We are now called Central Birmingham CLC!

As of Monday 12th September, Park View City Learning Centre will be known as Central Birmingham City Learning Centre. Give us a call at the office and try to catch us out as we get used to the change!

Science and ICT

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.

Also this week saw the completion of Calthorpe's Robin Hood Project.

Pupils from Calthorpes School acted out scenes from Robin Hood and who wants to be a millionaire, adding their own script and dance choreography. All the scenes were filmed by the CLC staff and then edited to produce a dvd which was premiered at Calthorpe School.

TA Training

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.

Art Rage in Portraits

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.

Also this week pupils from Al-Hijrah Secondary School attending various ICT sessions learning different aspects of Photoshop, Spreadsheets and Access Databases.

Live Radio Show with Russell Prue!

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

The live radio show is based in the year 2050 and will give a perspective of what the students world will be like. The pupils will give reports on the news, sports and advertising features for that year.

The rehearsals were organised and actioned in excellent form by the pupils who were praised by Russell himself.

The live show is due to go live around 1530 today and Russell will be giving twittering updates throughout the day.

Robin Hood and his Merry Dancers

For the past couple of weeks the CLC staff have been 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 a finished video.

All the participating pupils were enthusiastic and worked really hard.

Also the CLC ran several Science Space Days where various schools attended to learn how an astronaut lives in space by trying out various activities.

From Earth and Beyond!

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.

Also St Edmunds Primary School attended two days of Astronaut Training sessions, where the pupils of years 5 and 6 ran through various activities to understand what life would be like living in space. They ran through both mental and physical challenges which included learning how to make rockets and space food tasting. Rockets where launched and the one which went furthest determined a winner who recieved a certificate. Pupils worked really hard and produced some good rockets.

Al-Hijrah Secondary school attended Geography sessions in which pupils of year 8 created powerpoint presentations on predicting the weather forecast for the week. Interpreting raw data from UK weather reports, the pupils completed various maps and charts which were then used in a Green Screen filming session. Pupils in pairs of two where filmed using their presentation to create a Weather account for TV. The pupils produced some excellent videos.

Next week the CLC will run more Space day sessions this time with Al-Hijrah years 7, 8, and 9 pupils and also continue collaborating with Calthorpe school on their dance project.

Parkview City Learning Centre

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.

Pupils from Al-Hijrah visited on two days to attend Maths in Movement. These morning sessions enhanced pupils estimation skills for calculating distance . By obtaining the circumference of two different sized wheels, pupils had to manouvere around challenge boards accurately programming their robots to reach a specific destination.
Also Yardleys Secondary School attended a Maths in Motion session in which pupils had to program a virtual racing car to run laps round the Silverstone race track. Firstly by measuring all the straight lines and angles accurately, the pupils then had to calculate percentages using the information they had obtained. Finally allowing them to race their cars against each other to show a winner. All the pupils worked really hard and achieved their set objectives.
Also this week, the CLC ran two days for CPD sessions for using ICT in the classroom. One day was aimed at Teaching Assisstants and the other was for History teachers from various network schools. Both days attendees learnt how they could utilise various software in the their lessons. These days proved to be very successful.

Rockets Rock It!

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.
This week Calthorpe School, enjoyed the company of our staff to run sessions of Rocketry on site of their school. Calthorpe incorporated our sessions into their Space week theme in which several pupils designed and built their own rockets with the help of staff. These rockets were then launched both indoors and outside to see which rocket would go the farthest. Pupils participated with enthusiam and enjoyed taking their rockets home.

Also this week year 8 pupils of Waverley Secondary School attended a session on Movie making using istop cameras, green screen facilities and imovie software to create a news report based on the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Each pupil worked collaborately within their group to write scripts, roleplay act, record, add sound and edit their movie which was then burned on a DVD for their viewing. All the pupils participated with different ideas and produced some excellent work.

Up To Now!

Welcome back from a well deserved half term break, here's a recap of what sessions we ran at Parkview City Learning Centre in the past few weeks.

Just before we broke up, the CLC had a busy week running sessions which included various curriculum topics such as Science, English, Maths and ICT. We had pupils from various network schools visiting the clc to participate in learning via a more practical approach.

For example at a Forensic session, which was run for the Central Colegiate, seven secondary schools joined together bringing four to five pupils from each school to work on activities in solving a crime. Pupils ranged from years 7, 8 and 9. This session gave pupils the opportunity to work as part of a team which included a mix from all the schools. Everyone worked well together producing some excellent work.

Also, Waverley Secondary School attended an English session using the Green Screening facility to create a news report about their school. This involved the pupils acting out a script where an interview was taking place. This was recorded using imovie to generate and edit their own video clip. Pupils enjoyed the session and worked really hard.

At St Albans school the staff of the CLC participated in a ICT Super Learning Day by showing pupils how to create a game using Mission Maker. Mission Maker enables pupils to design a 3D game which allows the player to move around various hallways, pick up objects, open doors and various other operations. Each game designed by the pupils was impressive.

Yardley Secondary School attending some sessions with year 7 pupils for Mathematics. The session which uses a Maths in Motion software allows each pupils to calculate averages and circumferences and other maths calculations which are needed to programme a computerised racing car effectively. The car is then run in a challenge for which certificates were handed out to the winner. This is an enjoyable session which kept the pupils involved.

This week the final session of an Art project for Bordesly Green Girls School was run. All pupils created some excellent art work using a graphic tablet and pen.

Parlez, Lisez et Écrivez le Français

Last week Bordesley Green Girls School took part in a session on developing linguistic competence in a language. The pupils developed the skills of speaking, listening and writing French in a range of situations and contexts. Curriculum based themes were chosen like 'Myself' including hobbies, friends, school and my town.

Writing French
Pupils took pictures with a digital camera and placed them strategically in a comic format using comic life, outlining information about themselves in french. They worked individually and showed edited results to teachers and peers.

Speaking and Listening
Pupils also created a vodcast (video podcast) using photostory to highlight information about their school and town.

Creating a Webpage
Using Google Sites, pupils created a webpage, to which they uploaded their comics and vodcasts to share with teachers, peers and parents. Pupils showed great enthusiasm in learning new skills like using a digital camera, creating webpages and vodcasts also working collaborately on a project.

Also Last week the City Learning Centre ran a session on Forensics, where pupils from Holy Trinity year 11 class investigated and analysed a crime scene.

Books, Radio and More.

Parkview Secondary School visited us last week to take part in an English Book Club Project. The Year 7 pupils had to read the fiction book 'Coraline' and create their own version of events that took place in the book.
Using Photoshop and Comic Life, the pupils created a presentation based on the events of the book. Using shots taken on a digital camera, the children manipulated pictures from the graphic novel to included themselves into the presentation. Then using Comic Life they created a visual page which depicted their own version. Pupils produced brilliant work which will be put forward for the KS3 Chills Book Award 2008. Good luck to them.

Also, last week the fictitious Mr Mooney was resurrected when the CLC transformed into a Forensics Crime Scene. Pupils from Holy Trinity year 11 ran through several scientific tests to identify a murder suspect from a given scenerio. The children enjoyed themselves and showed some good understanding.

This week Photoshop CPD sessions were run for teachers at Parkview Secondary School, giving them basic knowledge of how to use Photoshop in their classroom.

Also, St Saviours year 6 pupils attended sessions on Podcasting and how to create a radio broadcast on Theme Parks. Given an example the children were shown how to effectively get their point across using key words and different voice makeovers. The children came up with some briliiant work.

In The Mix

Last week has been very busy for the CLC, with a variety of sessions having taken place. Small Heath School attended to take part in our Maths in Movement class where pupils did maths challendes to work out circumferences and averages of different sized wheels using NXT Robots. The pupils enjoyed the challenge and completed every task with confidence.

Also, last week Al-Hijra Secondary school attended on several days to take part in Programming Lego NXT challenges, Podcasting - creating a radio broadcast and Website building.

Using google pages the pupils were given their own login and password to create a website based on their personnal interest. They then had step by step guidance on how to add new features and colours to enhance the look of it. The pupils produced some very good work.

Also, Moseley School were given the opportunity to try out handheld learning equipment which could be incorporated into their MFL classes. The outcome will be updated later this month.

Langues étrangères modernes (MFL)

The the staff of the CLC ran five outreach sessions at Washwood Heath Secondary School. Pupils from years 7, 8 and 9 attended each session to create a Digital Presentation using Comic Life to support role place scenarios. This also included speaking and listening, fostering communication and discussion.

Parkview CLC staff supported the MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) Department in Urdu, Arabic and French in creating a Digital Presentation for display, set around the themes of either 'holidays' , 'my school' or 'about myself'. This involved taking pictures relevant to the themes and discussing them in groups then creating a presentation using the Mac books, which were provided.

Pupils worked really hard and the teachers were very impressed with the standard of work.

Podcasting

This week Year 6 of Parkfield Primary School visited the Centre to create their own radio report using Audacity.
Using a script which they have been working on at their own school, the children created a podcast giving a news account of either an escaped crocodile or a tornado. Each pupil worked hard and enjoyed the session.

NXT in Line

This week the CLC was in full robotic flow with St Albans Secondary School attending sessions throughout the week for NXT Programming.

The children learnt about how a NXT Robot can be programmed to do specific tasks, then participated in organised challenges using all the skills taught. Also each child had an opportunity to build and run their own Judder robot which was then placed in a Judder Race. Certificates were given to the winners.

Also the CLC visited Washwood Heath Secondary School to start a project on Handheld Learning. Details of this project will be posted at a later date.

Build your own Future.

This week the CLC ran a cross curricular DT, Geography and Citizenship session for St Albans and Bordesley Green Girls school.

The pupils had to design and plan a community for the future by working in groups to discuss what features should be included. Looking at the geographical features of the land and practical ways to improve energy effieciency; the pupils had to build 3D models and decide where to site them in their community taking into consideration sustainability and renewable energy technologies. If your interested to see more information on this session click this webpage http://yourbuild.googlepages.com .

Watch this Space!

This week Bordesley Green Girls School completed their P.E Perfomance Analysis for a part of their GCSE exam. Recording a game of rounders then watching it back to see how each pupil performed allowed them to take on board various techniques and errors which occured.


Also Al-Hijrah School participated in the CLC Space Day. The Pupils from years 7,8 and 9 learnt about micro gravity and the effect it has on a person. Looking at aspects such as food, drink, leisure and exercise gave an outline of the habitual enviroment for an astronaut. The day was full of engaging mental and physical exercises which everyone enjoyed.


Activities ranged from designing a space station using Google sketchup to building rockets and launching them in the playground using pressure launching equipment.
Pupils recieved certificates to state the completion of the space day and winners of the Rocket Challenge got an extra certificate for their part.

Project, Program and Performance.

There is alot to write about this week as the CLC ran a variety of sessions for our Network Schools. The week started off with the pupils of year 8 from Parkview Secondary School participating in some Lego Robolab sessions. There were four sessions in total and each class had to run through various programming tasks which allowed them to make a Robot follow specific instructions. Each session included exciting challenges which allowed the pupils to compete for best teamwork and best programming champion.

Also this week saw the start of our Modern Foreign Languages Project, which we are running alongside Washwood Heath Secondary School. The MFL project involves several primary and secondary Language teachers using video conferencing to enhance their lessons. Group meetings will be held to discuss new and exciting ways in teaching languages. Progress on this project will be updated in the future.

Pupils from Year 10 Bordesley Green Girls School attended a P.E Performance session this week which allowed them to evaluate and recognise strengths and weaknessess, plan strategies and improve their performance of doing physical education. This session will make 10% of the GCSE mark for P.E. Working in small groups the pupils made videos of themselves playing rounders and watched it later to analyse their playing method. All pupils were very enthusiastic and followed instructions carefully.

Last but not least, another Access session was run this week but this time pupils from Al-Hijrah girls school learnt about creating forms and reports in a database. Another successful outcome was seen by the pupils.

Access Accepted!

This week the CLC created forms and reports using Access software with the pupils from Al- Hijra Boys School. The aim of the lesson was to learn how to create a form and a report incorporating pictures, graphs and the various other formatting features.

The pupils of year 9 visited the centre and were introduced to the 'CLC Movies 4 U' database. They then had to complete several tasks which allowed them to practice inputting and retrieving specific data to place in a form and on a report. The pupils worked really hard and showed some excellent understanding of databases.