resources update issue 20

• 2Review
• Online Success KS1 Maths
• Just like every other... class!
  

• Smart Images Science
• You, Your Body & Sex
• Talking First Word

2Review
2Simple Software

Smart images: Science
Granada Learning Ltd

2Review offers a selection of templates or writing frames that can be used to review books, programs, music, outings, art, play and food. The interface is bright, colourful and intuitive with simple icons, but it also has several powerful hidden teacher options which include access different fonts, control the print button, add word banks, select templates and access teacher assessment.

When writing reviews there are four modes from which to choose: at its simplest level a picture can be drawn and a title or name added. The more advanced levels allow access to word banks and enable pictures to be imported as well as drawn.

This is a simple but powerful piece of software which will encourage children to extend their review writing and would be an excellent way of spending eLearning Credits.

Smart images: Science is a high quality image library of over 10,000 scientific images.

The images are easy to drag and drop into an appropriate word or text document. The application can be displayed on top of other software that is running. The teacher resources consist of lesson notes along with a wide variety of worksheets ready for pupils to use. As such it is a great time saver.

This product has been used for pupils to produce presentations on disease in key stage 4. They found pictures on diseases such as HIV, gonorrhoea and vaccine production. Installation is very straightforward for both server and stand alone machines, with a choice of full installation or running from the second disc. As a standalone product it offers a secure use of images throughout the department.

Online Success Maths KS1
Letts Educational

You, Your Body and Sex
Life Support Productions

Online Success Maths KS1 is aimed at Year 2 pupils preparing for their Maths SATs either at school or at home.

Initially there is a short ‘test’, which asks children to read questions then reveal answers. A tutorial follows, aimed at revising key concepts. Simple animations help to illustrate each concept, with a ‘top tip’ character offering additional guidance. The tutorials cover mainly level 2 and some level 3 objectives.

At the end of a section there is a further test in which children have to enter their own answers. Their raw score is displayed and can be printed but there is no indication of which questions were correct. Parents may find this site helpful if they are unsure what their child is expected to know for SATs.

You, Your Body and Sex focuses on the sometimes difficult subject of sex education and is aimed specifically at pupils with learning difficulties - there is a great emphasis on the need for consent and the importance of informing carers -but may be useful in PSHE for Year 7 and 8.

The software introduces two animated characters “Kylie” and “Jason” who speak directly to the pupils and discuss the importance of good sex education and how to cope with growth and development. The graphics are clear and explicit and the characters interaction with the pupils provides a direct and comfortable approach to a sensitive subject area. The topics covered include growing up, periods, masturbation, keeping clean, relationships, love and affection, loneliness, consent and meeting someone, safer sex, condoms, saying no and sex and peoples attitudes.

Just like every other... class!
Granada Learning Ltd

Talking First Word
RM

This software opens up opportunities for students to explore, alone or together with peers and teachers, a range of personal and social issues. It is particularly aimed at students who have behavioural problems. It tells the story of Megan, a schoolgirl who is always in trouble because of her disruptive behaviour. She comes to realise that this is spoiling her relationships and her learning, and by working through the various options the children can discover solutions. Students can retell the story in their own words using pictures and word lists. Another option is to answer questions about the story, encouraging the user to consider emotions, behaviour and outcomes.

Thirdly, there are two word games aiding their understanding of the story at a deeper level, developing empathy with the characters and increasing their comprehension of themselves and others.

Talking First Word is, as it suggests, a talking word processor program. It includes a good collection of curriculum-relevant words and pictures that can be easily accessed by pupils. This feature is also useful to extend their vocabulary, through the picture prompts which accompany new words and they can use them to illustrate their written work too.

A speech tool means children can hear their written words spoken aloud by the computer. This aids inclusion of special education needs pupils as hearing what they have written gives them a feeling of achievement as well as helping them correct mistakes more easily.

Four levels of complexity allow the teacher to decide which aspects of the program they wish to introduce to their class as you can add or delete functions from the tool bar.

Make sure any new software will run on your current hardware - some software may require particular hardware and vice versa

• Carry out an audit of your existing hardware and find out current plans for purchasing.
• Consult the school ICT policy.
• Identify any further hardware or software requirements in the light of the above and ensure that these correlate.
• Don’t forget, if it is an on-line product, to check you have enough band width