AngryITGuy

A teacher has created a movie using a AgfaPhoto Camcorder, rather than pressing the record button to finish off the recording the teacher just turned the camera off! The file on camera won't play at all, the camera sees it as an invalid file. My laptop can see it as a 2GB plus MOV file but refuses to play it using numerous video players. Is there anyway this file can be made playable or even repaired? Cheers

It's been suggested by the SLT at my school that we look to invest in eReaders to try and encourage reading. The device that seems to be mentioned a lot so far has been the Kindle, but I think thats more to do with the amount of publicity it has had recently. I was just wondering what peoples thoughts are on such devices within schools will they work or is it just a gimmick? I also wanted to see if anyone has gone down this route already and find out how its gone so far and what issues you came across with such devices. Cheers

This was a feature I was really looking forward to with the 4.2 update but it only works with iPhone 4, iPad, or 4th generation iPod touch!!!

Looks like its finally here iOS 4.2 Software Update

Will be getting one too as it does look very impressive. But I think I have left it a little late to get hold of on launch day

Both a good and valid point, but even with the crazy demand for the it the iPad is easier to come by that good teachers at out place!

Thanks for the info guys will probably look at Picasa as the software needs work on my mac!

Looking to get some photo collages made up of my kids and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for either websites that provide such a service or software that lets me create my own. I've checked out photobox but wasn't that impressed by the templates they have on offer. Currently trying Shape Collage Maker to try and create my own. Anyone got any other recommendations? Thanks

Having iPads in the classroom would certainly encourage the kids to participate in lesson activities although as you suggested they would end up going home for too often for teachers to "work" on resources. Think we will be heading down the Tablet PC route initially only because we have one at school to use and to see how well this idea works.

Problem with the current interactive slates (which don't have screens) we have is that as soon as the user lifts the pen off the surface its quite difficult to judge where to start writing\drawing again so you end up writing\drawing over stuff you have previosly done or atleast thats what I am told is the current issue. Main issue was as indicated above regarding difficulty using the tablets when drawing\writing, the teacher also wants to encourage student participation within the lesson and rather than have students go up to the whiteboard they would use this interactive slate. Thats what I am thinking at the moment a Tablet PC with VNC should do the trick. The iPad does have a VNC client too not sure how well the kids could write\draw on it with their fingers though!

Thanks for that Ric, I should have mentioned in the original post that the device needs to be wireless too so that it can be passed around the class to students.

Have just been asked by a department in the school for an Interactive Slate for use with a Promethean whiteboard. Not a problem I thought as we have loads in the school, however this particular department wants the Slate to have a screen too so that the user can also see what is being displayed on the whiteboard as they draw/write on it. Does such a thing exist or are they thinking of a Tablet PC?

Gove to apologise on school building list chaos

Just about to download it and give it the once over on my mac Firefox 4 Beta It all begins here:

Michael Gove and Ed Balls are debating the BSF suspensions on Newsnight

I belive this topic is already being discussed Building Schools for the Future plans to be scrapped Plenty of information and links to news sites although nothing official has been announced yet!

Looks like the story is certainly gathering momentum now Michael Gove freezes rebuilding of schools in £3.5bn savings - Guardian Still speculation of course just need to wait for the official announcement which I believe was due last week!

Technology in schools: Is the clock being turned back? Can't say I agree with the whole article but this I certainly disagree with this: Plenty more scope for development of ICT Resources within my school if the money was available, certainly don't think its achieved it's aim quite yet. Also think pulling 25% of Harnessing Technology and not making a speedy decision on BSF hasn't helped the cause.

What I meant when I said I would try to make it out like it was done for the benefit of the teachers at the school was to put it across to them that if they loose their USB pen which contains sensitive data and its encrypted they are in the clear to an extent. Loosing a USB pen that contains sensitive data which is not encrypted is a serious matter as you pointed out with you reasons. I'm not saying it applies to all teachers but certainly the teachers here I find will only do things if its made out to them to be in their best interest. I certainly wasn't playing down the importance of data security within schools just making a point on how best to get teachers to swallow the bitter pill!

A good point, will need to think about the balance between hassle for teachers and data security as you said the key is to get the teachers on board from the go and make it out like its being done for their benefit.

I brought some Yacht Varnish for a new garden gate I put up last year, left it on the kitchen table when I got back from B&Q, 5 minutes later was getting grief from the wife for wasting money because we didn't have a yacht!!!!

I see, just tried it now and your right there is a delay on the hardware based drives, can't believe I didn't notice that before! The stick is probably between 4 and 6 months old I think. Did Integral replace the stick for you? I was thinking along the lines of encrypting most of the drive and leaving just enough space to install TrueCrypt in Traveler Mode. Having individual passwords is an issue and will be a PITA to setup a common password although less secure as you said might be the best way forward. Would be interesting to hear how others have tackled this issue. Training and explanation for the action is definitely a priority here too, shudder to think how many members of staff will just unplug the drive before dismounting it!

Can't say I've noticed much difference in performance when using the pre encrypted pen but then again it wasn't like I was saving huge files to it. I'm more interested in tryning to find out why I can't get the bloody thing to work on a domain machine!! TrueCrypt in Traveller Mode with encrypted USB pens does seem like the best way forward, can't say I am looking forward to setting up all those USB pens though!

We are looking into the possibility of providing staff with encrypted USB sticks as its been a long term concern of mine and it looks like I have managed to convince the SLT to back the idea. I have tested and currently use TrueCrypt myself, althought it will be a pain to setup initially its free which is a bonus. I'm also looking at the posibility of just providing staff with ready encrypted drives such as the Integral Crypto Drive. I got one to test and I can't get the bloody thing to work on any domain workstation or laptop. No such issue with non domain machines, error meessage tells me I'm not a privileged user on the machine even though I log with domain admin privileges. Anyone else had this issue or know what could be causing this?

Try this site Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3) Not sure if it can be created from a PC as a source though. I've done this previously but for SP2 used a Windows XP Professional with SP1 Setup CD and a Standalone XP SP2 update.