Q. Do people have to pay to use the CLC?
Q. What kind of ICT facilities are available at the CLC?
Q. How does the CLC support teachers with their teaching?
Q. How can the CLC help pupils with their schoolwork?
Q. Can refreshments be booked for a group of pupils who stay for a day?
Q. What about other educational initiatives in schools?
Q. How can I get involved?
Q. Do people have to pay to use the CLC?
A. If your school is a member of the partnership you do not have to pay for the use of the facilities at the CLC but your school will need to fund the cost of transport, printing and consumables. Equipment can be loaned to support project work at partnership schools. Click here to view our
pricing policy.
Q. What kind of ICT facilities are available at the CLC?
A. All of the workstations are capable of accessing multi-media CDs, curriculum resources, web and other Internet resources, video conferencing facilities, data logging and control equipment, image manipulation, DTP and Office 2000 applications. Our specialist workstations and peripherals enable professional, quality DTP, video editing, sound recording and web authoring. Interactive whiteboards combined with video projectors allow users to view demonstrations and presentations. Users from partnership schools can hire laptops and other equipment for projects outside the CLC. For a detailed list of equipment, please
click here.
Q. How does the CLC support teachers with their teaching?
A. The CLC is establishing a network of teaching expertise across the partnership and between CLCs in Manchester. Areas of excellence in the use of ICT for teaching and learning are being identified across the curriculum, enabling teachers to share and collaborate in new and existing projects in innovative ways. Some funding is available to support curriculum development in specific subject areas and departments.
Lesson plans, resources, appropriate websites, video clips of teachers in action, interactive worksheets and examples of completed work are available through the CLC Learning network.
Training in the use of educational hardware and software is provided at twilight sessions or during the day as part of a school's INSET programme. The National Opportunities Fund ICT training for all teachers is supported in a number of ways. Basic ICT skills training is provided to get teachers up to speed before their main training commences. Activities will be established to support staff with their professional development in ICT when they have completed their training.
A technical forum has been established to allow ICT systems and technical staff in partnership schools to share expertise and support one another in network management, troubleshooting and hardware support.
Q. How can the CLC help pupils with their schoolwork?
A. The CLC is a venue for holiday schools and out of hours learning. Pupils from the partnership schools can visit the learning centre before and after school, at weekends and during the holidays to study, carry out research, complete coursework and homework or simply to experiment with new technologies not normally available in schools. Teachers will co-ordinate pupils' visits to the CLC.
Q. Can refreshments be booked for a group of pupils who stay for a day?
A.Lunch can be provided in the school canteen for those pupils who are staying for the day. Food and drink may also be purchased from the College cafeteria, open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday. There is also a hot drinks machine in the Adult Education Foyer, adjacent to the CLC. Within the CLC, an area with tables and chairs is provided for users to eat, drink or take a break.
Q. What about other educational initiatives in schools?
A.Sessions and activities are timetabled to support other Excellence in Cities projects such as Gifted and Talented master classes and enrichment programmes. The CLC provides alternative learning experiences for pupils supported by Learning Mentors and those attending Learning Support Units in schools.
Q. How can I get involved?
A.The CLC is always looking for innovative and creative ideas on how ICT can be used to support teaching and learning. We produce ICT materials that can be shared with teachers and pupils from across the partnership. Plannning and focus groups are being established to identify the types of projects that teachers wish to be involved in. Further information will be sent out to schools in the near future. For further information, please contact us.
