Snapchat’s newest feature “Meet up” adds an extra layer to their existing Snap Map feature by allowing users to get directions to their friend’s exact location. It pairs with Apple Maps and Google Maps, and shows how long it would take someone to walk, drive, or use public transport to reach the address. Anyone can then find the location of your workplace, school, or home address and the fastest route to get there.
Whilst this feature can be very useful for family and friends, it does add a significant risk factor. We would recommend that Snapchat Maps are disabled on the app, they are on by default. This is known as ghosting.
There is some excellent advice about Snapchat maps and the dangers of “Meet up” here
Here’s how to change settings in Snapchat
You may have already heard about the SENDCo Free Conference July 7th through social media if not please see attached flyers, if you know someone who would be interested colleague or parent please forward the invitation
The conference will be held at The Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre, St Peter’s Campus, (building 11 on the map shown below)
For those too far away there will be a link to join on TEAMs
Anyone attending on site will be welcome to stay for the book launch, unfortunately we cannot extend the TEAMs link to cover this.
Frank Styles – Graffiti Artist who worked on the #SeeMe project will also be on Campus doing some work as part of the conference and book launch
Please email [email protected] if you and/or your colleagues would like to attend
We live so much of our lives online that interpreting what we see – online media literacy – has become a vital life skill.
The government published its Media Literacy Strategy last year, recognising that children and young people need media literacy education.
Media literacy is something parents, teachers and professionals can all teach, both in everyday interactions and in a more structured way.
So what exactly do you need to know to teach media literacy? What elements of the online world should you cover? Find answers, and lots of free resources, here: Online Media Literacy: what is it – and why should we teach it?
Teaching online media literacy to children with SEND often calls for a range of different approaches.
The government has funded Parent Zone to develop specific media literacy resources for this group.
We’ve worked with teachers, drawing on their expertise to create a free, specialist online resource library.
The PZ SEND site includes specially adapted lessons, activities, worksheets, videos, and guidance on how to adapt them – along with feedback, ideas and best practice from other SEND teachers.
The Computing Research Review paper has been published this week. Here is the link to the Government site.
This review explores the literature relating to the field of computing education. Its purpose is to identify factors that can contribute to high-quality school computing curriculums, assessment, pedagogy and systems. We will use this understanding of subject quality to examine how computing is taught in England’s schools. We will then publish a subject report to share what we have learned.
The purpose of this research review is set out more fully in the ‘Principles behind Ofsted’s research reviews and subject reports’.
We have also found a really useful infographic that explains the main findings.
Meet Spike
We have just taken delivery of a number of Spike Lego Prime sets to use with Y6, 7, 8 on trips to Openzone. He’s very friendly, and a great dancer! He can easily transform into a number of other robots, from cars, to grabbers. Have a look at the Spike website for more details, but maybe your students would like to have a go at building and programming with Spike instead of EV3. Lego Spike Information
Free Microbits
Unfortunately the scheme to apply for free micro bits has expired. We were successful and now have some to use in sessions at The Word. I hope some of you were able to take advantage of it too and get some of the kit for school. But, you can still access a raft of other resources, see below.
Free CPD on using Microbits
Teachers can take advantage of free CPD, posters and loads of other resources to support your teaching with Microbits. Click here to see what is available.
NCCE Year 5
One of the units that is causing concern is Programming A – Selection in Physical Computing. The unit specifies using Crumbles. Most schools don’t have these and can’t afford to buy them. There are options however to use other kit. BBC Microbits can be substituted, and if you don’t have them you can use the microbit simulator online https://makecode.
We offer sessions on this unit using Lego Wedo 2 and Sphero Bolts, which are also an excellent alternative. Remember the NCCE is a guide, and not a tablet of stone!
New Digital Matters learning platform
Activities for children in KS2 to help learn about online safety. Visit the site by clicking here.
Google Magic
Google Docs has got a few new features up it’s sleeve. This really short video explains the magic that happens when you type an @ sign in a google document.
Dementia Action Week
Next week is Dementia Action Week.
And Finally
It’s never too early to think about trips to [email protected] Word. We are more than happy to put dates in our diaries for next Academic year starting September 2022. If you have a project or topic that you think you would like to enhance by filming in our TV studio, or if you would like to make artefacts in our Fab Lab, now is the best time to get the date you want. Just get in touch and even if your ideas aren’t completely formed, we can still pencil it in.
Have a great weekend
Just to make you aware, we have had a couple of reports of instances of a new craze in KS1 playgrounds in South Tyneside. Huggy Wuggy Bear! The character is part of an adventure game available in the google play store. The age range is Teen, but the game is based in a Toy Factory and has some appeal to younger children.
Of course the craze has gone viral on Tik Tok and other social channels. In the playground it seems to be manifesting as “jump, scare” games. There is also a video on You Tube with some questionable lyrics, which is being sung in schools.
The Schools White Paper, Levelling Up, published today, sets out a series of new measures to support the delivery of these ambitions, including:
- Schools will offer a minimum school week of 32.5 hours by September 2023
- Ofsted will inspect every school by 2025, including the backlog of ‘outstanding’ schools that haven’t been inspected for many years
- By 2030 all children will benefit from being taught in a school in, or in the process of joining, a strong multi-academy trust, which will help transform underperforming schools and deliver the best possible outcomes for children
- At least £100m to put the Education Endowment Foundation on a long-term footing so they can continue to evaluate and spread best practice in education across the country
Coding skills
Modding can be a gateway to coding and programming – it could be the first step towards a career in game development. It’s a great way for your child to let their imaginations run wild while honing the coding skills they may have begun to learn in school. But…
Dangers of Mods
The biggest concern around mods is the possibility of adult, explicit or age-inappropriate content being added to a game. For example, one of the most common modifications is to sexualise a (usually female) character’s appearance or simulate sexual activity. These are not picked up by the games PEGI ratings and can be disturbing when young children find them.
Mods are sometimes accessed by “downloadable content”. Accessing content in this way could leave your device exposed to malware or viruses. XBox also warns that personal data may be exposed or accessed by the mod’s creator.
Public Health England have released some resources to support teachers in UKS2, KS3 and KS4 in teaching wellbeing. Click here to access the free resources.
Under the ‘Mental Wellbeing’ tab there are 16 topics, including bullying/cyberbullying, social media, online stress, body image and much more. Many of the lesson plans include a Powerpoint, activities and supporting films.
