This week we had pupils from Parkview Secondary School attend to do sessions in Nxt Programming.  A variety of tasks were given to pupils which would enable them to gain an insight on how robots work and can be programmed to do specific manoeuvres.

Pupils worked really hard inputting accurate programs to allow their NXT to navigate around a pre marked board.  Allowing them to achieve set objectives for various levels in the key stage.

 This week teaching staff from Wyndcliffe Primary School attended a CPD session for 'ICT in the classroom'. 

The session in which T/A's explored a combination of online resources to support their year groups and curriculum areas.  These included creating vodcasts, games and resources both online and portable.  These resources could be used to support the creation of displays and build on pupils exsisting knowledge in subject areas. 

The sesion was aimed at providing opportunities to support the Excellence and Enjoyment Initiatives.  Feed back was excellent and follow up sessions will be done online to support this training. 

This week pupils from Calthorpe school visited the centre to take part in a Digital Portrait session using ArtRage. Each pupil went through steps using a graphic tablet and pen to create a portrait of themselves. 

By inserting a photograph of the pupil as tracing paper each pupil went over the outline of their face and then added colour.   They worked really hard and created some beautiful pieces.

Today the CLC was utilised to run a live radio show with Year 8 pupils from six different schools within the Central Oaks Collegiate.

For the past couple of weeks the CLC staff are supporting Calthorpe School in creating a Video depicting the adventures of Robin Hood. 

The script was written and rehearsed by the pupils in preparation for the CLC to film the show.  Filming took place using various equipment including the Green Screen facility. Once filming was completed it was then edited to create an excellent video.

all the participating pupils were enthusiastic and worked really hard.

The past couple of weeks have been all about Science, Geography and Dance. 

Staff of the CLC visited Calthorpe School to help with a dance project they are doing.  Initially pupils were filmed while playing out various dance routines to create a movie which will be edited at a later date. All pupils participated enthusiastically and gave brilliant performances.

Hope everybody had a good break and is enjoying the first week back.

This week the CLC ran several sessions concentrating on the Maths curricullum; also, two CPD days concentrating on using ICT in the classroom for use in a wide range of subjects.

Last week the City Learning Centre ran several INSET sessions for our Network school education providers. Different courses were run throughout the week ranging from TA resources to music and movie making sessions for teachers. Each session gave the attendees the opportunity to try out various software that could be used in the classroom to enhance teaching.  Garageband CPD allowed music teachers to record, edit and create works of music which was burned to dvd for them.

After each session the teachers and TA's were awarded completion certificates for their keeping.

 Also, Small Heath Secondary School attended some Maths in Movement and Maths in Motion sessions, in which the pupils of year 9 enjoyed completing various tasks and activities like programming NXT robots accurately using the circumference of a wheel; and tuning car engines to run fast around long straight roads or slow on tight bends using percetange and angle calculations. Each pupil worked well in their groups and produced some excellent work.