For winning one of our Teacher Awards last year, Stephen Ainsley from Harton Technology College in South Shields asked for us to develop a mobile app (specifically an iOS app originally) for the school. Stephen wanted an app version of their school planner – in other words, a digital version of a homework tracker, timetable viewer and school information database.

This article is intended to briefly cover the route we took when developing our first mobile application.

UPDATED: 13th May 2011

On the rare occasions that there are problems with the Northern Grid network we want to ensure that we are able to keep users informed. We have just launched a notification system that will be used when we have important announcements about service affecting issues. Examples of this would be a disruption of service or notification of an upgrade. It will not be used for day to day announcements about content or events; these will continue to be circulated through our mailing list.

The alert system is able to send SMS messages to mobile phones, send emails and call land lines. In order to benefit from this system you will need to send us contact details for all relevant members of staff. Please complete and return the attached spread sheet.

This information will not be shared with any other organisation and you will be able to unsubscribe to the service by emailing admin@northerngrid.org

Northern Grid will soon be looking into developing interactive education apps for Apple's iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad.

In the meantime, we thought we'd collect together some useful information about using and developing for them.

A great E-Safety resource from MTV looking at defining where the lines are drawn for inappropriate behaviour online. Take a Quiz to see how close to the line your own views are or Submit your story to see what other people think.

The Web and cell phones help us communicate, connect and learn in ways we never could before, but they've also forever changed how we interact with others. Things we used to share in person – and in private – can now be broadcast to thousands, instantly. Sometimes we type things we would never say to someone's face. As a result, new issues like forced sexting, textual harassment and cyberbullyiing have emerged, which now affect a majority of young people in the U.S.

MTV's A Thin Line campaign was developed to empower you to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse in your life and amongst your peers. The campaign is built on the understanding that there's a "thin line" between what may begin as a harmless joke and something that could end up having a serious impact on you or someone else. We know no generation has ever had to deal with this, so we want to partner with you to help figure it out. On-air, online and on your cell, we hope to spark a conversation and deliver information that helps you draw your own digital line.

A Thin Line

Mobile phones and the internet have made a huge difference to our lives. But, like everything, they can be used for good or bad purposes. It all depends on what you do with them.

This resource by phone company Orange highlights some of the dangers of the mobile and online world and provides guidance. Focused on parents.

Check it out

Have you got what it takes to be Next Generation Learning LIVE! Reporter?

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

5-7 Oct 09. Barbican London

Report by Simon Finch, Northern Grid

Keynote Videos

• Graham Brown-Martin
• James Paul Gee
• Yvonne Roberts
• Zenna Atkins
• Malcolm McLaren

The Handheld Learning Conference was unlike any other conference I have attended in recent years. For those who bought tickets early, they received a ‘free’ Ipod Touch. The Touch is a web enabled handheld device, is easy to use and enables users to communicate with the wider world, wherever there is a wifi signal. The conference venue was well served by wifi with many delegates commenting on its quality and indicating in some cases that it was the best internet connectivity they had experienced at any conference.

   Also labeled: Handheld, Handheld Learning Conference, News, Northern Grid Created, Reviews, Teachers, Tools

Northern Grid School Beats International Competition!

In June of this year Normanby Primary School, in Redcar and Cleveland LA, received the Northern Grid for Learning’s prestigious “Overall Excellence’ award - and this week the school was once again celebrating at the Handheld Learning conference at the Barbican Centre in London.

 

The Y Factor

On Monday afternoon Normanby learners participated in the Y Factor competition. The Learners Y Factor is ‘an opportunity to showcase the innovation and ingenuity being demonstrated amongst young learners using mobile, gaming, social media or other popular technologies in their learning’. There was great excitement and lots of smiles when the judges announced that Normanby pupils were the winners and had been chosen to present to the conference delegates on the Wednesday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

There are two awards in the Primary category; Practitioner and Innovation. Normanby won them both! Carl Faulkner, headteacher was awarded Primary Practitioner of the year and the school also won the Innovation award for their outstanding PDAs to Support Learning Initiative - beating schools as far afield as Australia!

Continue...

   Also labeled: Head Teachers, Innovation, KS2, News, Students, Teachers, Handheld, Handheld Learning Conference, Awards 2009

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Geeneus - How to do a Similar Project

  06 August 2007

NG Developing Student GeneeUs

A recent project at Huntcliff School funded by Northern Grid was to develop learning materials for use with interactive handheld devices. This summary aims to distil some of the lessons learned so that others approaching similar projects do not need to reinvent the wheel. The project was based around producing resources for use in the History and Geography Departments, but many of the lessons learned are also applicable to other areas.

Continue...

   Also labeled: Case Studies, Case Study - School Content Bid Evaluations , Handheld

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