Welcome to the November 2009 Newsletter. 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

News

Microsoft launched their new operating system Windows 7 www.microsoft.co.uk

BrainPOP UK has launched Deep Beep their new Curriculum Matching Tool. This tool allows you to search under the outcomes and experiences for Curriculum for Excellence. www.brainpop.co.uk

*Adobe Products through Learning and Teaching Scotland - LTS have announced lower prices on all Adobe licenses through their Adobe Education Licensing Scheme. For further details on products and prices, contact enquiries@LTScotland.org.uk

Shoo Fly is releasing a new connected learning resource for Primary 4 - Primary 5, exploring the theme of Pirates to deliver the curriculum for excellence. Shoo Fly's resources are also available for VLE platforms. Details on all their resources can now be found at the Glow Showcase under 'cross-curricular' at http://www.showcase.glowscotland.org.uk

Learning Unlimited - Realistic Record Keeping & Powerful Planning - This set of new materials aids teachers in Curriculum for Excellence planning. The pack helps schools become familiar with the experiences and outcomes: demonstrate a variety of ways to engage with the experiences and outcomes and illustrate a planning and record keeping format to ensure breadth, balance and progression. The pack consists of four booklets and an accompanying CD contains the text from all for booklets with planning grids. www.learningunlimited.co.uk

4Mation have been testing their products on Windows 7 to see how they perform. The outcome is that all titles have worked and they have certified Granny's Garden and The Evacuees as "Compatible with Windows 7" (along with Windows Vista and of course XP).4Mation are releasing a SCORM 2004 compatible version of Granny's Garden. www.4mation.co.uk

Special Offers

Learning and Teaching Scotland is in negotiation with AlphaSmart to bring fantastic savings to Scottish education for the Neo 1 and Neo 2 AlphaSmart keyboards, and all accessories. LTS also have special licensing deals in place for the Co:Writer Smart Applet. For further details on this offer contact enquiries@LTScotland.org.uk

Sherston - Three Special Offers

·         Save over £990 when you purchase a site licence for all four Magic Grandad titles - Magic Grandad Great Fire of London, Magic Grandad Homes Today in the Past, Magic Grandad Toys Today and in the Past and Magic Grandad Seaside Holidays. Suitable for ages 5 - 7 years Macintosh and Windows

·         Save over £840 when you purchase a site licence for all three Science Simulations Packages Suitable for ages 5 - 12 years Macintosh and Windows

·         Save over £740 when you purchase a site licence for The Detectives Series - The Email Detectives, the Web Detectives and the Broadband Detectives. Suitable for ages 6 - 11 years Windows only. www.sherston.com

Shoo Fly is offering a 40% discount on their connected learning resources - £199 for a school site licence. Contact steveyoung@shooflypublishing.co.uk

New on the Software Services 4 Education Website

SS4E Showcase - this month's showcase is the Storm Educational Software's Mapcaster

FREE Resources

• Four FREE 'Write2Excite' posters featuring popular children's authors Andy Briggs, Joe Criad, Tommy Donbavand and G P Taylor www.write2excite.co.uk
• From Microsoft - UK Innovative Teachers Network - this network connects a global community of educators who share a common interest in enhancing teaching and learning through the use of technology. Within the Communities you can connect with your peers in your country and around the world to share ideas, exchange content and create virtual project teams. Find teacher created and tested educational content such as Virtual Classroom Tours, lesson plans and quick ideas that you can use right now. You can also take part in discussion on hot education topics. http://blogs.msdn.com/teachers/archive/2009/09/30/video-ideas-to-help-your-teaching-and-learning.aspx and http://uk.innovativeteachers.com

Forthcoming Events

·         Aberdeenshire Learning Festival, 16^th November 2009 - BrainPOP UK are running a prize draw at this event. The lucky winner will win a subscription to BrainPOP UK

·         UK Innovative Teachers Forum, 1^st December 2009, Birmingham http://blogs.msdn.com/teachers/archive/2009/10/26/connecting-learners-connecting-teachers-uk-innovative-teachers-forum.aspx

 

*available only in Scotland

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