transforming the way people learn through innovative technology and practice
November 2009
newsletter issue 63
Welcome to issue 63 of Futurelab's monthly e-newsletter, which aims to keep you informed about our latest projects, resources and events. For more updates follow @futurelabedu on twitter.
projects
Enquiring Minds Year 4 report
This report synthesises some of the main research findings emerging from the Enquiring Minds project with a series of case studies from schools that have been involved in attempts to change their curriculum. Throughout, the report focuses on what it might mean to change the curriculum selection criteria, and explains the consequences of doing so in case study schools.
Further details...
resources
SPARK - Igniting innovation in education
SPARK is an exciting new mobile exhibition designed to showcase new and emerging technologies that can support innovative practice in education. SPARK is available to be taken to educational establishments and events. It is a hands-on experience supporting practitioners to explore and interact with the technologies and consider how they can be used in the classroom.
Further details...
Augmented reality podcast
At the recent Handheld Learning conference in London, Futurelab learning researcher Richard Sandford spoke to teachers and industry experts about the idea of augmented reality and how it can be applied to learning through location based applications and games.
Further details...
Latest web articles
In our latest web articles Kim Thomas speaks to innovative theatre company imitating the dog and Merlin John discusses 21st century learning with Michael Stevenson, Vice President of global education for Cisco and Lord Puttnam.
Further details...
events
Futurelab conference - outcomes
Our autumn conference explored the opportunities and challenges for young people in becoming digitally active, and the implications for the professionals who work with them. The conference included three challenging and provocative keynote presentations and provided delegates with insight and guidance into working with young people as participants and producers in new media culture. Videos of keynotes, transcripts of sessions and a write-up of the event are now available.
Further details...
BETT 2010
Futurelab will be showcasing a range of new and emerging technologies at BETT 2010 – from those with alternative interfaces to Web 2.0 tools and computer games - and offering support for how they could be used in an educational setting. A number of free educational resources and publications to help practitioners interested in adopting innovative approaches to learning in their classroom will also be on display.
Further details...
get involved
Call for Ideas
During our recent Call for Ideas we received 136 submissions around the themes of meaningful and mobile games. A summary of the submissions is now available online along with details of 'EcoBugs' - an idea short-listed for further exploration. ‘Ecobugs’ from cxpartners is designed to encourage children aged 7-11 to take an active interest in the environment. The idea has children collecting and cataloguing new species of virtual creatures and monitoring their health in relation to environmental changes.
Further details...
Gaming in Families workshop
Do you live in the Bristol area and have children at secondary school? Are you interested in helping out with a research project about how video and computer games are played as family activities? If you and your family play together we would like to invite you all to take part in a workshop lasting around two hours on December 12th. We will cover transport costs and give a £50 gift token per family as a thank you. All participants will remain anonymous. For more information please contact familyvideogaming@futurelab.org.uk
Further details...
Subscribe to inspirED
inspirED is a collection of news and stories to inspire anyone interested in innovative approaches to teaching and learning. It is updated three times a year - the next issue will be available at the end of November. Please use our subscribe form to sign up for e-mail reminders.
Go to inspirED...
Flux is a blog hosted by Futurelab which offers the space to discuss innovation and
education. Here are some of the most recent posts:
- BSF Awards
16 Nov 2009 | Bob Harrison - Virtual trenches immerse students in First World War poetry
02 Nov 2009 | Bob Harrison - Shakespeare 2.0
02 Nov 2009 | Sarah Grier - Digital media research hub
27 Oct 2009 | Sarah Grier
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