Is The Digital Divide a Gender Thing?

Good question!

There is certainly some differences in the way that boys and girls embrace and work with technology, but, of course there is no difference to what they can achieve.

I love this video made as an entry to the Interwrite Competition... a great response to the problem, perceived or otherwise.

Y7 Text and Graphics Unit

Year 7 are working on creating a newsletter for an imaginary town.

Please post any questions or problems in this thread. Maybe somebody else in the class can help out..

A polluted world doesn't make a happy life!

Yes, a polluted world does not make a happy life - Not just for you, but for all the future generations to come. If you are environmentally friendly then at some point, you might be able to change the world just go to this website:

www.greensimply.com

It shows you how to be a greener person and also proves that you can actually change the entire world.

Sean (Y7)

Blog Action Day

Monday 15th of October is Blog Action Day, a campaign launcehd at highlighting environmental issues. Maybe we could all try a little harder next week to think about our environment as we enjoy our holiday? Simple things like turning down the air-conditioning or switching off unnecessary lighting will help, as well as trying to be more efficient in how we recycle our waste.

Let us know how you get on.

You can find out more about the campaign by clicking here.

P4 - Using Photoshop Elements

P4 have been using Photoshop Elements to manipulate the portraits they have taken of each other. Using filters in the software has allowed them to add some weird and wonderful effects to their images.

A slideshow of some of their work is below. More to follow soon!

Google Sketchup

Every so often a piece of software comes along that could have a serious impact on the classroom and Google Sketchup clearly fits into that category. A 3-D modelling program that can be used to design the simplest of shapes through to virtual and real-world cities through to complex engineering drawings. And for an added bonus it's absolutely free!

We had a brief look at Sketchup last year, but now Year 7 have started investigating what it can do. Both P5 and P6 can also expect to spend some of their ICT lessons working on it later in the year, too.

Not only are there a range of creative, ICT related activities that can be carried out with Sketchup, but aspects of the D&T curriculum can also be tackled.

You can download Sketchup for free by clicking here.



Model created by Zach Moore. Textures created by Matt Brown

Powerpoints

Last week Year 7 made powerpoints about themselves! It was very interesting, we had to mark each other and say good things about their powerpoint and things they could improve on.

http://www.teach-ict.com/software/ppt/powerpoint.htm

This link is to help you with your powerpoints!

Too Much Fun!!

P1 have been spending time investigating the different environments in Boohbah. Based on the TV show, Boohbah offers a number of fascinating problem solving screens which allow students to make things happen in an attempt to find solutions to various scenarios. From simply changing colours, making dogs jump, to moving the Boohbahs into the correct place, there's lots to do. There are no instructions on the site. Pupils need to work out the different scenarios for themselves, using their thinking skills to progress.

As one of the P1s said.... "It's too much fun"

You can visit Boohbah by clicking here.

Year 7 Tests

Year 7 had a special test taken online. Those tests help the Year 7's prepare for the Exams later in the decade. These tests are called 'Midyis Tests.' They are exciting but also hard. In the test there is stuff like Picture sequences. Hard ones. And the maths? Oh dear! Hard!!!

P5 Vector Graphics

Students in P5 have been investgating the use of vector based graphics in Microsoft Word. They have been looking at creating shapes and experimenting with symmetry, rotational symmetry and tesselation.

They have also tried to build a 2-dimensional plan of their rooms using the tools available to them. Here is the slideshare showing work by last year's students to help them.