These projects took place in the past. Readers may find the content interesting, so we have left the pages on the site. Although the projects are officially over, their outcomes continue to influence much of the work we undertake. In addition, our 'Teacher Zone' space on Think.com has been combined with the US-based 'Teacher Lounge' and is now called 'Teacher Zone'! Registered Think.com users can find this area either via the link on our area, or via the World page under 'Professional Development'.
Examples of recent contributions:
How do you persuade Head teachers to provide an adequate level of ICT training for their administrative staff?
I am currently looking at the A level Music technology syllabus and looking at ways to incorporate more Music ICT into the curriculum.
We are in our first year of running GCSE IT. I am looking for ideas for a case study (duration 5-10 hrs) investigating a control system focusing on manufacturing, production or the service industries. This is to be undertaken in the summer term of this academic year.
What PC spec do you advise parents to get in order to run the ICT software packages?
Ten heads are better than one
The e-mentoring site on think.com went live in November 2000. The aim is to provide a mentoring service on issues concerning ICT and building online education communities. The e-mentoring think.com site is a closed site, open only to the mentoring team and the online participants. E-mentoring participants (teachers and ICT co-ordinators) will have access to the e-mentoring online community for 4 – 5 weeks.
The mentoring team comprises ten mentors, with a wide range of relevant expertise. This team includes Primary and Secondary school teachers, a Head, a deputy-head, a special education needs coordinator, two people with LEA education and ICT experience, a teacher trainer, a lifelong learning consultant and someone from The Learning Circuit. The mentors will all have the opportunity to give a response to all contributions; the participants can enter into discussion on their contribution through the e-mentoring think.com site.
Contribution from a secondary school teacher:
We are in our first year of running GCSE IT. I am looking for ideas for a case study (duration 5-10 hrs) investigating a control system focusing on manufacturing, production or the service industries. This is to be undertaken in the summer term of this academic year.
A summary of the mentor team’s response:
The important issue is about context and enjoyment. Challenge but not fear.
You may like to look at the ACITT Informatics 4 -18 Project (web-sites given).
Ideas for projects include: greenhouse control, alarm systems, school vending machines, controlled access (where current conditions determine access - like a car park control).
Many projects could be tackled at different levels and some pupils may tackle something in year 8 which could also be offered to year 10 or year 11 pupils, but the degree of challenge and ICT demands may be very different.
An important set of considerations for planning will be the precise learning objectives and the need to build in research, testing, and evaluation from the start of the work.
There are lots of resources on the web (from manufacturers) that are available for both ideas.
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