resources update issue 49

• Knowledge Box - Numeracy
• VideoStudio 8
• KS3 Geography Interactive Assessment
• Class Skills KS3 Maths: Mystic Realm

• Text Link French Plus
• Read and Write Gold
• Living Worksheets
  
• Card-It

KnowledgeBox™ provides a vast bank of interactive digital resources that are quick and easy to access by children and teachers. It can be used as a teaching tool to address a specific objective with the whole class on the interactive whiteboard, followed up by assigned differentiated activities for the children to work on either individually or in groups on a desktop computer linked to a server.

From the teacher’s point of view, there are ready-made lesson guides linked to the NC as well as the Numeracy and Literacy Strategy objectives. These plans can be modified to suit specific groups of children, or teachers can create their own plans using the bank of resources to focus upon specific areas of
learning.

Text-Link Plus French (11-16 and 16+) software enables access to a database with over 600 websites, providing resources suitable for teaching and learning French at KS3, KS4 and KS5. The packages are well thought out and presented in a way that is easy for teachers and students to work through. The layout enables the user to navigate easily between topics as well as finding and accessing relevant websites.

The way topics are grouped together makes it easier and saves time finding suitable on-line exercises or relevant material. Symbols indicate whether the site has audio/video extracts, downloadable worksheets and whether or not the site is designed specifically for foreign learners. The software is revised every term and is regularly up-dated. The annual subscription gives value for money for a very worthwhile product.

Ulead VideoStudio is an innovative video editing suite, with a user friendly interface enabling students from as young as 14 to use it successfully. Students can download their recordings from a mini digital video camera and be editing with relative ease in minutes. The look of amazement on their faces as they take control of their own image manipulation has to be seen to be believed. Students can complete practical coursework in this medium as the user interface is predictive and has been cleverly thought out to encourage experimentation with new techniques.

VideoStudio is a practical and fast way for students to understand the concept of mediation, by adding their own transitions and cuts to existing footage. Excellent support is available in the form of easy to read manuals.

Read and Write Gold is a comprehensive literacy support package that will operate through any Windows application. It provides an on-screen character to read back text on demand, or as it is written. A specialist toolbar features many supportive functions: word prediction, speaking spell checker, homophone support, dictionary, word wizard, scanning, speech maker, fact folder, fact finder, scientific calculator, pronunciation tutor and web highlighting. It could be used by a wide variety of mainstream students and adults, but it has a special appeal for some SEN groups, especially dyslexics, EFL, the disaffected, low attainers and the visually impaired. It has great versatility of use and is extremely popular with all age groups. I am full of enthusiasm for what it can offer in the way of lively, dynamic and exciting student support.

Heinemann Secondary

Key Stage 3 Geography Interactive Assessment is based on the popular text book Geography Matters. CD-ROM 1 contains six easy to use tests covering the topics in Geography Matters 1. These are all aimed at year 7 students allowing assessment of their National Curriculum levels.

Each test is divided into a mixture of multiple-choice and interactive questions. On completion, a printable report is generated for each student, showing the marks for each question and giving an overall indicative level for the test. It also includes specific targets and suggestions as to how to improve their performance. There are facilities for the teacher to access individual’s test results and the CD-ROM also contains an Excel spreadsheet to convert test results into an aggregated score.

Living Worksheets provides a set of self-marking exercises running on Excel which can be used on an interactive whiteboard, a network or a standalone machine. The self-marking nature of the worksheets means that the students get instant feedback and can thus work at their own pace. The worksheets are also useful for whole-class demonstration using an IWB providing a welcome break from chalk and talk, for both the teacher and the students. This software would be particularly helpful for a non-specialist to use when staff are absent. All areas of the NC from year 7 to year 11 are covered, making it particularly useful for revision lessons leading up to SATs and GCSEs. It would also be helpful to encourage students to use it independently for individual revision.

Imagine you are shipwrecked on a desert island and the only way to escape is to work your way through a number of mathematical challenges.

Focusing on level 6 of the National Curriculum, but accessible to pupils working at levels below this, the CD-ROM is based on the premise that the user is shipwrecked on a desert island. A safe return home can be achieved by completing a series of mathematical activities. The challenging mathematical problems are presented in an interesting and exciting way that builds on children’s enjoyment of playing computer based games. These include a ‘Probability Swamp’, the ‘Dragon’s Volume Pit’ and ‘Spider Polygons.’ It also includes mathematical mazes and SATs style tests. Colourful graphics, animations, sound and narration engage the learner at an appropriate level.

Cardit puts an end to using textboxes, tables or a word processor to produce card activities for your students. It can be used to make games and tasks in all subjects across the age ranges and is useful to match up keywords to definitions in any subject. A quiz or a multiple-choice activity can be set up quickly.

Literacy skills can be further developed as students are more motivated to read, sort and put the cards in order. Spelling games can be made with the ideas in Cardit’s guide and numerical skills can be explored by matching the answers to the questions and using the cards to manipulate numbers and number sequences. The finished cards look professional.

Order the title in the normal way
• Find out who co-ordinates the eLC budget in your school and put in your request
• Titles can be ordered in the normal way, through suppliers, publishers, catalogues etc
• Just remember to tell them that you wish to pay using your eLC’s and if possible quote the title’s COL code. These can be found on our evaluation site.