Digital Leader Pack

Table of Contents

Digital Leader Pack.......................................................................................................1What is a Digital Leader?..........................................................................................2Getting Started.........................................................................................................3

Preparation...........................................................................................................3Promotion.............................................................................................................3Appointing............................................................................................................3The First Sessions.................................................................................................4Established Digital Leaders Team.........................................................................4Digital Leader Network.........................................................................................4

Appendix...................................................................................................................... 5Appendix 1: Job Advertisement............................................................................6Appendix 2: The Job Description.........................................................................7Appendix 3: Digital Leaders Application Form......................................................8Appendix 4: Interview Questions.........................................................................9Appendix 5: Contract of Employment................................................................10Appendix 6: Letter to Parents.............................................................................11Appendix 7: Rejection Letter..............................................................................12Appendix 8: Acceptance Letter...........................................................................13Appendix 9: Web Resources...............................................................................14

What is a Digital Leader?

A Digital Leader is a pupil who is part of a Digital Leaders Team within a school, whose role it is to support the use and to further the development of ICT in school.

The team is assembled upon application and interview, and meet regularly.

Pupils are then given training and support to develop specific areas of ICT expertise. These areas of expertise can be self determined, or may be a particular request for a specific item of hardware or software.Once a pupil gains an area of expertise, staff may then request the use of the Digital Leader for a variety of different functions.

Typically, functions that may be performed by a Digital Leader could be:

To update areas of the school website, VLE or school blog site.

Blog on behalf of the School, a class or a club.

Comment on other people’s blog posts.

Test and review new ICT resources, which could be websites, software or hardware.

Share their skills and expertise with other pupils, classes and teachers.

Set up ICT equipment in classrooms for teachers.

Lead ICT lunchtime or After School ICT Clubs.

Support teachers in using ICT in the classroom.

Blog as the School Journalist or Photographer.

Provide first line Technical Support in school.

Staff Trainers.

Create how-to video help guides.

The Digital Leaders Team can be as small as a two-pupil support team to a multi-class front-line ICT support for the whole school. Digital Leaders can be given as many or as few areas of responsibility as necessary.

Getting Started

Before you start your Digital Leaders Team, the following steps may be useful:

Preparation

Determine the size of the Digital Leader Team you wish to assemble. Smaller groups are easier to get running, but can sometimes lack dynamism in the initial stages. However it is easier to scale up quickly, rather than have to scale back.

Involve any other members of staff who can facilitate and support the Digital Leaders Team.

Organise a suitable time and a space for the Digital Leader Team to meet.

Organise time to conduct interviews.

Prepare all necessary documentation.

Promotion

Generate excitement about the Digital Leaders Team and the positions by posting the Digital Leader Advert before you inform the children of the new roles available.

Promote the role of Digital Leader in Form or Assembly time. Reinforce the idea that this is an application process, and not everyone who wants to become a Digital Leader will necessarily be successful.

Ensure Application and Job Description forms are available.

Interest is likely to be great. Put in place a system for pupils to return their completed application forms, and set a cut-off date to adhere to.

Interview each pupil who applies.

Appointing

Appoint the best candidates. Some pupils will be disappointed if they do not get a position. Once the Digital Leaders Team is embedded, there may be other opportunities for pupils to apply.

Begin the first Digital Leaders sessions

The First Sessions

Use a digital platform and create an online group. This can be your school VLE, Moodle or choose a free platform such as Edmodo or Google Apps for Education. This can be used to allow the Digital Leader Team to communicate, internally as well as with the whole school.

Decide which skills pupils should develop to become experts. Pupils may have their own ideas, and should be encouraged wherever appropriate. The Digital Leaders Team can also undergo training for existing hardware or software in school, especially if there is equipment that may be underused.

Set deadlines to adhere to, in order to maintain momentum. Set calendar dates for future meetings.

As Digital Leaders develop areas of expertise, start a Digital Leader Request Service.The request service allows teachers to request the support of the Digital Leaders.

Established Digital Leaders Team

Organise workshops run by the Digital Leaders Team for School staff to attend and for pupils to share their skills with teachers & peers.

Pupils may also begin to research new ideas and run pupil-led projects within school.

Digital Leader Network

Seek out other schools that also have Digital Leaders, and facilitate communication between pupils to allow pupils to exchange ideas, and/or run joint projects.

Appendix

Appendix 1: Job Advertisement

Wanted: Digital Leaders

Are you passionate about ICT?

Do you think you can share your passion and enthuse others?

Do you meet the requirements listed below to become a Digital Leader?

If so, apply now!

Are you in (insert class /year/ Key Stage here)?

Are you enthusiastic about ICT?

Are you happy to give up some of your free time?

Are you good at explaining new ideas and skills with others?

If you are interested in applying to become a Digital Leader, take a Job Description and Application Form, complete and return to (insert name here) by (insert date here)

Appendix 2: The Job Description

To apply for the position as a digital leader, please read the information below about what the role of Digital Leader will mean.

If you application is successful, these are some of the types of responsibilities that you will have as part of the Digital Leaders Team. These responsibilities will be shared out amongst all of the Digital Leaders.

To update areas of the school website, VLE or school blog site.

Blog on behalf of the school, a class or a club.

Comment on other peoples blog posts.

Test new ICT resources, which could be websites, software or hardware.

Share their skills and expertise with other pupils, classes and teachers.

Set up ICT equipment in classrooms for teachers.

Lead ICT lunchtime clubs.

Support teachers and classes to use ICT in the classroom.

You may also be asked to work with children from other schools on specific projects, as well as to help organise and support other out-of-school-hours activities.

In order that you can perform the above roles, we at (insert the school name here) will ensure that you have the relevant training and support to perform the role.

Are you still interested? We will need permission from your parents/carers to become a Digital Leader. Take a copy of the Job Description, as well as an application form.

Complete the application form, and return it to your teacher by (insert date here)

Interviews will be conducted (insert date here)

For our initial Digital Leaders Team, we will choose (insert the number of positions here) Digital Leaders.

Appendix 3: Digital Leaders Application Form

Digital Leaders Application Form

Please complete the questions below to apply for a position as a Digital Leader.

First Name Surname ClassWhy do you want to become a digital leader?

What is your favourite ICT thing from either home or school?

Give an example of something that you are responsible for either at home or school?

What skills do you have that will make you a good Digital Leader?

You can either submit this document electronically, or alternatively you may print it out and complete it by hand.

Please complete and return this application form by (insert date here)

Appendix 4: Interview Questions

Thinking about ICT both at school and at home, what are your favourite things about ICT and why?

What do you think being a Digital Leader means?

Tell us one thing you have done using ICT, either at home or at school, that you think was really good.

One of the jobs you might be asked to is to update the school website, or blog site. This is a very big responsibility. Can you think of an example of when you had to take responsibility for something?

Can you think of an example of when you worked in a group of people, and the group worked really well together?

You will need to be prepared to give up some of your spare time. Can you tell us about another occasion when you have given up your time to help with a different project?

Why do you think you would make you a good Digital Leader?

How do you think teaching adults will differ from teaching other pupils?

Do you still wish to become a Digital Leader?

Appendix 5: Contract of Employment

Digital Leader Contract of Employment and Code of Practice

The Role of a Digital Leader comes with much responsibility. Before you can start to work as a Digital Leader, you must read and understand the terms set out below.Your teacher will explain these to you. You must take them home and discuss them with your parents, who must also sign below. When you have read and understood them, sign your signature at the bottom of the page if you agree to the terms.

I will keep my Login details and Passwords secret. I will only share them with a teacher if I am asked to.

I will only delete my files, and none of those belonging to anyone else.

I will only access areas to which I am allowed when working as a Digital Leader.

I will use all technology correctly and sensibly, and only when I am permitted to do so.

I will remain polite and sensible in all my duties, both online and offline.

I will only send emails or eMessages with the permission of the teacher. I will never give out any personal information including my home address, phone number or email address or that of anyone else, without the permission of the teacher.

If I see anything, open anything or read a message that I am worried about I will inform a teacher immediately.

I will never arrange to meet someone I have only ever met on the Internet, unless I take a parent, carer, teacher or another trusted adult with me.

I understand that the school may monitor my computer activity, and the websites I visit.

I understand that if I break any of these rules, my privilege of being a Digital Leader may be withdrawn.

I will always follow these rules. If I am unsure about anything, I will ask a teacher or other responsible adult before I continue.

Pupil Name Signature

Parent/Carer Signature

Signed School Date

Appendix 6: Letter to Parents

Dear Parent/Carer

To further develop the ICT skills of our pupils and adults at (insert school name) we have instigated a program of Digital Leaders.

Your child has expressed an interest in becoming a Digital Leader.

As part of a team, a Digital Leader can expect to perform the following roles within school:

Blog on behalf of the School a class or club.

Update areas of the school website, VLE or school blog site.

Test new ICT resources, which could be websites, software or hardware.

Share their skills and expertise with other pupils, classes and teachers.

Lead ICT lunchtime clubs.

Work with children from other schools on specific projects.

We will commence with a group of (insert number here) Digital Leaders from (insert Year/Class/Key Stage here). Training, support and supervision will be given at all times.

As your child has expressed an interest in applying for the position of Digital Leader, please read the job description enclosed. If you child then wishes to apply for a position, please help your child complete the application form enclosed.

The closing date for applications is (insert date here)

We expect there will be a lot of interest in this position, and anticipate that the children will enjoy being a Digital Leader, so do please ensure applications are in by the due date.

We shall interview all applicants, and expect to have chosen the first Digital Leaders by (insert date here).

I’m certain the Digital Leaders programme will be of great benefit to all at (insert school name here)

I look forward to reading your child’s application form!

Appendix 7: Rejection Letter

Dear (insert name here)

Thank you for applying for the position of Digital Leader.

As you know there was a lot of interest in the position, and we received more applications than there were posts available.

The quality of applications was very high, and although we were very pleased with your application and your answers during the interview, I’m afraid that at this time your application was not successful.

We hope that as the Digital Leaders Team continues to develop, we will be in the position to have more positions available and we would welcome your application again.

Yours sincerely

Appendix 8: Acceptance Letter

Dear (insert name here)

Thank you for applying for the position of Digital Leader.

As you know there was a lot of interest in the position, and we received more applications than there were posts available.

The quality of applications was very high, and we were very pleased with your application and your answers during the interview.

I am delighted to be able to offer you the position of Digital Leader.

The first Digital Leader Team meeting will be held (insert time and place). Our first meeting will begin to look at the different roles that you might be able to perform as a Digital Leader.

I am sure that you will make an invaluable contribution to the Digital Leaders Team, and to ICT at our school.

I look forward to seeing you on (insert date/day of first meeting here)

Yours sincerely

Appendix 9: Web Resources

Edmodohttp://www.edmodo.com

Edmodo is a website that helps connect all learners with the people and resources needed to reach their full potential. Edmodo provides teachers and students a secure place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifications.

Inklewriterhttp://www.inklestudios.com/inklewriter

Inklewriter is a free tool designed to allow anyone to write and publish interactive stories. It’s perfect for writers who want to try out interactivity, but also for teachers and students looking to mix computer skills and creative writing.

Bubbl.ushttps://bubbl.us

A Mind-Mapping tool.

Tagxedohttp://www.tagxedo.com

Tagxedo turns words - famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes into a visually stunning word cloud, words individually sized appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurrence within the body of text.

ZooBursthttp://www.zooburst.com

ZooBurst is a digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own 3D pop-up books.

Historypinhttp://www.historypin.com

Historypin is a way for millions of people to come together, from across different generations, cultures and places, to share small glimpses of the past and to build up the huge story of human history.Everyone has history to share: whether its sitting in yellowed albums in the attic, collected in piles of crackly tapes, conserved in the 1000s of archives all over the world or passed down in memories and old stories.Each of these pieces of history finds a home on Historypin, where everyone has the chance to see it, add to it, learn from it, debate it and use it to build up a more complete understanding of the world.

Jam Studiohttp://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/index.htm

JamStudio is a tool that helps to create music.

Psykopainthttp://www.psykopaint.com

Psykopaint is an of online painting application which select the colours from an image and applies it to your brush automatically. It's really fun, easy, and totally unique!

Wallwisherhttp://wallwisher.com

Wallwisher gives you a blank page (a wall). You put anything you want on it, anywhere. Simple, yet powerful!

Live Bindershttp://www.livebinders.com

LiveBinders was created so that you could do with digital information what you do with the piles of papers on your desk - organise them into nice presentable containers - like 3-ring binders on your shelf. With the online binders you can combine all of your cloud documents, website links and upload your desktop documents - to then easily access, share, and update your binders from anywhere.

Incrediboxhttp://www.incredibox.com/en/#/application

Create music with ease, then record, share and download your own Incredibox composition...

Voice Threadhttp://voicethread.com

A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a microphone or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). Share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too.Users can doodle while commenting, use multiple identities, and pick which comments are shown through moderation. VoiceThreads can even be embedded to show and receive comments on other websites and exported to MP3 players or DVDs to play as archival movies.With VoiceThread, group conversations are collected and shared in one place from anywhere in the world. All with no software to install.

Dipityhttp://www.dipity.com

Dipity is a free digital timeline website. Their mission is to organise the web's content by date and time. Users can create, share, embed and collaborate on interactive, visually engaging timelines that integrate video, audio, images, text, links, social media, location and timestamps.

ToonDoohttp://www.toondoo.com

The world’s fastest way to create cartoons!

Picasso Headhttp://www.picassohead.com

Picasso head is a digital tool that allows users to create their own masterpieces using famous features drawn by Picasso.

Partners in Rhymehttp://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free_music_loops.shtml

Free Royalty Free Music Loops and Music Tracksfree to download and use in your commercial projects, podcasts, websites and videos.

Splashuphttp://www.splashup.com

Splashup is a powerful editing tool and photo manager. With the features professionals use and novices want, it's easy to use, works in real-time and allows you to edit many images at once. Splashup runs in all browsers, integrates seamlessly with top photo-sharing sites, and even has its own file format so you can save your work in progress.

Mrs Pancakehttp://mrspancake.com

Free educational EYFS, KS1 and KS2 resources for teachers, parents and children.

Storybirdhttp://storybird.com

Make, read, and share visual stories. A global community of readers, writers, and artists of all ages.

Edcanvashttp://www.edcanvas.com

The one place to organise, present and share knowledge.