• RM Starting Graph 2
• Fizzy's First Numbers
• Create! Product Design Student CD-ROM

• Check Your Head
• Applied ICT for GCSE
• Business Studies Resources/ GCSE

Starting Graph is aimed at developing initial numeracy and data handling skills with tables and graphs. A variety of graphs are available: pictograms, bar, line or pie charts. The program could be easily incorporated into maths and science lessons.

Starting Graph has two levels to enable differentiation with the option of using a prepared table to enter prepared data and an edit mode to enter their own data and create their own graph.

The program is easy to install and use. It has a bright, colourful easy to read format - with clear attractive graphics that encourages the children to engage with the program, particularly when it is used with an Interactive Whiteboard.

This program is designed to raise the understanding of pupils about what is meant by Mental Health. There are six different areas of the program, which cover jargon, information and advice, interpreting stress signs, dealing with stress, and a leader section which is designed to be used with whiteboards and video projectors. It also features multi-outcome, interactive video dramas, which depict every-day situations.

This would be useful as a introductory whole class tool, or for plenaries. It teaches techniques and provides some valuable strategies for coping with the daily stresses and strains of modern living, such as exams, bullying and helping friends in need. By providing an insight into common problems the students learn to cope with their own and help others with their problems. It is on the whole a lively and interesting program.

This is an early years maths program that concentrates purely on the numbers 1-9. There are nine activities, each with a specific focus. They include number rhyme, one to one correspondence, counting sets, recognising numerals, number sequences, conservation of number, counting out a number of objects from a larger set, and matching a set of objects to a numeral.

Included on the CD is a selection of printable resources which can be used to reinforce concepts, and for independent activities. The main interface can be customised to view the menu as pictures or numbers, thus giving the choice to work with a specific activity or a specific number across a range of activities. The booklet accompanying the CD gives a concise explanation of each activity with educational objectives and resources.

Students can interact with this course on an individual basis (eg via an intranet) or as part of a lesson.

Students find the program easy to use and are able to access and explore the pages with reasonable ease. The product is very interactive and the students can learn and progress at reasonable speed and where necessary there are help files to give support. The teacher’s guide contains schemes of work that link to the relevant units. Exemplar material helps students identify what it is they are aiming for.
Timelines against the activities assist with time-management. And the activities build on each other logically allowing clear progression. The learning aims/objectives are well defined and follow the criteria for OCR’s Applied ICT.

CREATE! Product Design Technology shows examples of real-life Design and Technology in action through video clips clip or an animated illustration with associated activities and interactive games. Examples include the production of fish fingers, production lines utilizing manual and robotic techniques and the CNC manufacture of a logo. Activities focus clearly on the development of ICT skills and are related to the information and tasks presented within the textbook.

Many useful Word and Excel templates are provided as a basis for tasks such as questionnaire development and analysis and students are encouraged to use Internet links for research work. There is also a number of CAD tasks which have links to pre-prepared files on the Heinemann website.

This site includes examples of GCSE schemes of work, coursework guidelines, examples of GCSE coursework for two main examination boards AQA and Edexcel, examples of field trips, simulations, industrial debates and materials for less able pupils. It also provides examples of materials and strategies to promote literacy in Business Studies at KS4.

The resources are detailed, well presented and clearly illustrated. There is a wide range of activities from which the teacher or student can pick and choose. The schemes of work will clearly save a lot of preparation time and can be adapted to suit individual needs.

The activities are well structured, clear and easy to understand, progressive and suitable for students of all abilities.