Welcome to the September 2009 Newsletter. This month's newsletter has a special focus on the Scottish Learning Festival. If you are not attending SLF and would like further information on the items below, click on the links below. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any of your colleagues that you think would be interested in any of the items below. All prices quoted are exclusive of P & P and VAT. If you have any comments or suggestions on this newsletter, or indeed any special requests for special software offers, please email them to kim.conway3@btinternet.com

Scottish Learning Festival Highlights

BrainPOP UK - BrainPOP UK is a new, highly engaging website which contains hundreds of animated explanations and interactive quizzes for Primary and Secondary pupils. To coincide with SLF, BrainPOP UK are launching their revamped curriculum planning tool which supports Curriculum for Excellence. See the BrainPOP UK video at TeachMeet on Wednesday night. For a free 30 day trial go to www.brainpop.co.uk

SMART Technologies is hosting a Learning Matters seminar prior to the opening of the Scottish Learning Festival on Tuesday 22^nd September. Bringing together a specially invited audience of senior leaders in Scottish education, they will have the opportunity to meet with peers and representatives from SMART over dinner and to share experiences implementing ICT for student success. See SMART Technologies on stand G15.

Exhibition Highlights

• Kudlian Software, Stand L27 - See how your students can bring geography lessons to life with Kudlian's new Weather Studio software. Weather Studio allows students to create, file and present their own weather forecasts. Weather Studio is featured on the SS4E web site Showcase. www.kudlian.net
• RM, Stand J15 - for schools RM will be showing technology that can help you delver the goals of a Curriculum for Excellence and get the best use from GLOW. Local Authorities can book a consultation to discuss their educational ICT strategy and hear how solutions from the RM group of companies can help make it a reality. Authorities with new school build projects can find out about the experience RM gained through the BSF initiative in England and book a visit to their REAL centre to see some innovative ideas in practice. Book your consultation by emailing reply@rm.com There are also five Flip cameras to be won. www.rm.com
• Sherston Publishing Group, Stand E45 - 'I am learning' uses a flexible games-based interface to instantly engage students by allowing them to fully personalise their revision environment and take ownership of their learning. I am learning provides over 16,000 challenging, topic based questions to fit inside your learning platform (or work independently) to provide engaging interactive revision material. Proven to raise results, I am learning offers a number of key benefits to support an increase in learning outcomes. Benefits include using games to motivate learning, continuous development, accurate live data and I am learning is accessible on mobile devices. A demonstration and details of discounts are available. www.sherston.com
• LT Scotland, Stand H40 - visit the Learning and Teaching Scotland stand to find out more on the software licensing agreements they have negotiated with a number of the leading software publishers, including Microsoft, Apple and Adobe, These are unique to Scottish education and can help schools and authorities make substantial savings. www.ltscotland.org.uk/aboutlts/resources/software
• Serif, Stand H40  - go to the Learning and Teaching Scotland stand to pick up your copy of Serif's new Curriculum for Excellence leaflet, explaining how the Serif Design Suite gives you the creative tools to help deliver Curriculum for Excellence in Technologies and Art and Design. Also ask for your FREE Teacher Resources CD-ROM containing a range of materials supporting interdisciplinary learning. Stand H40 www.serif.com/education  
• SMART Technologies, Stand G15 - SMART Technologies are the number one interactive whiteboard provider in the UK, will host presentations from Scottish educationalists across a range of subjects. You will also have the opportunity to get hands on with all the SMART products and see for yourself how their hardware and software help make extraordinary lessons simple. www.mysmartspaces.co.uk
• Inclusive Technology, Stand G48 - Inclusive Technology is delighted to be launching in the UK Co:Writer 6, the latest version of Don Johnston's hugely popular word prediction program. Co:Writer 6 has many exciting new features including a much simplified interface, a new text to speech engine, enhanced word bank facility and new spell checking feature. www.inclusive.co.uk
• Renaissance Learning, Stand B3 - Renaissance Learning will be demonstrated the world's most popular literacy and numeracy software - Accelerated Reader and Maths Advantage.  In addition, the latest NEO 1 and NEO 2 compatible accessory, 'Text2Speech' will be featured, which quite literally gives writing a voice. www.renlearn.co.uk
• Adventi, Stand F15 - Adventi can help get schools started and demonstrate how the Mac can improve essential skills like literacy and storytelling through images, movies and sound, build narrative skills by making films and animated shorts with iMovie, see how simple it is for students to record songs and improve language skills using the Mac's built-in recording studio, GarageBand. www.adventi.com

Special Offers

• 'I am learning' from Sherston Publishing 'I am learning' uses a flexible games-based interface to instantly engage students by allowing them to fully personalise their revision environment and take ownership of their learning. I am learning provides over 16,000 challenging, topic based questions to fit inside your learning platform (or work independently) to provide engaging interactive revision material. Proven to raise results, I am learning offers a number of key benefits to support an increase in learning outcomes. Benefits include using games to motivate learning, continuous development, accurate live data and I am learning is accessible on mobile devices. www.sherston.com
• *Primary Science Bundle from RM - Save over £20.00 Primary schools can purchase the Tuff-Cam, an ultra simple, purposely designed, child friendly MP 3 digital movie/still camera; the Tuff-Scope to transform your Tuff-Cam into a digital microscope and the Play and Learn Science Experiments Software - set in a virtual lab of the future, and packed full of fun activities and tests covering everything from gravity and liquids to air and motion. All three items available as a bundle for £89.96. Call 08450 700 300 to place your order.
• 15% Discount on Smudge's Early Compass and Map Skills from Storm Educational Software Geography Age 4 years + - Introduces children to the first steps in geography, with a range of interactive activities including: exploring the 8 points of the compass, dressing Smudge, appropriate clothes for Smudge to wear in different weather conditions, activities showing a grid square, where objects are placed or their locations identified, and familiarise children to the use of co-ordinates and discovering how symbols are used on maps, how to use 4 and 6 figure co-ordinates with a map and exercises covering scale and planning a route. http://www.stormeducational.co.uk
• Exclusive from Seventh Sense - AlphaSmart Neo 2, FREE USB Cable and Carry Case now £159 - £10 Discount on SSP of £169 NEO 2 is the simple and rugged note-taking device that has all of the features of a NEO 1 (fully featured word processor, typing tutor, long battery life etc.) but also includes innovative wireless technology that allows wireless printing, wireless voting and assessment functionality, wireless file transfer to a Google Docs account and Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Maths compatibility. This offer is exclusive to Seventh Sense Solutions. To place your order call Seventh Sense directly on 02089 057 773 Suggested Selling Price of Neo 2 is £169

New on the Software Services 4 Education Website

Case Studies

• Milburn Academy was officially opened in Nov 2008 - a £26 million state-of-the-art building housing around 1,150 pupils and 115 members of staff using the very best of modern technologies to improve teaching and learning. With a £500K ICT spend, each department was given a say in the technologies they wanted to have in their classrooms to best suit their style of teaching. In the initial phase the focus was on putting technology in teachers' hands to make whole class learning more engaging and effective, with each department given a say in the technologies they wanted to have in their classrooms. In the future, there will be a greater emphasis on putting technology in the hands of the pupils themselves. 
• Powering Up the Curriculum for Excellence - Building an efficient curriculum. This is the first of four resources that aim to show how Apple Technology can help you put the Curriculum for Excellence into practice. Written by a team of expert educators, this guide will explore the challenges of implementing the Curriculum and providing quality learning outcomes. To sign-up to receive issue 3 email info@adventi.com
• Powering Up the Curriculum for Excellence - Engaging and motivating all learners. Second of four resources that aim to show how apple Technology can you put the Curriculum for Excellence into practice. Written by a tam of expert educator, this guide will explore the challenges of implementing the Curriculum and providing quality learning outcomes. To sign-up to receive issue 3 email info@adventi.com

FREE Resources

FREE Microsoft Tools for Schools - DreamSpark (updated)

Secondary school students can download professional Microsoft developer, designer, and gaming software through DreamSpark at no charge for use at home. DreamSpark enables students to download and use Microsoft tools to unlock their creative potential and set them on the path to academic and career success by advancing their learning in the areas of technical design, technology, maths, science, and engineering! Full instructions on how to take advantage of this scheme are provided at https://www.dreamspark.com/FAQ/HighSchoolAdministratorFaq.aspx

Fund raising with a difference - schools and PTAs are always looking to raise essential funds to buy new resources for their school. Organise an event for parents and teachers themed around health, weight loss, skin care and cosmetics. For further details email Grace McCarthy

 

*offer open until Friday 25^th September and only available to Scottish education

 

If you require further information on the above please click on the appropriate web link. Please feel free to circulate this newsletter to any colleagues who may be interested. Feedback on this newsletter is welcome, please email kim.conway3@btinternet.com with your comments. If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, you can remove your address from the distribution list by sending a blank email with the subject 'unsubscribe' to kim.conway3@btinternet.com