Welcome to SS4E’s November 2012 e-news bulleting.  If you have any comments or suggestions on this bulletin or indeed any special requests for special software offers, please email them to kim.conway3@btinternet.com 

News

• Apple released a number of new products including the iPad mini, iPad with Retina display and the new iMac and the MacBook Pro with 13 inch Retina display.  For up to date pricing please contact kim.conway3@btinternet.com
• Microsoft have launch Windows 8. For up to date pricing for Education please click here
•  Microsoft have launched the new Surface machine.
• Google have introduced the new Chromebook
• A reminder that Apple is bringing together educators from UK standout schools for a series of live webcasts.  They will give you the opportunitiy to learn from and speak with your peers as they describe best practices in their implementations from a leadership, IT and curriculum perspective.  The first, Breaking Down Learning Barriers with Apple Technology, Essa Academy, will take place on Thursday 15th November at 5pm followed by Boosting Learning with the iPad, Cedars School of Excellence on Tuesday 27th November.  To register please click here
• Steljes now have the training and distribution rights for Teach IT from DoBe.  They will be offering training to all schools irrespective of whether or not they have already purchased Teach IT.  For more information please contact Anne Forrest
• Espresso has released a new Scottish country dancing module containing all the information you need to teach The Gay Gordons, The St Bernard’s Waltz and The Dashing White Sergeant.  The videos show children completing the full routine with each dance being broken down into steps.  The module also had a variety of additional resources including printable instructions, music tracks and a learning review allowing pupils to self-assess their performance.
• Busythings had added a collaborative projects area so that schools from all around the world can work together.  Busy Porjects allows children to use age appropriate tools to do colour in, assembling for example pizzas and sandwiches, creating funny faces and characters, drawing – something beginning with a chosen letter and making flat pack towns.  Children join in on on-going project which can be viewed on desktop computers, iPads and other tablet devices.  Their contributions can also be printed out for display and twitter, facebook or embedded into a school blog.
• Steljes are offering iPad training.  Contact Anne Forrest for futher details.   
• 3DMadeEasy are offering a range of Photoshop courses in December.  Contact Kim for more details.
• Science from Storm is a science project for 4 – 11 year olds to introduce basic concepts – About Us (the human body), About Animals, About Light, Plants, Light and Sound which will be available early 2013.  They are looking for early review comments.  Includes interacitve simulations of experiments such as growing sunflowers, looking after a young guinea pig, making a shadow clock and singing karaoke!
• CALL Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Centre of Technology for the Communication Impaired (SCTCI) has been commissioned by the NHS for Education for Scotland to develop appropriate resources to promote universal support for people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication by increasing awareness of AAC in the wider community and by enhancing the ability of the wider community to adapt to the communication needs of people who use AAC.  Initially these resources will include web-based interactive materails leaflet and posters.  To be completed by the end of February 2013.

New to SS4E Website

This month’s showcase is the Steljes gets SMART in Scotland event held on 25th October 2012.

FREE Resources

• Primary Games are offering a limited number of FREE codes to allow download of their new iPad App, Stop the Clock.  Click here to request yours.
• iPads for Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning by Craig Mull and the CALL Scotland team is available for free download.  The book aims to support readers who are not necessarily technical specialists and who want to use the iPad with children or adults with ASN or disabilities.
• Achieve excellence in Literacy with Reading Eggs – schools can get a free trial of Reading line giving access to over 1,000 e-books.  Suitable for pupils from P1 to S3.  Click here to register for a free trail. 
• Mathletics are offering schools free class trials and CPD training for staff.  Contact Iain Smith for more information.

Dates for your Diary

• 7th November – Brush up on BrainPOP – the next installment of the BrainPOP UK Webinar Programme.
• 9th November – Intermediate Level Inventor, Newton Mearns
• 13th November – SketchUp in the Classroom, Aberdeen
• 14th November – Introduction to Revit Architecture, Perth
• 13th and 14th November – The Four Nations Maths Challenge
• 15th November – Breaking Down Learning Barriers with Apple Technology
• 19th November – Using Sibelius Effectively in Education, Newton Mearns
• 23rd November – Digital Video Editing in Windows Live Movie Maker, Newton Mearns
• 24th November – CALL Scotland’s Information Day for Parents
• 26th November – Introduction to Photoshop, Newton Mearns
• 27th November – Boosting Learning with the iPad
• 27th November – Intermediate Photoshop, Newton Mearns
• 29th November – Photoshop Masterclass, Newton Mearns
• 30th November – Repeat Patterns in Photoshop, Newton Mearns