ICT Curriculum Evening – an
introduction to Wizkid
What is
?
It’s a Learning Platform

A Learning Platform is a collection of online tools for learning, teaching
and management of learning.

A password protected website.

It contains tools that enable users to communicate and collaborate
effectively.

These originally were set up to supplement distance learning, but are now
becoming a way of enhancing learning in schools, particularly exploiting
home/school links. This is Hampshire’s branding for the Global learning
platform Studywiz
What is
?

Wizkid can be accessed from any computer or
device connected to the internet. (Even on a Wii
or iphone)

Children will have access to a wide-range of
educational content, links and games.

Each child will have their own unique username
and a password.
Benefits of
For pupils:

Personal and secure online space

A fun and safe place to learn

An easy way to access activities based on current
learning

Individual learning tools

Greater responsibility

No lost homework?
Benefits of
For schools:

Sharing content and plans between
colleagues or schools

Greater use of multimedia within activities

Tailored learning to suit the pupils’ needs

Collaboration across schools and
Hampshire

Messaging to pupils and other staff
Secure & Recorded



Meets all industry security standards for a
secure site.
Only pupils and police checked teachers from
the school are allowed on.
All communications are recorded
E-safety
Why is e-safety so important?
 55% of children access the
internet everyday
 47% for an hour or more
 21% liked IM/Chat the most
 15% used gaming sites
 11% used Social Networking
sites
 33% had access in their
bedrooms
CEOP Advice

Know what your children are doing online

Ask them to teach you to use any applications

Keep the computer in a family room - this means you can keep more control of
what they do (i.e. Webcams)
Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal
details to online friends - personal information includes:

–
–
–
their messenger id
email address
mobile number and any pictures of themselves,

If your child receives spam / junk email & texts, remind them never to believe
them. reply to them or use them.

By directing the children to Wizkid they can learn and try out social
networking, blogging, forums etc but all in a safe and controlled
environment where they can only connect with other children and
teachers in school.
Wizkid is great for
encouraging
good cyber citizenship



Part of the connected world but in a safe way.
Allows pupils to understand issues related to
having an online character in a safe way.
Hampshire schools have found that use of social
networking sites by children outside of school
reduced significantly through access to Wizkid.
See the school website for more advice and
children’s links to games teaching e-safety.
Now lets have a look at Wizkid!
What type of things
will schools use it for?
Secure Messaging
Sharing work between
home and school
Discussion Boards
Secure Recorded Chat
Chat safety





Teachers can turn chat ‘on and off’ when they want to – so the
room could only be available during one lesson or for a set
period of time after school.
All chat text is recorded and can be monitored and download by
the teacher.
Children will only be able to communicate with other children in
school – usually only members of their class.
It can mean that children are less likely to use msn and other
internet chat rooms, in Wizkid they are in a much safer and
controlled environment.
It can be used as a useful way to record ideas quickly, work
collaboratively and ask questions during an ICT research
lesson
Keeping a web log (Blog)
Safe web links selected
by their teacher
School democracy - votes
Extending the Curriculum
Sharing work done at home
with a wider audience
Extending Lessons
Online tests
What happens next?


Your child is currently being issued with their unique
username and password and is beginning to log on
in school. Final password cards and letters will be
issued within the next few weeks and all children will
be able to access Wizkid in school and, if they wish
out of school too.
Teacher’s are beginning to develop and create
relevant activities to support your child’s learning –
we are all new to this though so bear with us!
FAQs

We don’t have a computer/internet at home.
Don’t worry, if a task is set on Wizkid a paper alternative will always be offered. If a child does not have
access or easy access to a computer at home we will provide an opportunity in school to complete any
tasks.

What if my child is bullied online?
Any allegation of bullying in school is taken seriously and if this should happen online, Wizkid keeps a log
of every message sent and the account used to send it. Should we need to, teacher’s have the ability to
block access to the messaging aspect of Wizkid. We will also be talking in class about the importance of
speaking appropriately online.

How much time is my child expected to spend
online?
Wizkid is a great way of extending learning and collaborating but it is not the only way; in school we will
continue to use a wide variety of learning activities. At home you may wish to set access times for your
children to use it. We often say in school, no use after 8pm but also that any home rules override this.
Teachers are able to monitior when and how often a child uses Wizkid should there be a concern.

I’m worried about online messaging, who can they
send messages to?
Messaging in Wizkid gives your children the chance to communicate with friends on a project and get the
feel of an email account in a safe way. Every message can be tracked back and children are only able to
send messages to other children in school, currently only those in their year group or house, and CRB
checked adults in school.
Any other questions?
More information in your pack and also
available to download online on the
school website www.fjs.hants.sch.uk