What is River Watch?

2. What is River Watch? “River Watch is an opportunity for children aged five to eleven in schools across Kent and Sussex to collect and publish on the Internet information about rivers and waterways in the region. Published work covering all areas of the curriculum will include; written reports, poems, graphs, tables, art work, video, music and dance.”

3. Who is taking part? 37 Kent primary schools have registered and are participating in the River Watch 2007 project.

4. Project Aims Children participating in the project will have the opportunity to use Broadband Connectivity to: Research and gather information in and outside the classroom Publish their work for others to view on Making the News Compare and contrast maps and aerial images of different locations Ask questions and discuss their work with other project schools

5. What are the children doing? Planned activities include

6. Google Maps provides detailed maps and aerial photographs How are we using ICT? “Making the News” is an “on-line” publishing tool FlashMeeting enables simple and secure video conferencing "Core Software"

7. How are we using ICT? Sound recorder Storytelling Digital images and video Promoting Pupil Creativity Sound Editor Datalogging Movie Making E-mail Planning

8. How is the project being managed? Kent National Grid for Learning Download project resources http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/index.htm http://kmi4schools.e2bn.net/rostra/news.php?r=796 http://www.segfl.org.uk/microsites/view_project.php?id=21 Making the News Area for teachers and children to publish work River Watch micro-site Area for Teacher’s to publish resources and share ideas Promoting "on-line" Learning communities

9. How is the project being managed? Project and Leading ICT Teachers are responsible for organising: School Visits School INSET “Ask an Expert” Day “River Watch” Day

10. School Case Studies

11. "Ask the Expert" - July 4th 2007 The “Ask the Expert” Day on Wednesday 4th July 2007 was an opportunity for children to interview adults from local river agencies and organisations about a wildlife and conservation issues. What have we found out? Visit the “River Watch Making the News” web-site to read the children’s reports and articles.

12. What have we achieved? Over 100 schools in Kent have applied and been issued with a “Making the News” account Nearly 100 Kent schools have applied for “FlashMeeting” accounts since November 2006 18 Clusters in Kent plan to use videoconferencing next year (most will be using FlashMeeting) 74 MFL Leading Teachers have received training on using “FlashMeeting” and “Making the News”“ since January 2007 Kent Leading ICT Teachers have organised and led training sessions for Calais teachers on using “Making the News” Several Clusters are using FlashMeeting to support “Transition” projects West Sussex Grid for Learning have already published details of River Watch 2008 and are planning training for all schools The River Watch “model” used to promote “on-line” learning is to be adopted by all Authorities across the South – East region in 2007/8

13. What next? Nature and Weather Watch Schools and Clusters across Kent will shortly be receiving a letter inviting them to take part in “Nature Watch” and “Weather Watch” For more information contact: Ian Coulson Phil Bracegirdle Geography and History Advisor HOS ICT Consultant Ian.coulson@kent.gov.ukphilip.bracegirdle@kent.gov.uk