ARCHIVED NOVEMBER 2006
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Top stories
Classroom Research
Carrying out your own classroom research can be a very rewarding experience for all involved. Thanks to projects such as Languages ICT Action Research, TeachNetUK and Web Journals in Language Education, teachers from this country and Europe are researching the role of technology in language learning, as a way of motivating pupils and raising attainment.
iPods and Podcasting
Podcasts are sound files which can be downloaded and listened to on a computer or mobile device such as an mp 3 player. The term ‘podcast’ is a cross between the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’, although it is not essential to have an iPod to start podcasting. All you do need is a microphone plugged into a PC and a little imagination. Language teachers are experimenting with podcasting to see how the emerging technology can improve teaching and learning. A number of recent projects specific to languages have produced encouraging results.
Other current news
Becta services offer their latest advice
Are you a primary or secondary teacher looking for advice on how to embed ICT into your language lessons? In the latest round of services from Becta, there are lots of practical ideas on issues such as authentic websites, developing primary languages and approaches to inclusion.
Aunty minds her French
Ma France and Excuse My French are two new and exciting resources from the BBC. Suitable for a range of learners from beginner to intermediate level, both series promote the importance of authentic situations and using language learning for real purposes.
Quick-stop news
Clipbank
ClipBank is a popular resource made by Channel Four which draws from their extensive library of educational programmes for 11 - 16 year olds. Now available in French, German and Spanish, the DVD -Rom includes some 250 video clips arranged by topic and grammar point. Finding suitable clips is easy thanks to the recently launched ClipBank Utilities, which can be downloaded for free from the ClipBank website. You can also watch a demonstration video starring Baldev Singh, Winner of National Innovation in Education 2004, who praises ClipBank for encouraging:
• personalised learning
• assessment for learning
• creativity
• development of high level ICT skills in students and teachers
Teachers TV
In the latest series from Teachers TV there is a range of different programmes useful for both secondary and primary languages colleagues. Have a look at the following:
Primary
Inspirations - Mind your Languages
KS 1 / 2 MFL: Sharing Skills - Secondary with Primary
KS 1 / 2 MFL: Sharing Skills - Primary with Primary
Resource Review - Primary MFL 1
Secondary
Inspirations - A Love of Languages
School Matters - Lost for Words
Teaching with Bayley - Points Means Prizes
KS 3 / 4 MFL - Actions Speak Louder
KS3/4MFL - Pupil as Teacher
Resource Review - Secondary MFL
Secondary ICT Support - ICT SOS Internet Research and Podcasting
Secondary CPD in Action - Sharing Skills
KS 3 / 4 ICT - Building a Multi-Media Web Page
Why study languages? CD-Rom
The Languages, Linguistics & Area Studies Subject Centre (LLAS), based at the University of Southampton, has produced a CD-Rom called Why study languages? It is intended to persuade pupils to carry on learning languages in KS 4 and post 16. The CD costs £ 15, but a free copy is available at your local Higher Education Institute ( HEI ).
Order your copy now from the LLAS website and receive a poster absolutely free!
Would you like to be an E-Guide?
The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is organising free training for adult education staff who want to help their colleagues develop the skills and knowledge to use technology in delivering their subject. The three day E-Guide programme is funded by the Learning and Teaching Council. Training events will be taking place all over the country between September 2006 and March 2007. Each E-Guide is encouraged to develop an action plan and cascade their skills and knowledge to their local network. If you are interested in becoming an E-Guide for your area, visit the NIACE website for more information and to download an application form.
Language forums migrate to Mailtalk
The Languages ICT and Linguanet forums have merged and migrated to the discussion list service provider Mailtalk. Existing member details and archives have been transferred, but, to post messages, you will first need to register a Mailtalk password. Guidance on how to do this can be found on the Mailtalk website. New members are very welcome.
TES Blog ICT & Modern Foreign Languages
The latest posts on the TES ICT blog, written by Joe Dale, French coordinator at Nodehill Middle School on the Isle of Wight include:
- Leading the way
- Using the freebie software Desktop Messenger
- Using podcasts in the classroom
- Using Photo Story 3 to bring images to life
- Using freeware to spice up your lessons
Joe has recently been appointed a Languages Lead Practitioner for The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and is organising a one day conference called ‘Integrating ICT into the MFL classroom’ at his school, Nodehill Middle School on the Isle of Wight, on 20 October 2006. Details can be found on the TES noticeboard.
Self-review framework
Becta has produced an online tool for schools to assess and benchmark their use of ICT across the curriculum. The Self-review framework allows schools to evaluate their current provision and offers practical advice, based on best practice case studies, on areas that could be improved.
The framework is divided into the following sections:
• Leadership and Management
• Curriculum
• Learning & Teaching
• Assessment
• Professional Development
• Extending Opportunities for Learning
• Resources
• Impact on Pupil Outcomes
For more information about how to get started, visit the Self-review framework area of the Becta Schools website.
Practical Support Pack
The Practical Support Pack - Learning and Teaching using ICT is a free resource from the Department for Education and Skills, designed to help primary and secondary colleagues use technology to raise standards in their subject. The Materials for languages, developed in association with CILT, the National Centre for Languages, include lesson plans, classroom resources and expert advice on ways of using presentation software, email and the Internet.
To read a fuller review of The Practical Support Pack, visit the September 2006 ICT news update archives.
Events
ICT Events from CILT, The National Centre for Languages
For full details of events focusing on ICT run by CILT, The National Centre for Languages, please visit the CILT website. Upcoming ICT events include:
Core skills in ICT, CILT London
Autumn 2006 course:
Day 1 : Wednesday 11 October 2006
Day 2 : Wednesday 29 November 2006
Spring 2007 course:
Day 1 : Wednesday 17 January 2007
Day 2 : Wednesday 14 March 2007
Summer 2007 course:
Day 1 : Wednesday 2 May 2007
Day 2 : Wednesday 20 June 2007
Using Powerpoint to tell stories in the classroom
Wednesday 9 May 2007, Kingwood CLC, Fulham
Enhancing whole-class language teaching using ICT: Moving on
A follow-up to Starting Out, this course from CILT Cymru develops skills using Word, PowerPoint and Interactive Whiteboard software for presentation purposes in the languages classroom. For more details visit the CILT Cymru website (Welsh version).
October 17 2006, Felinfach Professional Education Centre
Irene Funnell, Amman Valley School
October 20 2006, Baglan ICT Centre, Port Talbot
Rebecca Maggs, Barry Comprehensive School
November 20 2006 , ESIS, Trefforest
Nicole Graves, Newbridge Comprehensive School
December 12, 2006, Howardian Centre, Cardiff
Martin Bowen Jones, Llanishen High School
Dates tbc (Starting Out and Moving on), Golgarth Centre, Conway
Christine Allen, peripatetic MFL teacher
Date tbc, The Training Room, (Denbighshire County Council), Denbigh
Lucy Temple, Rhyl High School
Teaching MFL with a Smart or Promethean Board
10 October 2006, Quorn Hall, Loughborough
With Peter Dawes. See the Comenius East Midlands website for full details of this and upcoming courses.
SSAT Annual Languages Conference
10–11 October 2006, Crowne Plaza, Liverpool
Visit the Schools Network website for more details. ICT-related sessions include:
Connecting classrooms throughout the world
Penny Krucker
Mr McIntosh goes to school
Ewan McIntosh and Joe Dale
Integrating ICT into the MFL classroom
20 October 2006, Nodehill Middle School, Newport, Isle of WightOne day conference. Visit the Schools Network website for more details.
Comenius South West
Details of these ICT events will be available shortly on the Comenius South West website.Whiteboard Wizardry (Primary)
15 November 2006, Exeter
A one-day hands-on course in conjunction with CILT on the use of ICT for whole-class teaching, focusing on Smartboard 9.5 software.
Integrating the interactive whiteboard (Secondary)
6 December 2006, Bristol
A one-day hands-on course in conjunction with CILT on the use of ICT for whole-class teaching, focusing on ACTIVStudio 2 software running on a Promethean interactive whiteboard.
The Language Show
3 - 5 November 2006, Olympia, London
To see the full programme, go to the Teachers’ Zone of the Language Show website. ICT-related sessions include:
- Blogs, podcasts, wikis, photosharing…engage your students in MFL.
Ewan McIntosh - A quick start guide for French teachers with www.TV5.org.
- Death by PowerPoint? Keep your finger on the trigger.
Joe Dale - Teaching French with ‘real’, authentic resources.
Stéphane Derône - A walk through ICTLAND
Helen Myers - Primary MFL with the aid of Interactive Whiteboards.
Suzanne Taylor
Comenius Yorkshire and the Humber
See the Comenius Yorkshire and the Humber website for full details of these courses.
ICT in Key Stage 3 Languages
23 November 2006, The Minerva Centre, Bradford
Interactive Whiteboard for Primary Languages
20 June 2006, The Minerva Centre, Bradford
Whiteboard Wizardry (Primary)
27 November 2006, Kings Norton CLC, Birmingham
A one-day hands-on course in conjunction with CILT on the use of ICT for whole-class teaching, focusing on Smartboard 9.5 software. See the Comenius West Midlands website for full details of this and other events.
BETT 2007
For full details go to the BETT website.
10 - 13 January 2007
Languages- related sessions include:
- Wikimania, or using wikis to encourage spontaneous and accurate creative writing in MFL
Peter Morris - Funky Flipcharts, Wicked Websites and Interesting Interactivity in MFL
Lesley Welsh - ICT ... so what? - Using technology to enhance learning outcomes across all four language skills
Joe Dale - Living Languages - Using ICT to Promote the Productive Skills in MFL
Chris Harte
ALL London event
27 th January 2006, venue tbc.
Visit the ALL London website for more details. ICT-related sessions include:
- How to use music and song in the classroom
Rachel Hawkes - Whizzo ICT ideas!
Joe Dale
Using ICT in languages teaching
4 February 2007 , Lord Grey School , Bletchley, Milton Keynes
Contact Jonathan Day for more details of this course. A full events listing for the SE region is on the Comenius South East website.
Language World 2007
30 - 31 March 2007, University of Oxford
Visit the ALL website for the full programme, which will be announced in autumn 2006.
Comenius East
See the Comenius East website for dates and venues of the following events in the East of England in due course.
Exploiting the available software to support your teaching at KS2/3/4
With Gill Beckett.
Integrating the interactive whiteboard (Smartboard) in Secondary MFL
Using Interactive Whiteboards in MFL
Tuesday 16th January 2007, 2 - 4pm, Soham Village College
The first in a series of workshops aimed at developing skills and ideas for teaching MFL through the Promethean board, in addition to sharing good practice and resources. Contact Samantha Warner for more details of this free course (Tel: 01353 724100.)
The ICT news update pages are published on a termly basis. See Archives for previous editions.
