Sector Panel

The Sector Panel for Computing & Call Centres met this afternoon in Glasgow. Computing is one of three panels that have been created as part of a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of these groups to provide advice to SQA.

The meeting went well. Chris Morrow of E-Skills UK gave a presentation on recent research and also explained the Sector Skills Agreement. Bob McGonigle gave a presentation on SQA's work with vendors. I commenced the meeting with a short presentation on current developments such as the current review of the HNC/D IT and the planned reviews of National Certificate and HN Multimedia.

You can find out more about the Sector Panel from Caroline.

Motorola MC35 Handheld Mobile Computer

The Motorola MC35 handheld mobile computer will keep your on-the-move workers connected, responsive and productive. This pocketable device puts the combined power of a mobile phone, notebook, camera and bar code scanner at the fingertips of your employees, in a durable device whose product life well exceeds that of the traditional consumer smartphone or PDA. The convergence of voice and data translates into one device for employees to carry and one device for IT to manage — simplifying your mobility architecture and your capital and operational costs. The robust mobile data capabilities include email, instant and text messaging, image capture and casual bar code scanning.

The MC35 offers business-essential durability, as it is built and tested to be able to withstand everyday use in a variety of environments. It's Intel XScale PXA270 (416 MHz) processor allows for desktop-like multimedia performance with lower power requirements. The Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition or the optional Mobile 6.0 operating system enables comprehensive voice and data enterprise functionality, including multimedia support and persistent memory. The audio speakerphone, headset, and push-to-talk functionality are flexible voice communication options that meet the needs of any business environment. It also has a high quality speakerphone, microphone, and transducer that provides outstanding voice quality and performance. The MC35 comes with EDGE GPRS/GSM compatibility for voice and high-speed wireless data. The optional wireless capability of 802.11 b/g allows for cost-effective data connectivity in the office. Bluetooth v1.2 comes standard with the Motorola MC35 and it functions as a wireless modem to allow for printing synchronization and much more. The GPS radio supports a wide range of value-add location-based services and applications.

An optional integrated high-resolution 2 megapixel camera with macro focus and LED flash enables on-the-spot high-quality imaging and enables the capture of documents as well as 1D and 2D bar codes. The MC35 features a 2.8" QVGA color touchscreen display that is easy to view in any lighting. Optional keyboard functionality choices allows multiple data input methods to maximize application functionality and serve user preference. It's user accessible SDIO card and multiple battery options gives ample power for full shifts in nearly any environment.

Click here for more information on the Motorola MC35.

HNC/D Computer Games Development

The draft framework for the HNC/D in Computer Games Development has been completed and the Qualification Development Team (QDT) would value your input on it.

Information on the draft framework can be found here:

http://computing.ed-coll.ac.uk/HNDGames/

After you have browsed the framework, please complete the short survey that can be found here:

http://computing.ed-coll.ac.uk/surveys/index.php?sid=34649&lang=en

Other feedback options can be found on the first website.

All comments are welcome. Thank you for your time.

HN Computer Games QDT

Havis Docking Station for the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

Group Mobile has recently enhanced the Havis Vehicle Mount Solutions we offer by adding the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 docking station! The Havis Docking Station for the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 is compatible with every model of the Windows based 10” tablet, with and without the optional handstrap. The DS-PAN-700 Series Docking Station offers tablet charging, security, and connection to peripherals in medical, enterprise, and in-vehicle workplaces.

To help customers complete their docking and mounting solution, the Docking Station for the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 is compatible with many available mounts, as its mounting base fits the universal VESA 75mm hole pattern.

Visit http://www.groupmobile.com/dept.asp/dept_id=458 to check out the Havis Docking Station for the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1. 

NC Computer Games Development (Level 6) first meeting

The first meeting of the QDT for the new National Certificate in Computer Games Development at SCQF Level 6 was held this morning, in the SQA offices in Glasgow.

Ten people attended, representing colleges, schools and employers. There was a good geographical spread (colleges from Dundee to Kilmarnock were represented) and a good gender mix (unusually for this subject area, more women than men). It was particularly pleasing to see a school representative on the team.

The purpose of this first meeting was to set the scene and provide background information on the development.

NC Computer Games QDT

View more presentations from bobbyelliott.

We discussed how this development fits with existing qualifications, the role of the QDT, and the planned timescales. I hope to have this new award available to centres from August 2012.

It was a good, productive meeting, which, I hope, achieved its goals. There were lots of useful contributions from people. The popularity of computer games with learners was apparent, as was the educational merits of this subject area.

It's not too late to volunteer to serve on the QDT. Contact Hilary for more information. We hope to have the second meeting some time in October.

Once complete, this new award will sit alongside a comprehensive portfolio of qualifications in computer games.

Update letters

I asked the admin team to send out two update letters on Friday: one for non-advanced awards and one for advanced awards. They contain important information about changes to vocational Computing awards.

The non-advanced letter includes information about new National Units, new group awards (such as NPA Digital Passport) and changes to existing awards (such as PC Passport).



The advanced letter includes information new Higher National Units and details about new and revised awards at SCQF Levels 7 and 8.


There's nothing in either letter that readers of this blog will not already know but for those who don't regularly read this blog they contain vital information about changes to qualifications, including important dates.

The letters will be sent to centres on Thursday, as part of SQA's normal (electronic) weekly update (via your SQA Co-ordinator), so look out for them shortly after that.

Oracle Academy seminar

I gave a short presentation [PPT] at an Oracle Academy seminar today, which was held at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

The purpose of the event was to provide information on the Oracle Academy programme. About 60 teachers and lecturers attended either the morning or afternoon events. The highlight was the presentation from a group of pupils from Royal High School who are currently undertaking the Oracle programme.

More information about Oracle Academy from Jane Richardson.

Battery Drain - How to Stop it!

Despite big advancements in technology, battery drain is an ongoing problem. Here are some ways to extend the life of your batteries:

POWER MANAGEMENT

• Use the power management settings on your computer that comes built in.
• Switch off the wireless card if you do not plan to access your network or internet connection
• Disable Bluetooth if you don't use it.
• Shut down or hibernate the laptop if you plan on not using it for awhile.
• Turn off unused ports such as VGA, Ethernet, PMCIA and USB.

DISPLAY

• Reduce the LCD's brightness level when in well-lit areas.
• Turn down the screen resolution.
• If your laptop has an OLED based display, avoid displaying white images. OLED screens consume a lot less power displaying blank. 

THE ENVIRONMENT

• Avoid extreme temperatures. Batteries will die faster at extreme temperatures. Try to charge and use the battery at room temperatures.
• Use a cooling pad when using a notebook computer on your lap. 
• Avoid propping your laptop on a pillow, blanket or other soft surface that can heat up.

What is the worst power mode for battery drain?

• Sleep mode doesn't use too much power and is useful if you want to stop working for a short period of time.
• When your computer is in hibernate mode, it uses zero power. 
• Connected standby can be more of a drain on your battery than "sleep" or "hibernate" as applications are still running and updating. 

Visit www.groupmobile.com to learn more about the rugged computers, batteries, and accessories we offer.

Thank you to our partners at www.roamingtech.com.au for providing this information.

National Qualification Frameworks

SQA runs a series of research seminars when we hear from educational researchers about their latest projects. I attended a seminar this afternoon about National Qualification Frameworks (NQFs).

Scotland's own NQF - the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) - has been on the go since 2001 and countries across the world are introducing similar frameworks.

Stephanie Allais, of the University of Edinburgh, reported on her work for the United Nations comparing NQFs across the world. She looked at 16 case studies, from Scotland to Australia, which introduced its NQF in 1995.

She reported that the impact of NQFs is hard to measure, and their impact has been a mix of success and failure. Part of the problem is that few countries had tried to actually measure their impact in any systematic way so there was little hard evidence for their claimed successes or failures.

All frameworks used a number of levels (most commonly 8 levels), and all used level descriptors to define each level. Some frameworks were defined to a great degree of precision, and this had led to problems of complexity. Many were based on the NVQ framework, which originated in England in the early 1990's (and has subsequently been replaced). Every NQF managed to simplify the "jungle of qualifications" that often existed prior to their introduction. But there was little evidence that any new qualifications that were produced as a result of NQFs were any better than what went before. NQFs often led to highly complex qualification systems (she cited a Mexican qualification that ran to 90 pages).

Stephanie was positive about SCQF, which she considered a success. It was developed in a more consensual, collaborative way than most other NQFs and, as a result, had much wider respect and recognition than most others. Its implementation had also been a lot smoother than most other frameworks. Her only negative observation was that some educationalists didn't think it had had much real impact on the Scottish educational system.

One of her most interesting statements was: "The least ambitious frameworks achieved the most. And the most ambitious achieved the least." A principle that can be applied across education.

E-Qualifications validation event

E-Qualifications validation

Originally uploaded by bobbyelliott.

The validation event for the E-Qualifications suite of awardstook place today. The awards were validated subject to a couple of conditions (and a number of recommendations). The awards are:



* Diploma in E-Learning Production

* Diploma in E-Assessment

* Advanced Diploma in E-Learning.

The development team are delighted with this outcome. The conditions will improve the awards and are simple to address. We're hoping to have the awards fully validated by mid-October and available to centres later this year.

Many thanks to the validation panel (chaired by Andrew Comrie of Lauder College) for their constructive comments and helpful advice. And my personal thanks to the development team (led by John Gordon).

You can find out more about the awards and keep up-to-date with developments by subscribing to the E-Qualifications online community.

Changes to HN Unit Specifications - Computing

We have modified the following units and the new versions are now available on the SQA website:

DH36 34 Computing Graded Unit 1 (Version 02)

• Change to the Grade Boundries

DH2X 34 Providing Support to Users (Version 02)

• Modification to the Guidance Notes to include references to the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) owned by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC)

F0N0 35 Professional Issues in Computing (Version 01 - New Unit)

• This unit will replace the exisiting DM3D 35 Professional Issues in Computing and run in parallel as an `either or' with the existing unit for one year. ITIL has been embedded throughout this unit. This will be added to both HND Computing: Technical Support framework and HND Computing: Software Development.

Please ensure you are running with the most up-to-date version of these units by downloading them from the SQA website.

Many Thanks

Which vehicle mount is right for your laptop?

If you’re a mobile professional and you frequently find yourself on your computer while in the driver’s seat, a Vehicle Laptop Mount, which includes a universal laptop tray, is a good option for holding your laptop inside your vehicle.

If you have not found the right vehicle computer mount solution on our website, please feel free to call our Vehicle Mount Specialist at 1-866-784-4338 or complete our Vehicle Computer Mount Questionnaire. A vehicle mount specialist will contact you as we have many additional solutions available.

Interactive Media

Bobby, Caroline, Jacqueline, Vanessa and I had a team meeting this afternoon. The main topic was developing the HND Interactive Media. Discussions such as when to implement and how many strands were top of the agenda.

We need to establish who is currently delivering the new HNC Interactive Media. Laura Hall will be call round centres next week, sourcing this information.

Please feel free to contact me direct if you are currently delivering this award.

HN Computing credit transfer arrangements updated

The SQA website has recently been updated to include the current version of the credit transfer arrangements.

NPA Mobile Technology

I've mentioned the NPA in Mobile Technology a couple of times in passing, but I thought it was time to give it its own post.

The NQGA team in SQA is leading this work. The qualification is being developed by a consortium of colleges led by Anniesland College. The qualification is designed around the use of mobile technology, such as smartphones and tablets, and also the production of software ("apps") for them. There will be two awards at SCQF Levels 4 and 5. The Level 4 award will contain two units, and the Level 5 three units. These new awards should be available to centres from January 2012.

Of course, all of this is subject to the validation going well. The validation will take place around late October or early November.

I think these new awards will be appealing to schools and colleges. Contact Joe Spencer, of the NQGA team, for more information.

Annual update letters

I've been working on my annual update letters over the last few days. They are now about to be dispatched to centres. Once per year I write two letters, one for non-advanced (NC/NPA) awards and one for advanced (HN/PDA) awards.

The NC/NPA letter (see below) contains information about a number of non-advanced awards, including recently developed NC qualifications. It also includes important information about the forthcoming NC in Computer Games Development at SCQF Level 6.



The HN/PDA letter (see below) contains information about the HN Review plus the latest changes to existing awards.

  

There is nothing in the letters (in fact, a lot less) that regular readers of this blog will not already know, but I am aware that there are teachers and lecturers who don't read blogs or use social media.

I plan to write a third letter about SVQs (to training centres and colleges) in the near future.

Women in computing

Caroline and I met with Ron Dillon and Annamarie Kelly of Stow College yesterday afternoon to discuss ways of encouraging women to take-up Computing/IT courses. We came up with a number of ideas including:

• focussed marketing for women
• a women's prize in IT
• promotion of women-friendly qualifications (such as Social Software, Interactive Media, etc.)
• approaching female organisations (such as the Girl Guides) to encourage young women to take-up technical careers.
  

The forthcoming meeting of the Sector Panel for Computing & IT will also discuss this issue.

I'd be interested in your comments about this problem (and these ideas).

Check out the Group Mobile Closeouts

Occasionally, Group Mobile has overstocks or returns. These computers are discounted so you can find a really great deal...

Currently in stock:
Motion F5 Rugged Tablet PC
Motion J3400 Tablet PC
Motion J3400 Tablet PC
Panasonic Toughbook T8
Panasonic Toughbook U1 UMPC
Xplore iX104C3 PLUS Tablet PC
Xplore iX104C4 Rugged Mobile Tablet PC
Xplore iX104C4 Rugged Mobile Tablet PC

Please feel free to call us at 866-784-4338 if you have any questions concerning the condition of these items. These items are in stock and can ship the same day if needed.

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Playing games in the classroom

Scotland's Colleges has supported the NPAs in Computer Games Development previously, and is now offering a new course for teachers who deliver one of the Computer Games qualifications. You can find out more and book here.

Digital literacy

The term "digital literacy" isn't new but it's one I am hearing more and more with each passing month. As you may know, The Royal Society recommended that digital literacy be recognised as one (of three) strands to the subject of Computing. There has been a number of recent reports about the need to improve the digital literacy skills of UK (and global) citizens. SQA responded to The Royal Society report by creating a cognate group for Digital Literacy.

Digital literacy is really a collection of literacies including, but not limited to, information literacy, network literacy and social media literacy. It has been described as "the essential skills for 21st Century citizenship". I am currently looking at my portfolio of awards, which includes an NPA in Digital Literacy that was created in 2007, to check if it is up-to-date. We're certainly more aware now of the key skills that need to be included in awards that can call themselves "digital literacy qualifications" and the current reviews (such as the review of PC Passport) will ensure that these knowledge and skills are "baked-in".

Contact me directly if you want to know more about digital literacy.

Interactive Media update

I met with Alasdair Smith of Skillset this morning, in one of our occasional meetings to keep each other up-to-date with developments in our respective organisations. It was an interesting meeting during which we covered a number of topics including the new HNC Interactive Media award and the subject of women in new media.

The new HNC Interactive Media was validated in June and is available to centres now. I wanted to discuss the next stage of the process - the development of an HND. Alasdair was supportive of this in principle but felt that there may be a need for two separate awards - one focusing on the technological aspects of the field and one focusing on the creative/design side of things. He also expressed the view that it would take around 18 months to produce a good, design-oriented award. I'll discuss options and timescales with key centres during the next few weeks so that I can produce a development plan for whatever course of action we decide.

We also discussed the gender problem in creative media, which is not as acute as it is in the computing sector, but is still an issue, with under-representation of women in creative industries - and especially socially disadvantaged women. We agreed to convene a meeting of interested parties later this year to see if we can use the HNC Interactive Media qualification to introduce working-class women to this exciting field.

NC Computer Games Development (SCQF 6)

The validation event for the new NC in Computer Games Development (at SCQF Level 6) took place yesterday at Jury's Inn in Glasgow.

It's been a year since our first meeting and yesterday was the culmination of a lot of hard work by the Qualification Development Team. Some time ago, we decided to split the qualification into two: a creative award and a software development award. So, we actually validated two awards yesterday:

1. NC Computer Games: Creative Development (SCQF Level 6)
2. NC Computer Games: Software Development (SCQF Level 6).

The purpose of a validation event is to permit fresh eyes to scrutinise a proposed qualification. The validation panel was led by Fiona Rushton, of James Watt College, and the QDT was led by Frank Duffy of Motherwell College.

The outcome of the validation was that both awards were validated with conditions (technically, this is "not validated until conditions are met"). Although there were several conditions and recommendations, the team were delighted with the outcome.

We will address the conditions between now and December. The new awards will be available to centres from March 2013.

Please contact Hilary if you want more information about these new awards.

Operational guides

I received an e-mail this morning informing me that SQA has recently published new operational guids for colleges and employers and training providers.

Do Rugged Computers Cost More or Less?

On a fairly frequent basis, Group Mobile provides a price quotation to a prospective customer on a ruggedized computer…and when we follow-up the prospect says something like, "Well, the decision was made to buy commercial computers since the ruggedized computers were higher in price. We felt like we could save quite a bit of money and if the plastic computers break, we can just buy new ones and we would still save money over buying ruggedized equipment."

Then invariably, a few weeks or months later, the same person calls back and says something like, "I guess we are ready for those ruggedized computers now. We tried the commercial plastic computers and they were failing every couple of weeks. Our guys were 'down' and without their computers for days at a time. It was costing us a fortune in lost productivity, not to mention the hassle of losing data and having to constantly re-load our software on the repaired computers."

So why does this scenario repeat itself over and over again? We can only blame ourselves…the people who are involved in manufacturing and selling rugged, mobile computers. We have not done a great job of educating people about the necessity of ruggedization when using a computer in a vehicle, in a factory, in a warehouse, in a service bay, or out in the field. Construction companies, utility departments, service, repair, inspection, delivery companies, police departments, etc, think nothing about spending thousands of dollars for the equipment specialized for their job or their business, but balk when it comes to buying specialized computers. They are just not fully aware that commercial grade computers are not designed for vehicle, warehouse or field use.

We all know that there is a difference in price and cost. The price is what you pay up front for an item. The cost is what you spend over the course of the life of the item. Rugged computers are priced higher but cost less. The primary reasons for this are less down time, less lost data, fewer repair costs and increased worker productivity. Obviously, this is only true when said computers are to be used in or on a vehicle, in a dusty dirty environment, in a hot or cold environment, outdoors, or on-site. In every job there is a right and a wrong tool for the job. Commercial portable computers are perfect for indoor, white-collar, taking home at night, or flying on a business trip. Rugged mobile computers are the right tools for those with jobs in demanding environments. Rugged computers actually cost less! Read More...

ASPs - PC Passport (FE Packs)

The first batch of PC Passport ASPs for FE Centres will be uploaded to the SQA Secure website on Friday.

There will be a mix of Beginner and Intermediate packs available. Our publications Team are busy finalising the remaining FE packs - all of which have a high priority.

All ASP materials for School-Based packs are available for download from the secure website through your SQA Centre Co-ordinator.

Aspect report for Computing

I've previously mentioned the Aspect report for Computing. The final version was published this morning. The report can be downloaded here [PDF]. I haven't had time to read this version but I was privvy to a late draft version, which was much more positive than the previous report (2009).

These subject-based Aspect reports are important. They provide an objective measure of teaching, learning and acheivement in a subject context. So, there is a lot to be taken from them. From SQA's perspective, I will go through the report to see what we can do to address the issues that are identified. One springs to mind immediately. The first recommendation is "to establish clearly the place of mathematics in computing programmes" and that is something that SQA can contribute to. I'm sure that we will be able to help in lots of ways.

I think that the sector will be pleased with the report. It makes much better reading than the previous one, and highlights many of the improvements that have taken place since then. Everyone with an interest in computing in Scottish colleges should read this report.

Motorola MC3000 Rugged Handheld Mobile Computer

The Motorola MC3000 handheld mobile computer is small, lightweight and rugged for applications requiring high-quality data capture and high-performance real-time computing. you can customize this device to the specific demands of individual jobs, allowing employees to complete their work faster and with better results. The well-balanced brick form factor is ideal for scan-intensive environments, offering the best in comfort for your workers throughout an entire shift. The MC3000 excels at bar code scanning and wireless mobile computing within retail stores, warehouses, on loading docks, postal routes or any location demanding application performance and ruggedness.

The MC3000 has a light and ergonomic design that reduces user fatigue for higher productivity in scan-intensive applications. It's well-balanced brick form factor makes it comfortable to use in intensive scan environments for prolonged periods. The adjustable rotating scan turret with left, right, and front positions (laser version) allows the user to adjust the scanning positions for maximum comfort and productivity. The Motorola MC3000 has a 320 x 320 resolution color/mono display with backlighting. This is a 30% higher resolution than 1/4 VGA allows for, creating easy viewing in many environments for increased accuracy. The wireless 802.11 a/b/g LAN connectivity provides real-time data exchange. There is also an option for Bluetooth which enables the use of and wireless connection to a range of devices. The MC3000 has a rugged design that can withstand multiple 4' drops to concrete and up to 500 tumbles. It's IP54-rated sealing protects against water and dust for reliable performance in rough environmental conditions. The Intel XScale PXA270 processor and Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 (or Windows Mobile 6.1) operating system delivers high-speed CPU performance through familiar interfaces with wide software application support. The end user has keyboard options of 28, 38, and 48 keys to provide multiple data entry modes for maximum efficiency of the MC3000. It's device management with mobility services platform (MSP) enables real-time monitoring of critical mobile computer and wireless infrastructure parameters.

Click here for more information on the Motorola MC3000.

Qualification Review Team induction day

The Qualification Review Team (QRT) for Computing met today in Jury's Inn in Glasgow. Today was an induction day for the Computing and Social Science QRTs.

I have previously mentioned that QRTs have been created in four subject areas (Business, Computing, Social Science, and Engineering) to explore ways of making HN awards a better fit for articulating with degree courses.

The QRT for Computing has representatives from colleges throughout Scotland (such as City of Glasgow and Orkney colleges), and also representatives of universities (such as Strathclyde University and the Open University).

The main aim of today's induction meeting was to explain the purpose of the project to members and also to get their ideas about how we can improve articulation. We explored four aspects of the current HN awards in Computing:

1. structure
2. content
3. assessment
4. guidance.

It was a very productive meeting. We came up with a lot of ideas. Under structure, it was suggested that we think about how the full 15 credits could be used to facilitate articulation. Under content, there was support for new (optional) units in mathematics and study skills.  Under assessment, it was proposed that we created new integated assessments that combined the assessment for several units, better matching the assessment model used in universities. Under guidance, there was support for new guidance for learners and lecturers about how best to prepare for university.

The next task is for me to shortlist these ideas and come up with a list of enhancements that we can design and implement in the next few months, so that we can pilot these enhancements at the start of session 2013/14.

Contact me if you want more information about this development.

Letters to centres

While I was on holiday, a number of letters were sent to centres. One letter related to PC Passport, one related to National Certificates and National Progression Awards, and one covered Higher National Developments.

The letters were sent to SQA co-ordinators so I hope that they have reached classroom teachers. If not, download them now since they contain important information about each of these qualifications.

Total Cost of Ownership - Rugged Mobile Computers

In the Long Run, Do Rugged Computers Cost Less Than Regular Laptops?

A recent study published by Venture Development Corporation (VDC), an independent market research and strategy-consulting firm stated that “mobile device end users lost an average of 75 minutes of productivity each time the device failed. With the average device failing as many as 20 times per year, that can translate into as much as $4,000 in lost revenues per employee per year”. This study also found that the average annual failure rate for non-rugged notebooks was estimated at approximately 30% while annual failure rates for rugged notebooks were less than one-third the non-rugged rate, or approximately 9%. For more on this study, contact Group Mobile at gm-marketing@groupmobile.com and request that the TCO Study be sent to you.

New Getac Fully Rugged Tablets

Getac E110

New Fully Rugged Tablet! 

Group Mobile is happy to announce two new fully rugged Getac tablets. The first is the Getac E110, which is designed with field and customer service applications in mind. It is powered by an Intel® Atom 1.86GHz processor and 4GB RAM. It has an 64GB solid state drive contained in a fully rugged Magnesium Alloy case. It meets military standards for durability and protection against dirt, dust, water, motion, vibration, temperature and other factors that would quickly damage or disable a commercial-grade tablet computer. The Getac E110 tablet features a 10.1" sunlight-readable HD touch screen display with Quadraclear™ technology for great viewability in any lighting condition. The HD screen uses multi-touch technology which recognizes multiple, simultaneous touch points even while wearing heavy duty gloves. Read More about the Getac E110...
 

Getac Z710 
New Fully Rugged Android Tablet! 
Next is the Getac Z710 Android-based, fully rugged tablet. The Z710 is designed to easily build custom apps or download many of the already developed apps that can help you get your job done quickly. It is powered by a Texas Instruments® Dual Core 1Ghz processor and has a 16GB solid state drive. The Getac Z710 also meets military standards for durability, which means it will sustain drops from 6 feet, and is protected against dirt, dust, water, motion, vibration, and extreme temperatures. The Getac Z710 has a variety of built-in communications options including: WiFi, 3G mobile broadband, Bluetooth and GPS. The Getac Z710 comes with a 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Read More about the Getac Z710...

Motorola MC909X-K Rugged Handheld Mobile Computer

Designed for inside and outside work, the rugged MC909X-K offers advanced data capture options and integrated wireless, delivering true voice and data connectivity for salespeople, field repair personnel, and workers on the manufacturing, warehouse or retail floor. This versatile rugged handheld mobile computer scans 1D and 2D bar codes and images, while converging voice and multimedia running on nearly any application worldwide. This single cost-effective device offers rugged construction for harsh environments, combined with support for centralized remote management, to deliver the superior reliability and performance you need to put outstanding voice capabilities in the hands of your mobile workers.

The MC909X-K has an Intel XScale PXA270 624MHz processor that supports simple to complex multimedia applications. Enhanced memory architecture, 64MB expandable to 128MB, enables persistent storage. The operating systems Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium (non-WAN) or Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition (WAN) are offered with the Motorola MC909X-K and provide an intuitive user interface. The 1D and 2D bar code scanning allow for image capture and have intuitive laser aiming for automated real-time data capture. The integrated quad band EDGE/GPRS/GSM or iDEN radio WWAN options support converged applications world-wide through a single platform. The Bluetooth v1.2 radio allows for wireless synchronization, printing, and connection to a headset. The Motorola MX909X-K has an exceptionally rugged construction that is IP64 compliant and designed to withstand 6' drops to concrete across the operating temperature.

Click here for more information on the Motorola MC909X-K.

Leckie & Leckie - PC Passport Publications (New)

At the Scottish Learning Festival event taking place at the SECC both today and tomorrow, Leckie and Leckie will be officially launching their new PC Passport publication for Beginner Level (ISBN: 9781843725916).

PC Passport - Intermediate Level (ISBN: 9781843725923) is due to be published mid October.

To place an order, please click on the URL below:

http://www.leckieandleckie.co.uk/products/buy_online.asp

Scottish Learning Festival

I attended the Scottish Learning Festival on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. It's always interesting to catch up with the wider educational issues but we also used the event to promote some of our qualifications.

Wednesday's keynote by Mike Russell, the Education Secretary, was particularly interesting. His talk focussed on the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). He spoke about "the unparalled opportunity to change the qualification system" and how there was "too much emphasis on tests and exams". He emphasised the need to change teaching and learning, and "think differently".

At lunchtime on Wednesday we launched the NPAs in Computer Games Development. There was a good turn-out at the seminar, where we explained what's in the new awards and their key features. There has been a huge amount of interest in these qualifications.

In the afternoon, in the discussion zone, Kate Farrell explained how her school had implemented the National Certificate in Digital Media Computing. Kate explained how her school timetabled the course and the resources she used.

On Thursday morning I attended a spotlight event on assessment within CfE, led by Frank Crawford, the Chief HMIE. Frank explained the need to change assessment and the importance of getting away from rote learning and learning exam techniques. SQA's John Allan also contributed (from the floor) and pointed out that the new unit specifications that SQA will produce as part of CfE will be "more open" with "more freedom for teachers". He emphasised the need for integrative assessment that assessed more holistically.

In the afternoon, we also had a slot on the main floor to promote the NPA in Computer Games Development when people could drop-by, take a seat and find out more about the awards.

CfE has implications for everyone in education, not just school teachers and pupils. It was pleasing to see that the new NPAs in Computer Games appear to be compatible with many of the principles and practices proposed.

TESS article on SQA and vendors

Today's edition of the Times Education Supplement (Scotland) includes an item on SQA's links with Oracle - specifically the Oracle Academy programme. There's a full page article in the newspaper and a small excerpt here. More details from Jane Richardson of Oracle.

21Publish

Many schools and colleges are experimenting with blogs. But some teachers are a little concerned about their students using commercial blog sites (such as Blogger) since they have no control over what they do with their blogs.



A new service can resolve this problem by giving teachers control over blogs. 21Publish allows teachers to become a blog portal. You control who can create a blog, what the blog can do, what's in the blog - even what the blog looks like. It's currently in beta and provides a free service until April 2005. But even then, the paid service will only cost $9 per month (for up to 50 blogs).



It seems a good way to provide a controlled service to students or fellow teachers.

Motorola MC70 Rugged Handheld Mobile Computer

Put the power of a cell phone, PDA, computer, scanner and imager in the hands of your mobile workers with the first rugged enterprise digital assistant. Designed to withstand all-day everyday use in nearly any environment, this rugged Motorola MC70 handheld mobile computer delivers true anywhere, anytime wireless WAN/LAN/PAN voice and data communications, including superior voice functionality, data capture and the power to run nearly any application. This device provides everything your mobile task workers need to achieve a new level of enterprise productivity — whether they are in the warehouse, on the delivery route, on the retail floor taking inventory, or in a hospital.

The 3.5" color touchscreen display with LED backlighting makes for easy viewing in any lighting. The Intel XScale PXA270 624MHz processor it has offers desktop-like multimedia performance, but with a lower power requirements. End users can automate and error proof data collections, allowing for increased productivity, with use of the MC70's 1D and 2D bar code scanners which can scan from near contact to 55in. Users have the option of a 26-Key Numeric or 44-Key QWERTY keyboard. The Motorola MC70 offers support for standard and extended cards for expandable functionality. For the operating system the end user has a choice of Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium or Phone Edition. The MC70 is lightweight, yet rugged and built for year-round use in nearly any environment. The Motorola MC70 stood up to industry-leading double impact teting (drop and tumble) earning itself an IP54 rating.

Click here for more information on the Motorola MC70.

Three Limited-Time, Special Offers on Trimble Computers from Group Mobile!

The Nomad, Juno T41, and Yuma 2  help users collect accurate field data and work more productively in outdoor or service-related applications. Check out the special offers Group Mobile is offering on these great rugged products!

Trimble Juno T41

Free Vehicle Changing Kit!

The versatile, fully rugged Trimble Juno T41 handheld is available in a variety of configurations, allowing you to build the handheld computer you need: Android or Microsoft Windows operating systems, Barcode Imager, Smartphone, or GPS collector (or both). Whatever the ideal combination of features and functionality, the Juno T41 is dependable and built to last for years in any environment. To learn more, configure, and order a Juno T41, visit http://www.groupmobile.com/buy.asp/sku=6156,

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Trimble Yuma 2

Free Carrying Case!
The Trimble® Yuma® 2 is designed for ease of use and high performance mobility with everything users expect from a tablet computer - along with the confidence it will perform flawlessly, no matter where the workplace may be. The Yuma 2 offers the best sunlight readable display on the market and is available with a 1-2 meter real-time Enhanced GPS. It is built rugged from the inside out, with IP65 protection from dust and water, and with military-grade MIL-STD-810G certification for temperature, altitude, humidity extremes, vibration and shock. To learn more, configure, and order a Yuma 2, visit http://www.groupmobile.com/buy.asp/sku=6261, or call 866-RUGGED8.

Simply mention this blog post or enter promo code carry when you place an order on our website for a Yuma 2 and you will receive a FREE Carrying Case!

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Nomad 900L

Save $500 off SRP!* 

In stock and ready to ship!

The Trimble Nomad 900L packs functionality into one of the most powerful and full-featured rugged handhelds available. The Nomad 900L features an ultra-fast 806 MHz processor; 128MB RAM; 1GB of Flash storage; GPS, Wi-Fi, and CompactFlash (Type II) Slot; long-life, hot-swappable battery that can work all day without being recharged; and built-in Bluetooth® to establish cable-free connections to other Bluetooth devices that are within 10 meters. The Trimble Nomad 900L has a high-resolution, sunlight-visible VGA touchscreen display that presents graphics and maps in vivid detail. It also comes with a Secure Digital (SD/SDHC) slot.NOTE: This model features a PDA keypad.

To learn more and order a Nomad 900L, visit                   http://www.groupmobile.com/product.asp/sku=6517, or call 866-RUGGED8.

*Offer good while supplies last

Scottish Learning Festival 2011

The team attended this year's SLF, at the SECC in Glasgow, at various times during the two day event. It was the 11th Festival.

I managed to catch a couple of keynotes and some workshops. The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Mike Russell, gave an interesting talk on the future of Scottish education. He placed particular emphasis on the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), describing it as "the most important education reform for a generation", which was taking place "at one of the most exciting times for Scottish education". He reminded the audience that CfE began in 2002, with the "national debate", which was instigated by the Scottish government of the time. He asked everyone to get involved in the current consultation on the new qualifications coming as a result of CfE.

His wide-ranging talk included CfE, Glow, and the recent report on post-16 education, Putting Learners at the Centre, which proposes a guaranteed learning or training place for every young person between 16-19.

One of the workshops I attended was the NC/NPA workshop presented by Elda Fleck of SQA. Elda and her team gave a presentation on the range of National Certificates (NCs) and National Progression Awards (NPAs) now available to centres. She pointed out that there are 87 NCs and 197 NPAs either available or currently in development (40). The full list is available on the NQGA website. A college lecturer provided a case study on the development and implementation of the NPA in Geographical Information Systems at SCQF Level 6, which was validated in June 2011. The team emphasised their potential to broaden the curriculum in schools and colleges, engage learners, and raise attainment.



There are lots of Computing/IT NCs and NPAs, with more on the way, ranging from PC Passport to Computer Games. Contact Hilary for more information.

Digital evidence

SQA's vision is to "digitally transform" over the coming years, and we are currently looking for examples of good practice within centres. We're specifically looking for examples of where you have used digital approaches to the generation of evidence. For example, you may have used a blog to record learner activity and used that as evidence for a unit. We'd like to know the name of the qualification, the nature of the assessment, and how you (digitally) went about it. Please contact me if you have any examples.

SETT 2005

This year's SETT conference was held yesterday and today at the SECC in Glasgow. The event was called The Scottish Learning Festival 2005. The conference had its own blog.

I didn't manage to attend yesterday but went along today. The event was very busy. There were lots of visitors and exhibitors. SQA was promoting our full range of awards but particularly e-assessment, e-learning and PC Passport.

The photos (from top down) show: Angela explaining the features of PC Passport to a couple of interested teachers, Tony showing his relief that Celtic beat Falkirk last night, and Brendan giving a demo of the Understanding Standards website.

Sector Panel

The Sector Panel for Computing met today. The Panel meets once per year and its purpose is to provide guidance about external developments. The members include representatives of schools, colleges, universities, training providers, employers, national organisations and professional bodies.

There was a good attendance today and a busy agenda, which included a discussion about the recently published report entited "Education Working for All" and soon to be published Aspect report on Computing. We were particularly fortunate to have HMIE Sheila Page attend the meeting to give members a preview of the forthcoming Aspect report (which will be published this Friday).

The Panel is not a talk-shop. We agreed on a number of actions today that we will take forward over the coming months. One of these actions will be to explore subject areas that are not well covered by the current portfolio of awards, such as software testing and data security.

We would like to increase the school and employers representation on the Panel so please contact Caroline if you are interested in participating.

Motorola MC75 Mobile Computer

The Motorola MC75 Worldwide Enterprise Digital Assistant combines an unparalleled number of business capabilities into an easy-to-carry rugged device. 3.5G HSDPA and 3G CDMA-EVDO (Rev A) support provides high performance voice and data services around the globe. You will enjoy having all the features you need right at your fingertips in one device that is designed to endure all-day, everyday use outside the enterprise. The MC75 offers an array of features that set the bar for rugged design of the EDA-class devices. It has a rugged rating of IP54. Motorola's drop test is performed over the entire operating temperature range, ensuring dependable operation whether drops occur at room temperature or in exteme cold or heat.

The MC75 features a 3.5" (640 x 480) Transflective Color full VGA Touchscreen display that has LED backlighting. Choose from a number of options for the keyboard: 26-Key numeric, 44-Key QWERTY, 44-Key AZERTY, or 44-KEY QWERTZ. It comes with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional operating system and has 128MB memory with 256MB of storage available. The MC75 has a wireless configuration of GPS, WWAN GSM/GPRS, WPAN, and Bluetooth and also features a 1D scanner. Integrated optional upgrades include: WLAN 802.11 a/b/g, a 2D Pico Imager, and Sprint EVDO Rev A.

Click here for more information on the Motorola MC75.

Bundle the Trimble Juno T41 handheld for Savings!

Juno T41 Bundle Offer
More savings and more productivity when you bundle accessories!**

Group Mobile is excited to announce special bundle pricing on select models of the rugged Trimble Juno T41! For a limited time, when you purchase a quantity of five (5) Juno T41 Data Collector ("C" model), 1D/2D Imager ("CS" model), or 3G Voice and Data models ("X" and "XS" models), Group Mobile is offering additional savings and a free accessory. We will take an additional $125 off on the "C" model and $75 off on the "X",  "CS", and "XS" models, plus we will throw in your choice of a FREE External Battery Pack (a $275 value) or a FREE Office Dock (a $295 value) with each Juno T41! Learn more about the Juno T41 handheld computer... Juno T41 Office Docking Station The Office Docking Station provides an easy way to ensure the Juno T41 is automatically recharged and ready for each work day.    Featuring a fast and highly secure physical Ethernet connection, the Office Docking Station allows mobile workers to quickly synchronize field data with central office data servers. This capability is particularly useful in industries such as utilities, agriculture, materials handling, and field service where large data sets are common. In addition to an Ethernet mode, the Docking Station supports a USB client mode and DC power input.    The Juno T41 Office Docking Station also recharges a Juno T41 Extended Battery Pack connected to the unit or on its own. Learn more about the Juno T41 Office Docking Station...  External Battery Pack "Juice Pack" The Juice Pack external battery is rugged and provides nearly double the run-time between charge cycles. It is a dual-mode Juice Pack. This means the user can have it in the mode that allows the use of battery life of the Juice Pack, or put it in the mode as a mobile charger for the Juno, so it can charge the internal battery. When the Juice Pack is depleted, users can remove it from the Juno T41 and recharge it while continuing to use the Juno T41. Most users will find the Juice Pack is fully recharged and ready to use before the internal battery is fully discharged. The Juice Pack has the same custom ports, so it will not interfere with the use of USB host/client or 9-pin serial data connections. The Juice Pack can recharge from the same International AC Charging Kit, Office Docking Station, or Vehicle Charging Kit used for the Juno T41 handheld. Learn more about the Juno T41 Juice Pack... Order Juno T41 Bundles Now!  To take advantage of these limited-time bundled savings,  call 866-RUGGED8 or email product-sales@groupmobile.com!  **Offer good through October 1, 2014.  Must purchase a quantity of 5 units to take advantage of bundle discounts. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offers.

The Juno T41 Model Series
Rugged handheld computer designed for professionals in the field! 

The Juno T41 rugged handheld computer offers a model for almost any workflow, in any kind of working condition. With options for best-in-class 1D/2D barcode imager or Trimble UHF RFID technology; 3G voice and data; and Enhanced GPS (1-2 meter reliable real-time acquisition) for quick satellite connection and work in heavy canopy situations,  the Juno T41 is the right handheld for professionals who need a true productivity enhancer in the field!  

Key features in every Juno T41 model:

• Fully rugged design with IP65 or IP68; MIL-ST-810G/F
• Choice of operating systems: Windows Embedded Handheld (WEHH) 6.5 or Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean"
• Processor: 800MHz or 1GHz Texas Instruments DM3730
• RAM: 512MB
• Flash storage: 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB 
• Multi-touch user interface with capacitive stylus compatibility
• 8MP camera with dual LED flash and geo-tagging/audio/video
• 2-4 meter integrated GPS receiver
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi b/g/n
• WVGA sunlight-readable Corning® Gorilla® Glass display
• Accelerometer and electronic compass
• Full-day battery life

REMINDER: The Juno T41 is SOTI® certified for mobile device management. Many large enterprises require and MDM certification and SOTI is the highest standard. 

To learn more, configure, and order a Juno T41, visit

www.groupmobile.com/product.asp/sku=6156, or call 866-RUGGED8

Exclusive Offers from Group Mobile!

Save $50 when you purchase a 24-Month Extended Warranty for the

Juno T41!*** 

Mention this blog or enter promo codeJuno24 when you place an order for a Juno T41 24-Month Extended Warranty with Group Mobile.  

***Offer good through October 1, 2014.

 Discount will be taken when order is processed

Save $500 on the Trimble Nomad 900L!

The rugged Trimble Nomad 900L packs functionality into one of the most powerful and full-featured rugged handheld computers available. This handheld is in stock and ready to ship! Learn more about the Trimble Nomad 900L...

Nomad 900L offer good while supplies last. 

Rugged Handheld Trade-in Program

Save up to an additional $250 on a Juno T41!

Group Mobile's Trimble Mobile Solutions trade-in program provides an exceptional value for customers wanting to upgrade from older equipment to the most up-to-date Trimble solutions. Now through Oct. 1, 2014, customers can trade-in old and outdated rugged handheld computers and receive up to an additional $250 off a new Trimble Juno T41. Call Group Mobile at 1-866-784-4338 or email product-sales@GroupMobile.com

for details.

*Approved trade-in products include fully rugged and semi-rugged (IP5X and IP6X) competitive brand handhelds.
Promotion cannot be combined with any other offers.