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Pupils at Alfriston School in Buckinghamshire participated in an Introduction to Animation workshop on Wednesday 14th June 2006.

The pupils used Apple Macintosh computers and a variety of software to create the animations below. iStopMotion software allowed the pupils to make the animation.

The group were given a theme 'disappear' which provided a constraint for their ideas. Pupils had only 90 minutes to plan and make a short animation, in which many recorded a soundtrack using GarageBand. The soundtracks were added to the animation using iMovie software.

The Animations

The Making of ...

With thanks to Mrs Horrocks, ICT Co-ordinator who supported this activity.

On Monday 12th June, the Royal Television Society Judges' Award for Educational Television was awarded to our Chair of Trustees, Professor Stephen Heppell.

We are delighted that Stephen and his work with young people has been recognised in this way, not because of his continued support given to Stepping Stones and the National Hemiplegia Organisation, but also the sheer numbers of projects that, under his direction, has changed the lives of thousands of young people. Stephen's commitment to improving and developing the approaches to learning is staggering and this award reflects his passionate desire to making a better future for young people. Congratulations Stephen.

Read more about Stephen's award below...

“The recipient of this year’s RTS Judges’ Award is a lifelong champion of young learners. He has done more to cultivate a hands-on approach to media literacy than almost any individual in the UK. He is a passionate advocate of the entitlement of the young to use interactive media to learn.

In a career that spans academic research, teaching, policy development, public and private sector collaboration, development of educational applications, politics, radical thinking and leftfield innovation, it is hardly surprising that the recipient of this evening’s award is often referred to as the “funkiest on-line guru on the scene”. His guru status is not restricted to the UK – he also has an international profile.

Formerly, Director of Ultralab across a twenty-two year period, our winner and his team built the lab into one of the most respected research centres in e-learning in the world. Initiatives such as Think.com and the Learnometer project were accompanied by the wonderful Notschool.net which offers one of the most innovative approaches to learning inclusion currently available in the world. In the sphere of Higher Education, Stephen and the team developed the extraordinary “Ultraversity” project, a radical statement about real entitlement if ever there was one.

When he isn’t travelling to points east, west, north and south, he somehow finds the time to serve on a variety of committees including a governorship of Teachers TV, The QCA Advisory Group for creativity, as Chair of the RTS Multimedia jury and on BAFTA’s Film Committee Our winner also advises both Channel 4 and BBC on issues such as user generated content and IT policy and continues to advise the government on a range of ICT issues.

His deep commitment to shaping the liberating potential inherent in e learning has motivated our winner to make a seminal contribution to UK education.

Not only is our winner widely respected across the entire spectrum of the education community, he is also hugely well liked and loved.”

Read more about Professor Stephen Heppell.

Pupils at Stepping Stones school travelled to the Apple Store in London's Regent Street. The pupils participated in only the 2nd Apple School Night event held in the UK.

The School Night event provides school pupils with an opportunity to present to a mixed audience, consisting mainly of customers, though some friends and families of the pupils were also present. Many customers stopped to watch the pupils presenting in the instore theatre space.

The main purpose of the evening, was to give our pupils opportunities to present their digital creativity work. Our pupils presented a range of applications and media, including, iMovie video projects, Flash Animations, Comic Life stories, SketchUp design projects.

Here are some photographs of our exceptionally talented pupils, on stage, microphone in hand, talking confidently about their work.

The group assemble on stage, quite nervous, but eager to talk about their work.

Amy is first to present. She presents her Sailability video.

Dominic steps up and shows some of his SketchUp 'Future School' designs.

Dan talks about how he developed his Flash Animations.

Jessica closes by presenting some Comic Life stories.

This was a fantastic experience for the pupils, and all were invited to return to the store, with their Macs to present future work in the instore theatre space. How cool!

Wishing Dom a very happy 15th birthday...

Stepping Stones Mother and Toddler Group have joined the Big Toddle to support Barnado's and their local community. In 2006 the charity is hoping to raise over £1million from the event, to help disadvantaged children under 5 - helping to give every child the chance to play.

On Thursday 22 June over 10 tiny tods will toddle around half-mile course with their friends, parents and carers. The fun starts at 11:00 and it will take place at Alice Holt. The event will finished with a picnic for all those involved.

If you want further information or would like to sponsor our toddlers please contact Maria Mateo on 07896 226 296 or at maria@mateoservices.com

For further details of Barnado's Big Toddle, please visit www.bigtoddle.co.uk.

Why don't you take a look at Jess Amy Dan and Dom's "Day in the life of a..." films. We have been working on these films for two weeks now. We all would like you to watch the films in your spare time. Also, we would like you to give your comments on the films that we made.

The films were made by Jess, Amy, Dan and Dom

A Day In The Life of A Football
A Day In The Life of A Book
A Day In The Life of A Pen
A Day In The Life of A Pencil Case

We all hope you can look at the films soon.

Jessica