PHASE 1 SCHOOLS RM – Leeds BSF Programme Communications Update

December 2007 Page 1 December

2007

Communications Update Initial School Specification (ISS) Management Information System

• Over the last few months, through discussions with the Phase 1 schools and through the RDD process, we have captured information to feed into the Initial School Specification (ISS), which is the definition of the ICT Services which will be implemented in the new school buildings.

• Since the issue of the first draft at the end of September we have been reviewing and refining the ISS with each school. The aim is to ensure that the equipment allocation spreadsheet reflects current thinking, fits with budgets and is signed off by the school. There have now been several meetings with each school with good progress being made on establishing the equipment lists. The consultation process will continue into December. • Data gathering, in terms of hardware and software currently installed and in use, is also underway for the PFI schools being added to the Managed Service from April 2008. This information will be incorporated into their Initial School Specifications. • We are currently in the process of booking and carrying out reviews of the management information systems in place at the schools in order to understand how they are currently used and the schools’ aspirations for MIS.

• This exercise will result in a full report with specific sections for each school containing recommendations for improvements to be reviewed with each school and, where appropriate, to be incorporated into the Initial School Specifications.

• Please contact Paul Craggs, Project Manager, on 07768 858635 if you have any queries or post a question to [email protected]

Page 2 December

2007

Communications Update Managed Service/ TUPE

• Work is underway at RM to set up the service desk, processes and procedures that will come into effect when the Managed Service starts next April. The Service Delivery Manager has been appointed – Mark Walton – who joins the RM team on 3 rd December.

• Visits are being scheduled to gather licence information for the software in use in the Phase 1 schools. • We are continuing to work with the HR department of Education Leeds in relation to TUPE. Visits to RM’s Milton Park facility have been arranged on 29 th November and 13 th December for staff affected by TUPE.

• In the meantime, if any of the people affected in your schools have any concerns, please contact Tony Clark or post a question to [email protected]

Page 3 December

2007

Communications Update Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

A series of meetings is now taking place with each Phase 1 school to produce an Annual Training Plan for the school. This has involved reviewing CPD allocations, our catalogue of training opportunities and staff training needs.

Meetings are also being scheduled and some have started for the PFI schools that are being added to the Managed Service from April next year.

If you have not yet made an appointment to begin these discussions please contact Joyce Ness, [email protected]

, for Phase 1 schools and Andy Clay, [email protected]

for the PFI schools.

Training catalogue

The training opportunities on offer to staff include e-skills such as digital imagery and video editing, podcasting, video conferencing and creating interactive learning materials. One new course which is being developed to support schools and teachers to prepare for BSF is EPICT, The European Pedagogical ICT Licence. This is a modular training and certification programme to develop competencies and confidence to integrate ICT in the teaching process. Another new course being introduced is Multi-Media Teacher, which focuses on the use of computer based multimedia teaching facilities and development of appropriate teaching methods. This course is accredited by Ulster University.

Core training includes modules covering all aspects of the Leeds Learning Platform, from a consultation process to identify and build the schools’ vision for the use of the platform, to using the platform’s integrated features to enhance learning and teaching.

Please contact Joyce Ness, [email protected]

, or Andy Clay, [email protected]

, to find out more.

Page 4 December

2007

Communications Update Pilot programmes New technologies RM Asus MiniBook

The RM Asus miniBook is a small, ultra-lightweight mobile device that is designed for pupils to use at home, at school or on the move - a genuine "anywhere, anytime access" device. It combines the portability and quick-start of a PDA with the capabilities of a notebook. Recognising the potential value of this exciting new type category of computing device, RM has ordered a miniBook for each of the BSF and PFI schools so that they can be piloted in school. We are planning to give these to you on 28 th January 2008. For a review of the product by Andrew Brown, New Technologies Research Practitioner from the Learning and Teaching Scotland team , please see this link http://connectedlive.blip.tv/file/497679/ To find out more about the product features, please click on this link information about miniBook The device has already been on show at the RM stand at the Leeds Annual Lecture on 20 school. th November, with excellent feedback. It is also already being assessed in Leeds with good results so far. The Derek Fatchett CLC has a couple of miniBooks and they are now scoping a pilot project in the City of Leeds Chris Edwards, CEO Education Leeds, also has his own miniBook which he is starting to use.

Page 5 December

2007

Communications Update Pilot Programmes and training Play Station Portable (PSP) Pilot

As part of the support RM are supplying for PSP pilots, at least one teacher from each Phase 1 school attended a half-day training session on 19 proposals for deployment. th November introducing the use of PSPs in the classroom. All delegates were supplied with a PSP to take away. The next step is for the schools to provide their Each school will be loaned 30 x PSPs, to be used in classes by pupils. These versatile devices are more than just games consoles. Pupils will be able to access the Internet via a wireless connection, download and view podcasts, access Leeds Learning Platform and much more. The PSPs come with a camera which can take both still and video pictures. Together with a good screen size and excellent picture quality, the opportunities for use across the curriculum is vast.

PSPs also featured at the RM stand at the Leeds Annual Lecture on 20 th the device were demonstrated using a video diary.

November. The capabilities of

Lecturnity Pilot

Lecturnity is lesson-capture software that uses Microsoft PowerPoint as its base application. Using either existing or new presentations, both video and audio can be added to bring the lesson to life. The easy-to-use software can then be used to convert the finished presentation to a podcast, which can then be uploaded onto the Internet, the Learning Platform or directly onto a PSP. Delegates from the Phase 1 schools were provided an introduction alongside the PSP training session this month. Each school will be given a site licence as part of our new and emerging technologies pilots.

If you would like more information on the PSP/Lecturnity pilots, please contact Joyce Ness [email protected]

Page 6 December

2007

Communications Update Effective Practice Seminars 2008 Strategic Seminars, Weetwood Hall

• The date of the next seminar for your diaries is Monday, 28 January 2008, 10 a.m – School Improvement through ICT The seminar will focus on the strategic leadership of ICT and demonstrate its significant impact on whole school performance. Delegates will receive practical advice, hands on examples and an introduction to the Becta Self Review Framework (SRF).

Session will include: - What Ofsted judges as effective leadership of ICT (Cathy Morgan, RM and formerly Ofsted) - How to get the most from the SRF (Mike Briscoe, Becta) - Nick Jones, Principal of John Cabot Academy, Bristol, which has a national and international reputation for innovative use of new technologies Invites have now been sent out to secondary school headteachers and senior management teams. To register, please email [email protected]

.

• A second seminar is scheduled for Monday, 23 June 2008, 1 p.m. Details to follow.

• We are also securing more time with the education guru Professor Stephen Heppell later this year, hopefully in April. More details to follow.

Page 7 December

2007

Communications Update Strategic Support ‘School of the Future’ Course

• A self-study course is available to any member of staff in any Leeds school who is considering how their role could transform teaching and learning. It will help them further develop their thinking and knowledge about what the ‘School of the Future’ might look like.

• The course includes resources from across the country and round the world. • The whole course will take about 25 hours to complete.

• Link to the online course on LLN: https://portal.leedslearning.net/collaborate/ict/schoolofthefuture/default.aspx

Effective practice web site

• Don’t forget the Effective Practice web site on the Leeds Learning Network. This is a web site where you can find out about, and share projects, programmes, activities, lessons that have worked well for students in Leeds. The aim of the site is to provide a living resource and showcase for examples and evidence of shared practice in Leeds - the practice of building experiences of brilliant learning. • For this aim to be achieved, it needs your input - you can decide what you share and you can decide what you use from this site. You and your staff can post ideas directly - it's very simple to do. There's also a discussion area where you can give feedback and comments. • Please follow this link to access the effective practice site https://portal.leedslearning.net/collaborate/ict/effectivepractice/Wiki%20Pages/Home.aspx

Page 8 December

2007

Communications Update Changes to the RM Programme Team Education Development Manager

• Cathy Morgan joins the RM team on 30 th November as the Education Development Manager (EDM), taking over from Barry Taylor. Cathy will spend her time – Working with the Authority on long-term strategy and planning and on the continued design and delivery of the CPD programme; – Working with senior leadership teams in schools, enabling them to develop their ways of working to take advantage of technology developments; – Managing and supporting the work of the team of ICT mentors in schools.

Service Delivery Manager

• Mark Walton joins the RM team on 3 rd December as the Service Delivery Manager (SDM). Mark is responsible for all aspects of the Managed Service and will ensure it goes live on schedule from 1 st April 2008 and delivers the required services to schools to the agreed Service Levels.

Page 9 December

2007