To: iCT@C Champions

CC: GH, AW
From: JG
Subject: Mins from iCT@C WG meeting held Monday 21st September 2009.
Date: 27.09.09
Item Notes ACTION
Present: HS, ER, MB, PW, VC, VH, JS, KCa, JWa, KT, JG
1
Apologies: JP,JT,PH,DF,SM,MCc
Future meetings:
• 7th Dec, 1st March, 17th May
Open Evening:
• 1st Oct - JG Located in V4 (Community room), advise
visitors to see JG for a chat about iCT@C/ eLearning etc. A
copy of the Open Evening booklet (iCT@C page) was handed
out, staff asked to check and inform CB of any amendments
before Thursday 24th.
Training Opportunities:
• A list of training events was given to staff, to share with
2 colleagues in departments (various dates/ venues). ALL
Safer internet day:
• Notice given of this annual event run by ceop. This years
event has the theme of 'Think before you Post' and is
scheduled for Feb 9th 2010. JG asked staff to consider any
involvement/ participation for our school. Ideas to be
brought to next meeting.
BETT Show:
• This year the annual technology show will take place on
13th-16th Jan 2010. JG to attend on Friday 15th with DS
and KCa.
IWBs (Interactive Whiteboards):
• A reminder was given to staff, to turn off projectors when
not in use to prolong the life expectancy of projector lamps.
• Clarification was provided on the issue of replacing projector
lamps/ bulbs, as follows - Replacement lamps are to be
purchased by departments using capitation (consumables).
However, should any department wish, a new projector
could be purchased instead of replacing the bulb (due the
the insignificant difference in cost) by AW, if departments
contribute to this cost with the price of a replacement lamp/ ALL
4 bulb. Departments are to see AW in such cases to arrange Promethean
funding. The procedure of replacing lamps/ bulbs was users
discussed, which is - Departments are to notify the ICT
technicians, who in turn check the make/ model of lamp/
bulb required and placed an order. JG advised departments
not to wait until the lamp stops working, but to plan ahead
and order in advance, to minimise any inconvenience.
• JG reminded staff that ALL teachers in departments that use
an IWB must be inducted, anyone (in departments) that has
not had an induction should inform JG asap to make
arrangements.
 • Promethean IWB users/ departments may now have two
different types of software in use, due to the recent
installations which came shipped with the latest offering
from Promethean called - ActivInspire. JG advised such
departments to consider upgrading previous versions
(ActivStudio v3) to ActivInspire to allow consistency. The
new version of software is more advanced, and allows users
to import IWB content from other makes such as SMART
Notebook. This will be particularly useful for departments
that have both SMART and Promethean IWB's in use by
staff, as it will allow colleagues to share resources easily.
Notice of a recent press release was handed out to staff
which indicates that soon SMART users would also gain from
the ability to import content created by alternative IWB
software too. Departments that require ActiveStudio to be
upgraded to ActivInspire are to contact the ICT technicians
to make arrangements.
• Notice was given about SMART SE, a student version of the
SMART IWB software which can be used (if purchased) by
students to share notes created by teachers.
• Two website URL's were provided which can be used to
download ready-made resoruces and IWB content. These
are:
◦ www.prometheanplanet.com
◦ www.exchange.smarttech.com/
Online handbook:
• Online support has now migrated from Digitalbrain to the
iCT@C blog. This step was taken in preparation to the
schools future shift from Digitalbrain to Frog (VLE). A
summary of how the blog could be used by staff was
3 provided and lists of current (subject) posts were handed ALL
out for information/ sharing within departments. Colleagues
were encouraged to use this resource as a source of
information in relation to CPD (for example guidance on
using an IWB). A user guide was handed out for staff to use,
and asked to share this with colleagues in departments.
Frog:
• Up and running but not ready for use - will be soon. HS
advised a projected launch to all staff after the October half-
term break. iCT@C champions are given user names,
passwords and instructions for access to Frog both inside
5 and outside of school to allow testing, playing and finding ALL
out more about the platform. HS warned - It is not a
finished development. iCT@C champions were asked by HS
to take a look and try it out. HS pointed out that iCT@C
champions are guinea pigs and would like to hear any
comments/ feedback from all.
Leaders of Learning (LOL):
• KCa and DS are appointed as iCT@C Leaders of Learning.
This two year development project will focus on selected
6 items of technology. Possibilities will be explored and put
into practice, and eventually shared with all departments
over a two year period. Items chosen are: Visualisers, Video
Conferencing, Data logging, Wikkis and Voting Systems.
7 Kirklees Filter: ALL
 • JG pointed out that the filter is in place to protect students
and staff, but, in its present state is deemed not to be
intelligent enough. Teachers have struggled at times to
access websites and content. JG is hoping to discuss with
Kirklees, how the filter could be improved, but in order to
gain a picture of how much this is a problem, indicated that
a survey which lists any blocked website/ content would be
a useful starting point. As such an orange form was handed
out to all staff, which is to be taken to all departments. Any
website and/ or online content which is found to be blocked
must be added to the orange form. These forms are to be
returned at the next meeting.
New Technologies:
• Poll Everywhere - Online voting system which can be used
via SMS, Smart-phone or Web-page.
• Clipbank - Multimedia teaching and learning content for all
subject areas. Currently installed on a few PC's. Further
work needed by the technicians before this resource is
available to all. At such time staff training will begin.
• SearchStar - Software installed on Library PC's which
allows students and staff to search for books held in the
ICT
school library. Now available.
8 Technicians
• Eclipse.net - A delay in this development due to a further
ALL
hardware being required. Notice of when this will be
available will be provided in the near future.
• Video Conferencing - Has been ordered and we are
currently waiting for delivery/ installation.
• iPhone Apps - Not enough time to look at this item. As
such it will be moved to the next meeting.
• Student mLearning project - Staff asked for opinion,
thoughts, ideas on how best to proceed with this
development. Suggestions to be given to JG asap.
Desktop Image:
• Under revision. A handout was given to all staff to take to
departments and discuss. Which/ what shortcuts (whole-
9 ALL
school) should be placed on the corporate desktop image if/
when it is developed and deployed. Suggestions to be
returned to the next meeting.
Issues:
• IWB software (Promethean and SMART) required on the
staff PC's (staff study) ICT
10
• SMART Notebook - Some users are reporting a bug Technicians
present which disables the pen and drawing tools.