I found these 3 Ways to Wake Up Attendees of training courses simple yet interesting.
Online, you can't really drop a book next to the desk of a sleeping attendee. Instead, shake things up with one of these fun activities.
Where in the World?
Have attendees use the GoToMeeting highlighter to mark where they’re from on a map before the meeting begins. This will give them practice with the Drawing Tools as well as help them get to know other attendees.
Secret Word of the Day
At the start of your meeting, tell attendees to listen for a secret word or phrase during the course of your presentation. The first one to type "Secret Word" in the Chat pane (after you say it, of course) gets a prize. This will increase attentiveness - at least up until you say the word.
Bingo!
This takes a little preparation, but could be worth it if you give the same presentation a lot. Provide attendees with Bingo cards listing topics you'll be covering during the session. The first person to type "Bingo!" in the Chat pane wins a prize. Bonus: Attendees will be sure to remind you if you skip a topic.
GoToMeeting Autumn 2010 Newsletter
Saturday 16 October 2010
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Email from Niel McLean, Executive Director about the demise of Becta
Dear colleagues
As you are aware, as part of the Government's package of measures to reduce expenditure in the public sector, Becta will be closing on 31st March.
It is important that we make sure we achieve our charitable objects as well as the efficient and well-managed closure of the organisation. A full and comprehensive Programme has been established to ensure that this happens. Part of the communications area of this programme will be to keep our external partners and stakeholders up to date with current progress and we are therefore planning to send regular updates to you over the next few months.
In May Stephen Crowne made a commitment to Becta having "an orderly and fair process for staff, and that as far as possible schools, colleges and children continue to benefit from the savings and support that Becta has provided."
Following successful and constructive negotiations with the DfE and BIS, we are delighted that it has been confirmed that Government wishes to continue key areas of Becta's work. This work will transfer in the first quarter of next year. Areas that are confirmed for transfer include Policy; Procurement, incorporating ICT Service frameworks; E-safety / safeguarding online; and Technical, accessibility and environmental standards for ICT in schools.
Discussions are ongoing to finalise the details for one or two other areas we hope to transfer.
Conversations are now taking place with some Becta staff, who it is hoped will also transfer with these work areas. With DfE and BIS we hope to be able to finalise details of all of the areas that will be transferring in the next few weeks.
Please keep an eye on the Becta website, which will tell you where Becta's assets are going as they transfer. We aim to make as much as possible openly accessible through open licence agreements.
As Becta's revised business plan for 2010-11 continues towards conclusion, some of the headline areas of work for the next month or so include:
ICT Services Framework: Becta is proceeding with the framework to cover infrastructure and mobile connectivity in order to continue promoting responsible purchasing within schools and colleges.
ICT Mark: Accreditation of schools will continue until March 2011. Consideration is still being made as to the future of this accreditation scheme. Naace continue to administer the ICT Mark at least through to March 2011 Becta has pressed hard for the continuation of both the SRF and ICT Mark.
ICT Excellence Awards 2010: the winners and runners-up in this awards scheme for schools will be announced on 14 October. Watch the Becta website for more information.
Becta website: Work is currently underway to plan the efficient and careful closure of the Becta website by March 2011. The National Archive will be taking a 'snapshot' of the website to ensure that key content exists after the closure, and other specific areas will be taken on by third party organisations as part of the asset transfer process. Resources that have been produced by Becta will be available from the National Archive's website from November 2010.
We would also like to update you with regard to the success of the Home Access programme which will be completed, ahead of schedule, by December 2010. Stephen Crowne recently said "I can't thank our stakeholders enough for making the Home Access programme such a success. Without your invaluable support we wouldn't have achieved our ambition to ensure more young people reap the benefits of having access to the internet at home to improve their learning."
Please be assured that we are continuing to follow due process with the transition and eventual closure of Becta, and without your invaluable support over the years we would not have achieved our ambition to ensure more young people reap the educational benefits of technology.
If you require any further information regarding Becta's situation, then please do follow up with Ruth Hammond.
Kind Regards
Niel McLean
Executive Director
Becta
As you are aware, as part of the Government's package of measures to reduce expenditure in the public sector, Becta will be closing on 31st March.
It is important that we make sure we achieve our charitable objects as well as the efficient and well-managed closure of the organisation. A full and comprehensive Programme has been established to ensure that this happens. Part of the communications area of this programme will be to keep our external partners and stakeholders up to date with current progress and we are therefore planning to send regular updates to you over the next few months.
In May Stephen Crowne made a commitment to Becta having "an orderly and fair process for staff, and that as far as possible schools, colleges and children continue to benefit from the savings and support that Becta has provided."
Following successful and constructive negotiations with the DfE and BIS, we are delighted that it has been confirmed that Government wishes to continue key areas of Becta's work. This work will transfer in the first quarter of next year. Areas that are confirmed for transfer include Policy; Procurement, incorporating ICT Service frameworks; E-safety / safeguarding online; and Technical, accessibility and environmental standards for ICT in schools.
Discussions are ongoing to finalise the details for one or two other areas we hope to transfer.
Conversations are now taking place with some Becta staff, who it is hoped will also transfer with these work areas. With DfE and BIS we hope to be able to finalise details of all of the areas that will be transferring in the next few weeks.
Please keep an eye on the Becta website, which will tell you where Becta's assets are going as they transfer. We aim to make as much as possible openly accessible through open licence agreements.
As Becta's revised business plan for 2010-11 continues towards conclusion, some of the headline areas of work for the next month or so include:
ICT Services Framework: Becta is proceeding with the framework to cover infrastructure and mobile connectivity in order to continue promoting responsible purchasing within schools and colleges.
ICT Mark: Accreditation of schools will continue until March 2011. Consideration is still being made as to the future of this accreditation scheme. Naace continue to administer the ICT Mark at least through to March 2011 Becta has pressed hard for the continuation of both the SRF and ICT Mark.
ICT Excellence Awards 2010: the winners and runners-up in this awards scheme for schools will be announced on 14 October. Watch the Becta website for more information.
Becta website: Work is currently underway to plan the efficient and careful closure of the Becta website by March 2011. The National Archive will be taking a 'snapshot' of the website to ensure that key content exists after the closure, and other specific areas will be taken on by third party organisations as part of the asset transfer process. Resources that have been produced by Becta will be available from the National Archive's website from November 2010.
We would also like to update you with regard to the success of the Home Access programme which will be completed, ahead of schedule, by December 2010. Stephen Crowne recently said "I can't thank our stakeholders enough for making the Home Access programme such a success. Without your invaluable support we wouldn't have achieved our ambition to ensure more young people reap the benefits of having access to the internet at home to improve their learning."
Please be assured that we are continuing to follow due process with the transition and eventual closure of Becta, and without your invaluable support over the years we would not have achieved our ambition to ensure more young people reap the educational benefits of technology.
If you require any further information regarding Becta's situation, then please do follow up with Ruth Hammond.
Kind Regards
Niel McLean
Executive Director
Becta
Email from Ruth Hammond, Head of Safeguarding at the ill fated Becta
Dear colleagues
I am pleased to inform you that the Safeguarding web content has all been updated and improved and the content mirrors the layout of our safeguarding poster ''Safeguarding children online: Are you managing online risks well?'
http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=42194
Each statement on the poster now has a corresponding document which expands on the issue in point. Each document also links to a short video clip provided by the schools in our esafety peer support network, and we are grateful to the teachers and pupils of those schools for helping to provide an insight into how they are tackling esafety in their schools.
Many of you will be aware that my colleagues Sarah Sumpter, Karl Hopwood and Sue Pickering have moved on and I would like to thank them for their help and support over the last years and wish them well in the future.
Important note:
Finding this content now....
The safeguarding content has been moved from its original location on the Becta Schools pages and you will find a re-direct from there
http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=is&rid=17738
The advertised direct url for all safeguarding content is: www.becta.org.uk/safeguarding.
Please note that the content actually sits on the Next Generation Site platform and consequently once you access the content the site url changes to http://www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk/safeguarding.
However there is no navigation route from the Next Generation Site homepage so you need to note the aliases given above.
Finding this content in the future....
The National Archive will be taking a 'snapshot' of the Becta website to ensure that key content exists after the closure, this will be available from the National Archive's website from November 2010.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/webarchive/qualifications.htm
I will be sending an additional email shortly explaining the current situation regarding the future of Becta's assets and programme of work, but urge you to familiarise yourself with our revised content and save the relevant urls. The publications pages are still live and we have publications available to order.
In the meantime Jenny Wade and myself continue to be available to support you Ruth.Hammond@becta.org.uk
Jenny.Wade@becta.org.uk
With kind regards
Ruth Hammond
Head of Safeguarding
Schools and Families
Becta
Millburn Hill Road
Science Park
Coventry
CV4 7JJ
Tel: 02476 416994
Fax: 02476 411418
http://www.becta.org.uk/
I am pleased to inform you that the Safeguarding web content has all been updated and improved and the content mirrors the layout of our safeguarding poster ''Safeguarding children online: Are you managing online risks well?'
http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=42194
Each statement on the poster now has a corresponding document which expands on the issue in point. Each document also links to a short video clip provided by the schools in our esafety peer support network, and we are grateful to the teachers and pupils of those schools for helping to provide an insight into how they are tackling esafety in their schools.
Many of you will be aware that my colleagues Sarah Sumpter, Karl Hopwood and Sue Pickering have moved on and I would like to thank them for their help and support over the last years and wish them well in the future.
Important note:
Finding this content now....
The safeguarding content has been moved from its original location on the Becta Schools pages and you will find a re-direct from there
http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=is&rid=17738
The advertised direct url for all safeguarding content is: www.becta.org.uk/safeguarding.
Please note that the content actually sits on the Next Generation Site platform and consequently once you access the content the site url changes to http://www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk/safeguarding.
However there is no navigation route from the Next Generation Site homepage so you need to note the aliases given above.
Finding this content in the future....
The National Archive will be taking a 'snapshot' of the Becta website to ensure that key content exists after the closure, this will be available from the National Archive's website from November 2010.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/webarchive/qualifications.htm
I will be sending an additional email shortly explaining the current situation regarding the future of Becta's assets and programme of work, but urge you to familiarise yourself with our revised content and save the relevant urls. The publications pages are still live and we have publications available to order.
In the meantime Jenny Wade and myself continue to be available to support you Ruth.Hammond@becta.org.uk
Jenny.Wade@becta.org.uk
With kind regards
Ruth Hammond
Head of Safeguarding
Schools and Families
Becta
Millburn Hill Road
Science Park
Coventry
CV4 7JJ
Tel: 02476 416994
Fax: 02476 411418
http://www.becta.org.uk/
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