Inspired.....

[gary]

Scince I found NFS in April this year I have been overwhelmed by the dedicated and altruistic efforts of Ben and Marina. Even moreso now that NIS has launched as a separate site. So I got to thinking, with 30 years in education was there something I could give? I know that every night all over the UK and probably the world are colleagues frantically searching google for information and activities to support their teaching. You can click for hours and find nothing suitable. So, I have been inspired to put in some effort of my own and attempt to open up a portal, the results are here.....

Free online educational resources for Key Stage 2 (7 - 11 years) (http://www.gtchild.co.uk/content)

..... its only small at the moment but my aim is to keep plodding on and adding more.

Please forward the link to anyone you know that might find it useful, comments, requsts and suggestions are welcome

[Alan]

Looks good so far! Yes, it's small, but you've obviously put a lot of work into it. Best of luck - I'll direct my teaching friends to it.

[gary]

Looks good so far! Yes, it's small, but you've obviously put a lot of work into it. Best of luck - I'll direct my teaching friends to it.

thnks for your kind post - I try to add stuff every day - the search facility is great.

[Marina]

Gary, I'm very touched that somehow Ben and Me have given a tiny bit of inspiration to start a project like this. It seems like a great idea!

Regarding the web page, it looks very neat, easy to navigate with a well structured menu. The only thing that I've found is that with Linux (Suse 9) and Firefox the Members section on the right column gets lost down the page, and you have to scroll down a lot to find it, but as I say it is probably due to the combination of my OS and Firefox. I know Ben uses an application to check the screen-shots of the web site with different OS + navigators so maybe he can give you more information about that.

I was also very touched to see our banner in our page. Many thanks!!!
Marina.

[Marbella]

Gary, the very best of luck with this. As a parent, I can't get enough of this kind of resource and I really hope you pursue it. I will make sure everyone at our school(s) knows about it and if you do any kind of formal promotion please let us know.

I need to sound a single, almost inaudible, alarm bell about the direct NFS link. You'll know because you are in the business but parents are very sensitive about their little treasures being led astray by the web. 99% of the content on NFS is fine but I'm thinking of a few of the forum subjects and the 'El Mundo sex blog' entry for example which might be deemed inappropriate for those 11 and under. Luckily for me my son when he looked on NFS didn't ask what 'underwater shagging' was (probably knows what it is anyway) but you can see what I mean I hope.

Best of luck again!

[gary]

Gary, I'm very touched that somehow Ben and Me have given a tiny bit of inspiration to start a project like this. It seems like a great idea!

Regarding the web page, it looks very neat, easy to navigate with a well structured menu. The only thing that I've found is that with Linux (Suse 9) and Firefox the Members section on the right column gets lost down the page, and you have to scroll down a lot to find it, but as I say it is probably due to the combination of my OS and Firefox. I know Ben uses an application to check the screen-shots of the web site with different OS + navigators so maybe he can give you more information about that.

I was also very touched to see our banner in our page. Many thanks!!!
Marina.

That space should be filled with ads by google - some netweoks filter them out

[Marina]

Yeah you are right that is exaclty what happens here:rolleyes:,
but in other pages, as NFS, it pushes the other items up to cover the blanks and that is why I though yours was way down. No problem then!

[gary]

Yeah you are right that is exaclty what happens here:rolleyes:,
but in other pages, as NFS, it pushes the other items up to cover the blanks and that is why I though yours was way down. No problem then!

I wiil give that some thought - I have no real need for a members login at the mo - it just makes it easier for me so ~I can login and edit from the front end.

[gary]

Gary, the very best of luck with this. As a parent, I can't get enough of this kind of resource and I really hope you pursue it. I will make sure everyone at our school(s) knows about it and if you do any kind of formal promotion please let us know.

I need to sound a single, almost inaudible, alarm bell about the direct NFS link. You'll know because you are in the business but parents are very sensitive about their little treasures being led astray by the web. 99% of the content on NFS is fine but I'm thinking of a few of the forum subjects and the 'El Mundo sex blog' entry for example which might be deemed inappropriate for those 11 and under. Luckily for me my son when he looked on NFS didn't ask what 'underwater shagging' was (probably knows what it is anyway) but you can see what I mean I hope.

Best of luck again!

Duly noted - the site is intended as a portal for teachers, to be used with children as opposed to by them, there is the option on all the text pages to show the page on a plain white background (printable version icon) without clutter and banners. There is also the opportunity to open text based resources as .pdfs for viewing or printing. Any adverts you might see are by google and context related and up to now have been site appropriate. The link from the banner goes to Notes in Spanish not notes from spain and so there would be a bit of digging to do before any potentially innappropriate material could be viewed. I am tippong that as very few under 11s speak spanish it would be of little interest and they would click off.

I put the banner in out of gratitude for the work B & M do, as the site is aimed at teachers and teachers spread good practice virally. I hope that it will drive traffic to their site(s) and genetate them more downloads/members, etc and in some small way it would give a bit back.

From the parent perspective the texts are intended to give an insite into the scope and breadth of the factual information which children are expected to have by the end of Year 6. Print the pdfs and gen up!

I am working on some software that will set your child an online test and email you back the results so that as a parent you can spot where the gaps in teaching and learning occur so that you can do your bit to fill them.

Thanks for the feedback I will certainly be responsive to any incidents that may occur.

[Ben]

... So, I have been inspired to put in some effort of my own and attempt to open up a portal, the results are here.....

Free online educational resources for Key Stage 2 (7 - 11 years) (http://www.gtchild.co.uk/content)

Great site Gary and many more thanks for your comments on inspiration.

I know Ben uses an application to check the screen-shots of the web site with different OS + navigators so maybe he can give you more information about that.

www.browsercam.com - free 24 hour trial is very useful... especially if you have more than 1 email address for more than one trial ;) - Thanks to Marbella for that page long ago...

(I do like this 'multi-quote' feature on the forum now :) )

[Marbella]

Duly noted - the site is intended as a portal for teachers, to be used with children as opposed to by them, there is the option on all the text pages to show the page on a plain white background (printable version icon) without clutter and banners. There is also the opportunity to open text based resources as .pdfs for viewing or printing. Any adverts you might see are by google and context related and up to now have been site appropriate. The link from the banner goes to Notes in Spanish not notes from spain and so there would be a bit of digging to do before any potentially innappropriate material could be viewed. I am tippong that as very few under 11s speak spanish it would be of little interest and they would click off.

I put the banner in out of gratitude for the work B & M do, as the site is aimed at teachers and teachers spread good practice virally. I hope that it will drive traffic to their site(s) and genetate them more downloads/members, etc and in some small way it would give a bit back.

From the parent perspective the texts are intended to give an insite into the scope and breadth of the factual information which children are expected to have by the end of Year 6. Print the pdfs and gen up!

I am working on some software that will set your child an online test and email you back the results so that as a parent you can spot where the gaps in teaching and learning occur so that you can do your bit to fill them.

Thanks for the feedback I will certainly be responsive to any incidents that may occur.

Sounds excellent Gary. I really admire you for doing this and hope it is a storming success.

[ValenciaSon]

Good luck Gary, on your education resource website. Didn't want to call it "Notes From Gary"?:rolleyes: