MANAGING ICT


you going to make the most of your purchase and what apps are there that might be of use? Kevin Bennett offers some advice


W


Choosing your apps ‘


So you decided to buy tablets for school, what next? How are


One of the great


benefits to tablets is their touch-screen


hether you have gone for the iPad or an Android Tablet, you will need to load “apps” to give you some of the functionality you want for your tablets. They all have a variety


of apps already installed but vary depending on the tablet and manufacturer. However, there are some which come with the majority of tablets and they can be a good starting point. What you must remember is that tablets and their


operating systems are designed as single user devices so are not really built to work by logging users into a school network, and they do not allow standard Windows or Apple software to be loaded. One piece of hardware and app that we have found


really useful on the tablet has been the built-in camera and its associated app (entry level tablets may well not have a camera installed on the device, therefore this is not an option available). Along with the camera comes the app to take pictures and video with. These will usually have


capability and so Apps that make the most of


this as the interface can be a real bonus


This may limit the use of the tablet though as it


will require a connection to the internet to make it work effectively and this then ties you down to a mobile solution, which can be incredibly slow and unreliable, or back to staying in school and on the wireless network. For me this then starts to take the edge off some of the great opportunities that can be achieved by not being stuck to one place. A mix of both solutions could be the answer.


’


options to allow some basic editing of the images and clips taken and there are others on the market that allow you to do more. Some of these Apps have as much functionality as


software like Movie Maker and can be a very simple and quick alternative to saving and moving videos to a PC or Mac to then edit.


Increase your school’s level of funding


Fundraising for Schools is a monthly magazine, containing essential information on all the available sources of extra school funding from which YOUR school could benefi t.


A subscription to Fundraising for Schools will enable you to:


• Find out about all the awards and grants that are available, and the criteria for application;


• Formulate the best fundraising strategies for your school;


• Learn from the successes and failures of other schools that have previously applied for funding;


• Keep up-to-date with the latest fundraising stories; and • Increase the level of funding for your school.


The simple nature of this makes it a real bonus. If


you are teaching a lesson about Shakespeare and want pupils to recreate a scene and video it to review, then your focus is not on spending two lessons editing the video clip, it is on the interpretation and knowledge of the play. The performance and video clip is a tool to help


reinforce this learning and should, therefore, support the work, not take over from it. Another great use for the camera is when you link


it to a QR code reader app. QR codes are versions of barcodes, which can contain lots more information than a product and its price. These can be used to connect the reader to website, video, email etc. Once open, the camera is used by the reader


to scan the QR code and decipher the content. A link will then appear allowing you to access the information in the code. This can be used to add digital content to an exercise or text book, for virtual tours, and much more. If you want to use your tablet in a more traditional


way and are looking for office type applications, there are many available that give similar functionality to Word or Excel, for example. Many of these will offer a cut-down and free version, or you can pay for the full one. Be aware that although they do a similar job they will often not have some of the more sophisticated options available in either version. It is at this point where the full version on a PC or Mac would need to be used, if you need to go to that level.


One of the great benefits to tablets is their touch-screen capability, and so apps that make the most of this as the interface can be a real bonus. There are handwriting recognition apps, or apps.


simple note-taking


Drawing and image-editing packages can be a really exciting way for creative digital artwork, and with access to the internet you can then upload images to a gallery and give instant feedback.


response and


The touch-screen also allows pupils to learn in a way which may suit their learning style


far better TO SUBSCRIBE


Call FREEPHONE 0800 137201 or visit


www.fundraisingschools.co.uk


Fundraising for Schools – your essential practical guide to raising money!


10 than more traditional


methods of using ICT, in a similar way to using an interactive whiteboard perhaps. Management of files on tablets can be a little tricky and so a good file browser can be invaluable. Take time to look into ones that will allow you to link to a network area.


In our experience, we found a few that while they did allow access to the network, being able to view a secure area became an issue. To get around this we use a shared tablet folder, which users can send their work to and then move it to their own area when logged on to the school network.


You can also use a cloud-based file storage such as Dropbox which can then give you access on many different devices,


SecEd • May 24 2012


We run a terminal, cloud service ourselves based on Citrix which gives us the benefit of both and also allows us to run a majority of our specialist and specific software through our cloud solution, for pupils to access at any time or place once online. If all else fails and you cannot find that app which


does exactly what you want among the hundreds of thousands available, then what about writing your own, or getting students involved in their development? You can find loads of help and books to give


advice, or organisations such as Apps4Good – a programme which challenges students to identify what is wrong with their world, before designing a way of fixing it through the creation of a mobile app (see further information). Google also offers a development kit to help you on your way. Sometimes though it is important to think


differently about how you can use the tablets and what they can offer to enhance students’ learning, rather than trying to use the device in a more traditional way.


SecEd


• Kevin Bennett is vice-principal of Belvoir High School and Melton Vale Post-16 Centre in Leicestershire.


Further information


To read SecEd’s recent feature on the Apps for Good programme, visit http://bit.ly/KKHkPO and to see the Apps for Good website, go to http://appsforgood.org/


but again this may not be the easiest or quickest thing to set up for multiple users. Of course with the development and growing use


and popularity of cloud-based software and storage you could bypass all these apps and just go for online provision of resources. This, tied into a cloud solution in the classroom, could allow for exactly the same experiences on almost any device.


Grants available


Fundraising for Schools’ monthly look at the latest funding opportunities helps you apply for support quickly.


quickly


Instant Impact Fund UK-German Connection


Instant Impact Fund


Deadline Ongoing


Amount of award Up to £750


Contact details Lucy Farrant,


UK-German Connection, 34 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QB


org/?location_id=2215&item=4356 PRIMARY/SECONDARY


young people together and is dedicated to increasing contacts and understanding between young people in the UK and Germany.


The UK-German Connection aims to bring young people together and is dedicated


Awards criteria award grants on the basis of the following:


„ That the school or youth group has not visited the other country previously. „ That the trip includes a strong new element or significant development of the young people’s contact with the other country.


„ „ Travel, accommodation and subsistence „


„ Materials, resources and dissemination activities.


„


„ That at least 75 per cent of the time during the visit is spent taking part in interactive and educational joint activity between young people from the UK andbetween young people from the UK and German partner institutions.


„ activity


sustainability of the link with concrete plans for follow-up and development. „ That the trip includes young people who would otherwise not have the chance to take part.


„


„ That the main beneficiaries are young people; that the grant is not solely for trips of coordinators (teachers/youth leaders and so on).


„ 4 Fundraising for Schools April 2012


UK-German Connection will not accept applications from individual students or through third parties.


Grants cannot be provided for the following:


UK-German Connection will not accept applications from individual students or


„ That there is a commitment to the sustainability of the link with concrete


„


The top-up grant can be provided before the start of the trip; payments are made by cheque.


Restrictions


involved in the organisation of the trip and is exempt from responsibility.


The UK-German Connection cannot be involved in the organisation of the trip and


„ravel, accommodation and subsistence costs for the visit.


The UK-German Connection will usually award grants on the basis of the following:


Recipients of the grant are required to submit a report one month after returning from the trip, including contributions (summaries, stories or diary entries, photo or video footage, and so on) by the


Recipients of the grant are required to submit a report one month after returning


photo or video footage, and so on) by the participating young people. Recipients of the Instant Impact grant will receive


of the Instant Impact grant will receive guidelines about report writing.


UK-German connection will award funding for the following:


„ Unilateral activities


„ Traditional language exchanges „ Trips with a tourist focus „ Supply cover „ Hardware „ Insurance


„ „ „ „ „ „


Applications should be submitted at least six weeks before the trips. Applications received at the provided address less than four weeks before the date of departure cannot be considered.


place, the grant is refundable to UK- German Connection.


The grant may only be used for the proposed trip; should the trip not take place, the grant is refundable to UK-


Incomplete or late applications cannot be assessed.


Incomplete or late applications cannot be


for funding, the application must include all original signatures from all participating partner institutions. You are also asked to retain a copy of your application for your


retain a copy of your application for your records.


How to apply


Download the online application form, fill it out and send it in hard copy to the provided address.


In order for an application to be considered for funding, the application must include


considered


email: lucy.farrant@ukgermanconnection.org web: http://www.ukgermanconnection. org/?location_id=2215&item=4356


.ukgermanconnection.


The role of the project manager


Brin Best explains how project managers can help your school ensure its fundraising work is cost-effective.


My previous article in Fundraising for Schools discussed the importance of devising high quality projects in order to help secure the funds your school needs for its various priorities. Once funding is secured, however, the onus falls on your school to ensure that the projects you have planned actually achieve the outcomes set out in your project summaries and this is where effective project managers are vital.


This article explains what a project manager is, gives examples of the kind of people that can carry out the role and the benefits they can bring to a school. It outlines the main tasks project managers will need to carry out, provides advice on day-to-day aspects of the role and concludes with a five-point plan for making the most of project managers in your school.


What is a project manager? It is important that you or your colleagues are not put off by the rather grandiose title of ‘project manager’ (they could be


‘Project managers are essential because they bring with them many benefits that will help you make your fundraising work more effective.’


definition of the term (see box) should make it clear that every school will already have at least one person carrying out the role of project manager for a discrete project – even if this person is not formally


title of ‘project manager’ (they could be equally called ‘project coordinators’). The definition of the term (see box) should make it clear that every school will already have at least one person carrying out the


examples of project managers from schools and their projects are included in theand their projects are included in the box on the opposite page; it should be apparent that every one of these projects


This list also serves to underline the fact that project managers in a school setting are not usually specialists parachuted in from outside to run only the most high profile projects; they are the people who work in the institution every day and who spend most of their time carrying out key duties other than project management


apparent that every one of these projects aims to improve educational outcomes for pupils and/or the wider community.for pupils and/or the wider community This list also serves to underline the fact that project managers in a school setting are not usually specialists parachuted in


profile projects; they are the people who work in the institution every day and who spend most of their time carrying out key duties other than project management (for example, teaching, leadership and management activities, supporting


management activities, supporting teachers, and so on).


10 Fundraising for Schools April 2012


project – even if this person is not formally described as a ‘project manager’. Three examples of project managers from schools


Another common misconception is that the school’s fundraising coordinator takes a leading role in managing a range of projects. My studies show that, for the schools that raise the most funds, this is only rarely the case. Instead, the fundraising coordinator does precisely what their name implies – they oversee overall fundraising work of the school an are supported in this endeavour by proje managers who take the lead on specific projects.


It is essential to recognise that the proje manager is simply the person who oversees the successful execution and completion the project – they are not necessarily the person responsible for delivering some all the actual activities that make up project, though this model is possible. A more likely scenario would see the project manager working with a range of additional people that might include teachers, leaders, support staff, governors and external partners in order to make project a reality (see also below under ‘What does a project manager do?’).


There are two approaches to appoin project managers:


„„


Appoint early on in the development of the project, allowing them to cont to the project summary and fund application(s)


„„


Appoint when funding has been secured for the project, with a view to taking things forward from that point onwards.


Although I have seen both scen effectively, it makes sen


to try and appoint project managers as early as possible in the development of the project. This is mainly because involvement in the preparation formal documents that unde project – in particular the funding – helps to create a sense of ownership


best practice


Fundraising April 2012.indd 4


28/03/2012 15:55


Fundraising April 2012.indd 10


Fundraising for Schools


April 2012 Issue 133


Your practical guide to raising money Government


launches £50m


The Government has launched a £50m summer school fund to help the most disadvantaged pupils.


By Sue Learner


The money is designed to help up to 100,000 pupils making the transition from primary to secondary school, as Ofsted research has revealed that academic performance can take a dip at this time.


Secondary schools will be able to apply for up to £500 for every disadvantaged pupil taking part in a two-week summer school. All pupils transferring to Year 7, who are on free school meals or have been in care for six months or more, will be eligible.


Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said: ‘As any parent knows, the move from primary to secondary school can sometimes be tough. For those who struggle to make the jump, there can be a dip in performance that can last for years.


In this issue News and grant reminders


Grants and awards


We know that those who struggle most are often among the poorest in society, but we also know that just two weeks’ activities and education can help them at this tricky time in their lives.’


He added: ‘Summer schools will give some of the most disadvantaged pupils the chance to swim rather than sink in those first critical weeks of secondary school.’


1-2 3


4-9


10-11 12-13 14-15


Fundraising For Schools 16


Children’s minister Sarah Teather hopes the fund will help towards breaking down the social barriers that are a deciding factor in a child’s achievement and future prospects. She said: ‘In a fair society, it is the Coalition Government’s responsibility to close the gulf in achievement between the poorest children and their classmates. Evidence shows that disadvantaged children can slip further behind as they move into secondary school, so we know that heads and governors will be keen to build on their own induction arrangements and support these children.’


The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has given a cautious welcome to the scheme but warns it should not be primarily seen as an antidote to broken Britain.


Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT, said: ‘We’d like to see residential


Continued on page 2 Fundraising reminders Grant summer school fund Fidelio Trust


Amount of award Up to £5,000


Deadline 1 June 2012 Contact details


http://www.fideliocharitabletrust. org.uk/


Instrument &


Equipment Awards Amount of award


Up to £2,000 Deadline


12 September 2012 Contact details


http://www.


emimusicsoundfoundation.com/ index.php/site/awards/


Playsafe Competition


Amount of award An IT prize to the value of £1,000


Deadline 8 June 2012


Contact details http://www.tradingstandards.gov. uk/events/events-playsafe.cfm


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