We found an interesting resource where teachers who make their own resources can share and earn “credits” towards other shared resources. Users can browse and search for relevant resources by subject, topic, age group and ability level.  

• It will include a Visual Thesaurus, not unlike Visuwords, where the interface shows the relationship between words with similar meanings. From typing an initial word, the display will populate modules with synonyms. Any word on the diagram can subsequently be expanded to get its synonyms.
• A Spelling Word List Generator will enable children to choose a personal word list. Look, say, cover, write, check Flash activities will support their learning.
• Children will be able to search for words and it will recognize common misspellings. There will be picture support, and clicking on the word will sound the word out. One aspect of the project is to build a series of 'phonics aware' search services. This feature will allow pupils to search the dictionary for similar sounding words (try Sounds Like here), 'sound out' the phonemes in words they've not encountered before and see suggested spellings for misspelt search terms. Buttons will allow teachers to show or hide definitions and pictures for any word, making it suitable for a wide range of learners.

The dictionary will be populated with a large database of words with supporting images, and is built to expand as it is used. Words can be “suggested” so go to an expert or moderator, to be fed into the dictionary. We hope to use childrens’ own work, particularly the example of the word’s use in a sentence. Children using the dictionary will view definitions written by south-west teachers and examples of use by south-west children. Click here to try your hand at adding definitions to our dictionary.

The RockIT competition for rock bands accross the region has now finished with Epic Journey taking first Prize of Gigajam licences and PA Equipment for their school, Thomas Hardye School in Dorset. In joint second place are Boiling Point and Destructive Mind from South Goucestershire.

Congratulations to all three bands and well done to you all for making it to the finals of RockIT 2008.

We received thousands of text votes, thank you to everyone who texted in. The bands themselves may be surprised at the levels of response from the public.

Here are just some of the comments from the judges:

Destructive Mind - Good drumming..... bassist was very solid..... Nothing to limit them except dedication and hard work...... convincing and committed with credible music interpretation and style.......

Boiling Point - Like the verse, tune and melody line as well as chord progression so there is real potential.... good use of rythms..... good confident performance......

Epic Journey - Mature composition, well arranged band parts...... good control demonstrated on each instrument and great understanding of everone's role within the song..... terrific potential for each, individually and collectively.....

We have a winner and JOINT second place based on judges decision and public vote combined

Congratulations to Epic Journey in first place.

Congratulations also to Boiling point and Destructive Mind who are placed Joint Second

All bands will receive feedback from the judging panel on Monday.

We wish all three bands the best of luck for the future. We hope you have gained from entering the competition and that the feedback from the judges will spur you on to greater things.

Voting in the SWGfL RockIT competition started on Wednesday 28th January and finishes on Friday 30th at 6:00pm 

Check out the videos and links to the finalists below and vote for your favourite by following the instructions. We have added links to MySpace and YouTube resources which may be blocked in school - the links should work outside of school though!

The latest News and Information can be found on the RockIT website - www.swgfl.org.uk/rockit2008

From Filton High School, South Gloucestershire - Destructive Mind

Destructive Mind have been together for 2 years and their song is called Black Heart. The band comprise Rob on Bass and Vocals, Tom on Guitar and Chris on Drums.

Click here to watch the video

Destructive Mind have a MySpace account - visit:

www.myspace.com/destructivemindnemesis

To Vote for Destructive Mind text VOTE DESTRUCTIVE to 07624 808422

From Kingsfield School, South Gloucestershire - Boiling Point

Boiling Point have recently started writing their own material and comprise Bill on Drums, Carlo on Bass, Dave on Guitar and Ellie on Vocals.

Click Here to watch the video

Boiling Point have MySpace, Bebo, YouTube and their own website which can be found on the links below:

www.myspace.com/boilingpointonline
 
http://www.bebo.com/boiling-point-online
 
www.boilingpoint.co.nr
 
http://www.youtube.com/BoilingPointBand

To Vote for Boiling Point text VOTE BOILING to 07624 808422

From Thomas Hardye School in Dorset - Epic Journey

Epic Journey are a Dorchester Based melodic rock band who formed in May 2007. They have performed at school and at events including concerts and fairs and the Dorchester festival. Last year the band won the Thomas Hardye School Battle of the Bands and supported the Fab Beatles and Rollin' Clones at Lulworth Castle. Epic Journey released their first EP in July 2008 which is available from their MySpace, Napster and I-Tunes.

Click the YouTube link below to watch the video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GTzE7cthB0c

Epic Journey have a MySpace account and more music on YouTube:

http://uk.youtube.com/user/EpicJourneyMusic

http://www.myspace.com/epicjourneyuk

To Vote for Epic Journey text VOTE EPIC to 07624 808422

The fantastic resource from Cleo outlines an inspiring project from Children at Morecombe Primary, where they used BFI footage of children on holiday in Morecambe in 1902. Children contrast the scenes with modern day scenes and the work leads into drama and singing. Listen to the children in role talking about life in Morecambe.

Have you seen the new SWGfL text service? Ja.net txt is an ideal solution for instant messaging, where conventional communication channels aren’t practical or possible, and offers the potential to make learning more engaging and interactive. Using an intuitive web-based interface, you can send and receive text messages any time, anywhere. The service is scalable, meaning that it’s just as easy to contact an individual as it is a large group of people. Enhanced services also offer the ability to receive incoming messages, schedule message sending, set automated responses to incoming messages, run polls and votes, run subscription information services and integrate text messaging into other applications. Find out more about this on the SWGfL ja.net txt page, including who to contact.

Have you often wished you had access to a video-based site like YouTube where you could quickly, easily, safely upload educational films that your children have created? It may be your class have created an animation; it may be a short film with a digi-blue camera. Have you seen Films for Learning? You don't need a lot of expertise to upload. In fact, here is a video tutorial on how to upload. There is a growing library of educational films (its all moderated) and the interface is very high quality. Find out more.