SCHOOL ICT NEWS BULLETIN No 101 - 09/10/2006
Published by Children’s Services
Email QuestionnaireFor the attention of all school staff and student representatives / school council.
A Questionnaire has been created to better understand what schools require from their email system.
This is your opportunity to provide comments about email, including RM EasyMail Plus. Your feedback is important and will influence the way in which Norfolk County Council provides the email service.
Last chance to win a digital camera!
All fully completed questionnaires will be entered into a prize draw to win a digital camera!
The questionnaire is only available until midday on Wednesday 18th October 2006.
Where can the questionnaire be found?
Access the questionnaire by clicking this link,
or by visiting our website at http://www.eficts.norfolk.gov.uk and select RM EasyMail Plus Questionnaire or Questionnaire - RM EasyMail from the A to Z.
Becta email advice
Becta (http://www.becta.org.uk) has stated that "Email can be an extremely valuable tool in an educational context, encouraging the development of communication skills, and transforming the learning process by opening up possibilities that, conventionally, would be impossible to achieve."
Must I complete this questionnaire?
No, it is not mandatory, but this questionnaire will form part of the basis for decisions being made at this time on the subject of Email systems.
Author: Michael Pickett
Contacting ICT SolutionsRemember that you can access ICT Solutions support and information a number of ways. This might be useful at peak times when the phones are busy. You can visit our website where you will find news updates and support documentation. You can use the Contact us form on the website. Or you can email us.
Website http://www.eficts.norfolk.gov.uk
Email ictsolutions@norfolk.gov.uk
Author: Michael Pickett
Learning PlatformsNorfolk has committed to an exciting project supporting all Norfolk Schools in making effective use of innovative technologies to support learning. Children's Services will be spending £1.3m over the next five years to support all Norfolk Schools in making effective use Learning Platforms. Schools will receive advice and support as well as some funding for releasing teachers for training.
What is a Learning Platform?
A Learning Platform is a term used to describe a personalised online workspace used to deliver and support learning using a broad range of ICT systems. The government's target is that all pupils will be able to access to a Learning Platform, capable of supporting an e-portfolio, by 2007-08. Norfolk will make use of Netmedia MyGrid4Learning, a product provided by the Eastern Region Broadband Consortium (E2BN) our regional broadband consortium.
Full details including Norfolk's approach to delivering Learning Platforms is available on the EsiNet website at:
Secondary Schools http://www.esinet.norfolk.gov.uk/cadmin/misheet/display04.asp?ID=491
Primary Schools http://www.esinet.norfolk.gov.uk/cadmin/misheet/display04.asp?ID=490
Author: Michael Pickett
Phoenix Gold - Patch 135sr1A new patch has been issued to fix a problem with the latest version of Phoenix relating to the School Census.
Please select Patch Phoenix 135sr1 from the A to Z at http://www.eficts.norfolk.gov.uk for instructions to assist with the downloading and installation of this patch.
Author: Michael Pickett
ElonexWe were notified on the 29/09/2006 that Elonex closed for business. We will advise you as soon as we have more information on the alternative arrangements for supporting Elonex equipment and networking, both in and out of warranty. In the meantime continue to call the Service Desk with any support calls for hardware repairs. Information posted on the ICT Solutions website will be updated as soon as more details are available.
Author: Michael Pickett
Wireless Network SecurityMany homes and businesses have wireless enabled networks with access to the Internet. You may also have heard about the Norfolk Openlink wireless network, which is the first community wireless network in the UK to provide free Internet access for the public sector, the business community and the general public.
An increasing number of today's devices have wireless networking capability, including laptops, PDAs and some mobile phones. Therefore the risk of accessing alternative networks from schools is increased. This can mean access to unfiltered web content, viruses and other malware.
Any wireless network infrastructure installed by ICT Solutions is secure.
We recommend that you introduce a policy to address use of wireless devices at your school. If you would like further support or advice then please contact ICT Solutions via our website at http://www.eficts.norfolk.gov.uk, by email to ictsolutions@norfolk.gov.uk, or by telephone on 0845 303 3003.
Author: Michael Pickett
Bluecoat - Virus Scanning ExemptionsA page listing all of the domains exempted, or in the process of being exempted, from anti-virus filtering on the Bluecoat proxy service is available to view at:
List of domains exempt from virus scanning on Bluecoat.
Author: Jason Zelos
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