Merlin John Online

Government SEN shake-up fails to exploit technology

DfE's technology blind spot blights new SEN reforms, warns BATA
The Coalition Government has come in for more criticism for its lack of understanding about technology for learning. Its plans for the biggest shake-up in special education needs for a generation has overlooked the benefits of technology, according to the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA), and they could miss out helping the majority of children with special needs.

“The paper essentially overlooks the potential for assistive technology to enhance lives and improve educational outcomes for children with special needs,” says Mark McCusker, chairman of BATA. “In addition, assistive technology has the potential to save money, which in a times of austerity, surely should rank highly."

A novel approach to online reading – Fiction Express

Sal McKeown dips into an interactive online novel for school readers – and is hooked
As an English student, one of my specialist areas was serialisation and the Victorian novel. Much like today's soap operas, they were written in parts, with little idea of how and where the story would end. They just knew they had to write 24 monthly parts.

The plot was influenced by audience opinion so minor characters might suddenly assume a major role. Fall out with the pubic and there could be a sudden, drawn-out deathbed scene. Now that art has been revived online with Fiction Express.  A chapter is published on a Friday and readers have until 3 pm on Tuesday to vote on options for the next thrilling instalment.

Free books kindling a love of reading in Romania

Peter Fogarty on how Amazon Kindles spurred him to create his Free Guided Reading website for schools
In a world where everything is possible on the Internet – and for free – it came as a shock to find there was no well organised, free, levelled book scheme for children. That’s astonishing when you think of the millions of books out there that must have taken thousands of man hours to prepare for children’s enjoyment.

That's why I developed www.Free-Guided-Reading.com, which brings all the classical children’s novels (which are free to download and read on any e-reader)  into a single location, sorted by reading age.

Does not compute? The search for consensus

With a policy decision on ICT expected, Tony Parkin sounds out academics at the London Knowledge Lab
“You wait 30 years for someone to listen to your ideas and then, suddenly, 100 come along at once!” Richard Noss, of the London Knowledge Lab, was welcoming the large and eclectic group attending his organisation's recent debate on computational thinking and computer science, “Time to Reload: Computational Thinking and Computer Science in Schools".

Quoting from one of Seymour Papert’s early papers, “Teaching Children Thinking”, Richard Noss warned in the opening session that many of these ideas were not new,  and that in the rush to generate the programmers of the new economy we should not forget that being able to program was a fundamental right for every learner.

Smart play from smart people – MIT's Sifteo

They come with a smart pedigree – MIT – and Sifteo cubes did not disappoint John Galloway
Sifteo cubes are clever new devices originating from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), a world leader in innovation: six little blocks, about 5cm square and 1cm deep (each with its own video screen) that work together to generate a whole host of activities for all sorts of ages, abilities and purposes.

For a start there are a number of logic puzzles, such as Chroma Lite which necessitates bringing the blocks together to pop bubbles of adjoining colours. While is sounds easy it gradually gets harder, especially as more cubes are introduced, but with fewer bubbles.

Field of dreams – CampEd12 for outdoor learning

Tony Parkin visits 'Last of the Summer Wine' country for a learning festival put together via Twitter

So they built it... and yes, everyone came! What started as a conversation on Twitter about criticisms of education conferences ended as CampEd12, a hugely successful open air learning festival in Bronte Country, taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The genesis of this event was one of those typical evening Twitter chats between educators, including Bill Lord (@Joga5), Tim Rylands (@timrylands), Dughall McCormick (@dughall) and Pete Yeomans (@ethinking) about the exorbitant costs of education conferences. Tim Rylands jokingly offered to host one for free in his shed – and lo, the Shedfest concept was born!

Open Dore for help with specific learning difficulties?

Dore may have attracted controversy, but Sal McKeown thinks it's worth careful consideration
The Dore Programme for treating children with dyslexia with a series of exercises is controversial. It has been slammed in the press and derided as the "wobbly board" method. Critics claim that it lacks scientific validity.

However, some schools are beginning to look at adopting it as a solution for different forms of specific learning difficulties, so  it is time to lay aside prejudices and take a closer look. And visitors to the Dore SEN open day, and to the TES Special Needs Midlands show in Birmingham, can check it out for themselves (details below).

Industry experts lead free Adobe student training

Students now have an innovative, free way to get creative digital skills – Adobe Generation
US games designer and expert educator Roxana Hadad (pictured) will be one of the top trainers overseeing the radical and free new online training service to help UK students with digital creativity skills.

Adobe Generation is a series of free online courses designed to help UK students aged 14-19 develop the skills that will help them succeed in the workplace. The first is a 10-week Games Design course that brings in global industry experts to work with students over Adobe's advances Connect service.

Creative Cloud and apps add to the Adobe revolution

As Adobe launches CS6 and its cloud dazzlers, Hugh John looks at one of schools' best software deals 
Adobe's global launch of its new Creative Cloud online service and Creative Suite 6 (CS6) software has turned many heads. There was genuine astonishment at the London demos (see videos below) with the realisation of what can be achieved on desktops and tablets with the new generation of application and apps.

In the rush to embrace the new, however, it would be foolish to overlook what remains one of the outstanding education resources and tremendous value for money into the bargain, namely the Adobe Digital Schools Collection.

Test for Cameron on Oxford ACE Centre closure

PM David Cameron pledges help for crisis-hit ACE Centre
The impending closure of the Oxford ACE Centre on May 9 is presenting prime minister David Cameron and his Coalition Government with a test of their commitment to the most vulnerable learners in the UK and the use of technology to support their communication needs.

More than 890 people have already signed the government e-petition to save the centre and, in response to a question from Andrew Smith MP, David Cameron acknowledged the pioneering work of the centre and pledged that he would look for ways to help.