Frog OS

Have been using the Frog OS Sandbox this week checking out the new version that will be coming our way later in the year. The obvious big benefits are it’s ability to work & create content on virtually all devices & I’m looking forward to being able to build a Homework Hunter interface as soon as we get our hands on it.
Students will love the themeing facility, allowing them to skin it with a whole range of designs & I suspect an even higher higher proportion of Staff will like the increased ease of use in the resource design & build tools.
An exciting development whichever way you look at it.
No access to the admin interface as yet but again I’m hoping that will be as nice to use as the Sandbox.
Well played Frog, ahead of the pack again.

Frog OS Skins

Had to put this together fairly sharpish today. The trick, as always, is to try & NOT make it look like a rush job, even if it takes you 1/4 the time it normally would!

Putting the final tweaks to a new WordPress Blog today. Post Easter & Year 9 Option Choices it can be hard for some students to fully focus on subjects that they have not chosen to follow as they move into Y10. Art are tackling the issue head on by developing a blog that will allow all Year 9 students to publish work online and in doing so give them a focus and goal to work work towards. It’s hoped it will not only become a showcase for the work Year 9′s have done up until that point but also be a springboard into Year 10 for those who are going to study GCSE Art. The Department are also hoping that it could help to develop different approaches to Art & the way in which we look at the world.
Expect some content shortly.

I’ve been looking for an excuse to use the Vertigo WordPress Theme for AGES and finally got the chance with a request for a student run blog for A Level Art. Live & Online now.

I’ve been a massive fan of Saul Bass’s phenomenal artwork for years and it only seemed pertinent to use it this week more than any other.

Happy Blogging.

Just putting the finishing touches to a new blog with a forthcoming Summer Holiday Project in mind.
In a ‘colab’ between Geography & Art, the two departments will be running a competition open to Students & Staff to photograph our local area & environment.
Rumors of a cash prize are floating around so it could be an attractive proposition.
I’ve built the site around WordPress and included the excellent PHP FormMail Generator plugin for the submission tool.

Check the site to find out more…

Happy Blogging

Just had to come up with a super quick design for the new student planner before lunch today! Did better than that and built it before break!

Following on from the success of the ‘Can you tell what it is yet?’ pictures we used on the College signage last week I’ve used the simple ‘Text & Pictures’ reveal brick in Frog to created a visual quiz for whiteboard & classroom use. We already publish a weekly text quiz but I thought this might engage visual learners. Awaiting feedback because it might be quite good fun to run an inter-form comp using similar imaging.

Check it out yuorself over @ http://www.bideford.devon.sch.uk/what

We’ve been running a quiz on the College signage this week using images that I captured with a Veho VMS1 200X Discovery USB Cam. The little USB device has a 200X zoom and is a great way of generating puzzling & intriguing images.

GSFS Website Design

First came the brochure now comes the website! I’m enjoying working with a very contemporary flat design theme. Also pretty happy with the centered <Div> layout,  Google web fonts & tablet happy layout.
Nice to work on such a creative project. Just waiting to cram it full of info now.

GSFS Page Layout

Design Draft No 1

Or……..

A. When it’s time to get set for summer

Finished Version

This week I’ve had to come up with a concept & logo for a Summer School that the College will be running during the 6 week break. I wanted to focus on the season (YES I know it should have featured lots rain clouds but I live in eternal hope) and the idea of using the time to explore rather than going ‘back’ to school. So from initial concept through to finished brochure cover here it is. More soon.