Category: Primary School ICT

List of the RSS feeds for Primary School blogs

Posted on by primaryt

Click here for one RSS feed that contains all Primary School Blogs

Add the above feed (http://www.xfruits.com/johnyma22/?id=80412) to your RSS reader to get periodic updates so you can see what other schools are blogging about 🙂

List of the RSS feeds for Primary School blogs: (This list is now outdated)

Add these to your blog / RSS reader or whatever you want!
http://primaryblogger.co.uk/full-feed/posts/#
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/yesterp7/feed/
http://www.ashurst.st-helens.sch.uk/podcasts/ashurstpodcast.xml
http://www.ashurst.st-helens.sch.uk/ashrssblog.xml
http://www.ballykeigleps.org.uk/blog/?feed=rss2
http://bridgehallprimary.net/feed/
http://chorltonparkblogs.net/feed/
http://blog.crondallmoodle.com/?feed=rss2
http://www.abernet.org.uk/culterblog/?feed=rss2
http://earlsterndaleschool.co.uk/?feed=rss2
http://furleypark.mr-marsh.net/feed
http://greenparkschool.org.uk/feed/
http://lidgetgreen.net/feed/
http://www.houstonprimaryschoolcouncil.org/blog/?feed=rss2
http://www.mesneleaschoolblog.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2
http://moblog.net/feeds/blog/Molescroft
http://www.otleyallsaints.co.uk/allsaintsblog/wordpress/?feed=rss2
http://www.oxgangs.edin.sch.uk/feed/
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/pencaitland/feed/
http://raigmore.edublogs.org/feed/
http://office.greenparkschool.org.uk/feed/
http://sonningcommonprimary.co.uk/feed/rss/
http://springwoodheath.net/feed/
http://stmarys.ethink.org.uk/feed/
http://stadhamptonprimaryschool.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
http://www.stakesbyschool.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TarradaleBlog
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/BlakedownCOfEPrimarySchool
http://trinityblog.ethink.org.uk/feed/
http://hopeblog.ethink.org.uk/feed/
http://year3holysoulsbham.blogspot.com/rss.xml
http://hawes-side.net/feed/
http://plymouthgrove.net/feed/
http://stjamesgorton.net/feed/
http://arnotstmary.net/feed/
http://southwarkprimary.net/feed/
http://breckfield.net/feed/
http://rectordrew.net/feed/
http://hurstheadjunior.net/feed/
http://aintreedavenhill.net/feed/
http://wiganstandrews.net/feed/
http://stadhamptonprimaryschool.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
http://sudleyjnr.net/feed/
http://birchfieldsprimary.net/feed/
http://springwoodheath.net/feed/
http://stmarys.ethink.org.uk/feed/
http://greenparkschool.org.uk/feed/
http://furleypark.mr-marsh.net/feed/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TarradaleBlog/
http://office.greenparkschool.org.uk/feed/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/BlakedownCOfEPrimarySchool/
Last updated: 08/12/2009 — Yep this is horribly out of date the below URL contains all the latest bits
Click here to add your blog to this list. Primary Blogger schools are automatically populated, you do not need to request to be added if you use Primary Blogger. Just enjoy the tasty goodness!

Review of Fizzbook – Fizzbook spin by zoomstorm (Netbook)

Posted on by primaryt

The Fizzbook is designed for schools, so we’re going to check it out then throw it into a few schools and see what the kids think. First things first though, we need to check the hardware and software to make sure its ready to be abused in a classroom!

Hardware
The touch screen is difficult to use with a finger, it requires a sharp point, I’m usually too lazy to get the stylus out but I do prefer a touch screen over a mouse pad.
As you can see in this video, the stylus / writing recognition doesn’t work well enough..
I did a skype test and the camera and audio quality was fine but the screen decided to develop a bug and wouldn’t “Flip” the screen to its foreign alignment.. See video:

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor passed all 4 system requirements so this device should be Windows 7 ready however I’m not sure that the placement of the OEM sticker (hidden under the battery on the inside of the device) is the smartest idea ever. Especially if you begin an install without mains connected…..
The speakers are crisp and clear and it has a separate input for a mic and output for external speakers/headphones.
Battery life is 4.5 hours which is less than a EEE (Sorry if I keep comparing!).
The keys are usual netbook size, no big surprised there, they are tricky for adults to use but I think the kids should get on great..
The wireless on the device picks up points fine and connection is easy and sensible. One thing however that is important to note is that the device has 802.11 b/g and N support which is great and is incorrectly documented on most sites stating that is only has b/g!
The device can be dropped from 50cm although I’m not sure that telling the kids that is a good idea…. The attitude of providing a device that “can” be dropped will only lead to tears later in life when they receive a device they can’t be dropped..
Finally, there is a rattling noise that comes from the tab on the handle, this tab is a great idea because it means you will know who’s or what class this device belongs to!! Genius!
Software / Operating system
I’m guessing no one made the decision to include the Windows Live bar in IE but it’s there and it takes up far too many pixels on a very small screen. Removing the Windows Live bar and favourites is a must just so you can see the actual content you want to see!
Bullguard is installed by default and proves to be a real pain in the wazoobi.. Uninstalling this will make your life easier and your experience happier.
I did a skype video call test and the audio and video quality were average to good, the camera seems to rotate sturdily on its pivot points which is always nice when small fingers are about!
The start up time to desktop was 90 seconds, 15 of these seconds just gave me a black screen before the BIOS logo even popped up.
Below is video of me using it on the net, accessing flash games and beginning an internet session as a pupil would.

Now its time for kids to tell me what they think!

More pictures of the device can be found here

Do we really need local servers? A Web2 school

Posted on by primaryt

While deep thinking my “Not a VLE” Project I began doing a topology graph for schools information and data flow, part of this process lead me into looking at processes that local servers do to ensure teaching and learning is continuous.

When I say that Primary School ICT is complicated, some of you may be shocked by just how complex it is. An average school may have just 2 servers and 50 or so clients but the amount of processes involved to deliver the perfect desktop experience is huge.

A simplified diagram of an average Primary School’s ICT from a process point of view:
Recently we have found an upsurge in schools buying EEE’s with XP Home and we have considered leaving Home on and seeing how they get on:
Here are the initial negative reasons why XP Home without a domain controller(server) is not suitable for a school…
(A Pupil may also be a teacher)
The problems:
  1. No Account restrictions – Pupils can break their device.
  2. No Centrally manageable Anti-Virus – Pupils may get a virus and the school wouldn’t know about it.
  3. No Windows update monitoring – Pupils may not have the latest windows on their device so may be at risk.
  4. No Authentication to printers – Pupils would not be able to 1 click print as easily.
  5. No ability to deploy software – Software would not be able to be “pushed” from the server meaning each piece would have to be individually installed.
The Fixes:
  1. No Account restrictions – Keep an image ready to restore from DVD/USB HD, this is not a complicated process and should be done as part of best practice anyway. All locally saved documents are remotely backed up using either Syncplicity, humyo or remote backup from Primary Technology
  2. No Centrally manageable Anti-Virus – An organization level web managed antivirus web2 application
  3. No Windows update monitoring – Teach pupils to periodically check for the latest windows update
  4. No Authentication to printers – Stop printing, use email, blog, etc.
  5. No ability to deploy software – Use web2 applications – Legacy applications could be supported by Thinapp or an app publishing platform?
The advantages to the Fixes:
  1. No Account restrictions – Increased Data protection as pupil information only lies on the MIS server (Which could eventually be easily hosted)
  2. No Centrally manageable Anti-Virus – Much easier for technical support providers to manage large number of devices and for schools to check status.
  3. No Windows update monitoring – Children will know how to update their systems in the future.
  4. No Authentication to printers – Record is kept of what/when is sent and we don’t waste paper/ink
  5. No ability to deploy software – Web2 applications tend to be available anywhere and do not require updating.
The disadvantages to the Fixes:
  1. No Account restrictions – Time spent in restoring devices and loss of local copy of data will mean a restore process from remote backup.
  2. No Centrally manageable Anti-Virus – Increased internet bandwidth usage
  3. No Windows update monitoring – Large updates could take a long time.
  4. No Authentication to printers – Email, blog systems could be abused.
  5. No ability to deploy software – Web2 companies and/or their hosting providers can have issues leading to downtime and unavailability.
The other angle to approach this from is a web3 angle which would be a cloud OS however for true data protection a school should always keep their own copy of any document they have worked on.

Less Than Thirty Seven <3 7

Posted on by primaryt

Today I was inspired, not by a book or a speech but by an operating system.

Windows 7 is now running on an OCZ SSD hard disk, I still only have 2 GB of ram but this thing is working blistering fast and so smoothly that my productivity has risen dramatically.
Every option seems to make sense in windows 7, nothing is overly annoying. The restrictive stuff put in for non techy users is easily disabled allowing me to get on with everything I need to.
I’m running a few things in XP compatibility mode so I get the icons in the system tray. All of my applications are working a treat and settings have been easy to migrate.
I am in the process of planning a windows 7 deployment at a primary school and I hope to post the results of our tests in the future.
My hope: SSD disks come down in £ per Mb.
Show some love people, show some love.