ARCHIVED NOVEMBER 2005
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Top stories
Embedding
ICT @ Secondary: Key Stage 3 modern foreign languages
The Government has already invested heavily in improving the ICT infrastructure in state schools in the UK. Now, through a number of new initiatives, it’s aiming to equip teachers with the skills they will need to ensure the effective use of ICT in their specialist subjects and thus across the whole curriculum.
In partnership with subject specialists such as CILT and the Key Stage
3 National Strategy and Becta, the DfES has produced a pack called Embedding
ICT @ Secondary: Key Stage 3 modern foreign languages.
ICTAC
(ICT across the curriculum) pack
To take a detailed look at one of these new DfES resources, this free booklet and CD ROM are designed to give good examples of ICT use for the main curriculum subjects at KS3. ICTAC or ’ICT across the curriculum’ aims to support teachers in making the link between KS3 subject and ICT frameworks.
The resources include subject-specific video case studies with supporting
notes to show teachers real examples of how they can ‘enhance and stimulate
the learning experiences of pupils and contribute to the achievement
of subject objectives’. For MFL, the video clips show good practice
in the use of a wide range of ICT applications with useful supporting
notes for teachers.
Other current news
Effective use of ICT in subject teaching (Primary)
Becta has produced a CD Rom called ‘Effective use of ICT in subject
teaching (Primary)’ for primary teachers. This publication will be of
interest to all schools that have already introduced, or will be introducing,
a modern foreign language into their primary curriculum, as it includes
a number of MFL activities. For example, activities to support children
learning simple vocabulary in French, which can easily be applied to
other languages.
MAPE Focus on MFL: ICT supporting Modern Foreign Language teaching and learning in primary schools
If you teach in primary and haven’t yet come across this booklet, it identifies some of the ways in which ICT can be used effectively for a younger audience to help them in their language learning. It’s an interesting read and contains many useful ideas which either a specialist or non-specialist could take advantage of. The booklet is very practical and is written by practising teachers in the main. It gives a good overview of recent developments in PMFL and is certainly worth a look.
I’m an expert – get me out of here!
In January, MFL was in the spotlight on the Becta
ICT advice website, with the topic, “ICT-based authentic materials
for MFL”. Vincent Everett was nominated to represent the Association
for Language Learning ICT Special Interest Group.
Quick-stop news
Innovation Exchange Project
A DfES-sponsored project, the Innovation Exchange Project has focused on how use of ICT can strengthen collaboration between schools and universities and improve language learning in schools. In particular it has looked at the use of virtual learning environments in school/university mentoring schemes. Partners in the project are:
- Association for Language Learning
- University Council of Modern Languages
- London School of Economics with Archbishop Michael Ramsay Technology College, Southwark
- University of Sheffield with King Edward VII Language College, Sheffield
- Ashcombe School, Surrey
Case studies and practical advice on setting up similar projects can be found on the website.
Podcasts
Partners in Excellence is an ICT/MFL project in Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire in Scotland, which is experimenting with downloadable broadcasts or “podcasts”. Three have been done so far with interviews in Spanish, French and German and website reviews. The site is popular with pupils and many of them have been downloading – not just in Scotland, but worldwide.
Here’s what Helen Myers had to say on the Languages ICT Forum:
“What an excellent idea this is...good presentation, good way of introducing and practising language … and of promoting the advantages of language learning”
Schoolzone web reviews
Looking for languages websites? As well as our own Webwatch languages
pages, you might like to explore the Webguide at Schoolzone. The database
is searchable by subject, keyword, age, topic and language. An open
search on languages brought up 2775 sites. Each recommended site has
a short review and a star rating, although many of these sites will
have been added by the site owners. You can also recommend a favourite
site yourself.
Events
ICT Events from CILT, the National Centre for Languages
For details of events focusing on ICT run by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, please visit the CILT website at: http://www.cilt.org.uk/cpd/ict.htm
Integrating the Interactive Whiteboard
A one-day hands-on course on ICT for whole class teaching, focusing
on ACTIVStudio 2 software running on a Promethean interactive whiteboard.
23 June 2005, Brislington CLC, Bristol
Whiteboard wizardry
A one-day hands-on course on the use of ICT for whole class teaching,
focusing on ACTIVPrimary software running on a Promethean interactive
whiteboard
15 November 2005, Kingwood CLC, London
Using PowerPoint to tell stories in the primary classroom
A half-day course on creating digital big books.
22 November 2005, CILT, London
and
29 November 2005, Comenius North East, Durham Leadership Centre, Spennymoor
Integrating the interactive whiteboard
A one-day hands-on course on the use of ICT for whole class teaching,
focusing on ACTIVStudio 2 software running on a Promethean interactive
whiteboard
12 October 2005, Kingwood CLC, London
Core skills for ICT
A distance-learning course in the application of core ICT skills
to effective MFL teaching and learning.
23 November 2005 to 8 February 2006, CILT, London
ICT as a route to creativity
A one-day hands-on course on supporting pupils in creative language
activities.
6 December 2005, Kingwood CLC, London
Language World Conference 2005: Creating opportunities,
from the Association for Language Learning
1-3 July, University of Kent at Canterbury
Language World 2005 has 26 sessions focusing on ICT, including those listed below. Please click HERE (20 kB) to download a complete list of ICT-based sessions in Word or go to http://www.ALL-languages.org.uk for the full programme.
Get it right at KS3, keep them at KS4
Henriette Harnisch
ICT to develop creativity at KS3
Wendy Adeniji
Electronic worksheets – harnessing the power of the computer
Heather Rendall
ICT resources which really work!
Helen Myers
Creating target language movies
Claire Dugard, Richard Winston, Ian King
Free practical software and utilities for the MFL classroom
Joe Dale
Maximising the use of ICT in MFL
Lesley Marwood
The interactive classroom
Ros Walker. Sponsored by: Promethean
The ICT news update pages are published on a termly basis. See Archives
for previous editions.
