sound (PC) to appropriate examples, give the opportunity for extension work and use interfaces, input, output devices and sensors in real situations.

Assessment for Learning KS1 and KS2

Synopsis:  This half day course is designed to help instructors use the power and functionality a TurningPoint or Smart’s Senteo assessment system to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. The course will cover general use of assessment systems based on the needs of teachers and pupils in schools in the UK. This course is hands-on and teachers will get the chance to participate interactively with the course.

Achievements: This course aims to provide the target audience with the skills and confidence to build in Assessment for Learning opportunities into their everyday teaching.  Teachers will be equipped in using ICT to enhance assessment in the classroom to raise pupils’ achievement. It is based on the idea that pupils will improve most if they understand where they are in relation to the aim of their learning.

Using Brainstorming/Mind Mapping and Planning across the curriculum

Synopsis:  This half day course is designed to help practitioners develop their personal use of mind mapping/concept mapping software for planning and as an alternative to presenting to a class.  Mind mapping software helps teachers and children to visualise ideas quickly and easily, without the ICT ‘getting in the way’.  It provides a way of organising and arranging ideas, and has been proven to enhance learning for dyslexic students

Achievements: This course aims to provide the target audience with the skills and confidence to use Mind Mapping for their own use and into the classroom in a variety of different ways.