Free Software shown to Primary Headteachers

Here are the slides and links from last weeks Heads and deputies forum talk. If you have any queries or comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Heads Forum

View more presentations from anthony evans.

During the talk I mentioned the following:

The Redbridge Animation Competition, featuring £250 worth of free software and utilising the brilliant Anithings Software:

Telling your story from Stripey Design on Vimeo.

We then looked at some free software that could be downloaded and used in the classroom in discrete or cross-curricular ICT. These are:

Google Sketchup, a 3D modelling tool, suitable for Key Stage 2. Use this application to design buildings and add them to Google Earth.

 

The Next Application was SCRATCH, this is a free alterantive to Control Technology as pupils have to programme the software to create anything from a simple animation to a car chase game. Nicholas and I have written activities for this and intend to train Subject leaders at our next event in November.

Scratch: overview from andresmh on Vimeo.

Next we looked briefly at two free applications available to any teacher that has joined the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Network. Once a member you can get your hands on:

Auto-collage- a tool that lets you mash a mix of photos together in a sort of Photoshop style collage. This could be great to share a number of ideas on a theme or topic.

Here I am showcasing this tool on my SMART Board

 

And finally, SongSmith, also available on the Innovative Teachers Network. Watch the video below as it will give you the full breakdown on what this great new tool will do:

 

If you have any queries about the content in this blog post or anything you remember me mentioning during the talk, please comment or send me an email.

Comic Life 2

Thanks to Sandra for her post about Comic Life below. I had a go myself tonight and you can see the results below.
I think Comic Life is a a fun application (as all ICT should be), it allows you to combine images and text, as required by the national Curriculum for ICT. The use of comics is also featured in the support document for Literacy Grammar for Writing.

Tizzy's First Tools

Tizzy's First Tools

Publisher: Sherston

Age Group: Foundation and KS1

Cross Curricular Some aspects are better than others Decide (better than 2simple) Not particularly user friendly. No implications for classroom or play space layout. No underlying values reflected.
Voice/speaking ability useful for SEN pupils
Graphics are good.

7 Applications in total, which can be used within any subject, similar to Early Essentials and 2simple toolbox

Flobot

Review: Flobot by Sherston Software

Audience:5 to 7 Years Old

Subjects: ICT, Maths and Basic Skills

Main Learning Objectives:
Watch and learn sequence of activities
Choose appropriate responses to overcome obstacles
Control a simulated robot to go back, forward etc.
Test instructions
Plan a sequence
Comparison:

In comparison with Turtle and Beebot it is not as hands on or stimulating. There is a story to follow and the activities link with the story, which puts the sequencing in context, however it cannot be fitted into cross curricular links.
However, it does record individual progress for each pupil and their success at each a
activity and the teacher can set differentiated levels for pupils.

Integration:
Is a stand alone activity although directional instructions could link in with maths or geography lesson

Collaboration:

Mainly individual or paired activity, depending on number of pupils at the computer.

Classroom implications: would need individual pupils to record using the system on the software. Some pupils would need support with the reading content of the story.
SEN : Can be differentiated by pupil controls.

Strongest Features: Adventure story setting, colourful animation with robotic character which might appeal to pupils, particularly boys.

I would not recommend this software, would rather pupils used a hands on robot to program which integrates with other curriculum areas.

At The Cafe

Application Review
By Daniel & Wendy
20th September 2007

At The Café – Granada Learning
http://www.blogger.com/www.granada–learning.com

http://www.semerc.com/

Content:
· CD
· Guide – Covers installation, planning grids & credits
· Support Material - Large book of copyright-free sheets

1. Objectives
· Extend role-play
o Offer choices from food/drink menu
o Develop scope for conversation in different roles
o Encourage expression of preferences
· Draw-out mathematical language
· Support understanding of money (totalling bills)

2. Comparison with other software
a. Clear and concise
b. Many set-up options for personalisation


3. Integration
a. Numeracy development – Money
b. Printed Receipt to extend exploration

4. Collaboration
a. Making menu choices

5. Implications
a. To be run next to role-play area where actual items can be manipulated

6. Underlying Values
a. Food choices limited to ‘western’ menu options
b. Healthy food options available

7. SEN
a. Support would be required to understand coins

8. Strengths
a. Clarity
b. Sound effects & animations
c. Planning grids enable integration into existing schemes
d. Teacher support material

9. Summary

Simple City

Application:
Title: Simple City
Publisher: 2 Simple
Supplier: 2 Simple

Age Group Suitability: FS and Y1

Main Learning Objectives:
KUW, CLL

Potential for integration with other activities
KUW: Could be used as introduction to a topic or a role play (videos, exploring areas)
or as a follow up activity (questions, simulations)

CLL: Letters can be dragged onto screen. Sounds are pronounced when clicked on screen.

Potential for collaboration / sustained dialogue
Children are encouraged to make decisions. Vocabulary is introduced.

Comments related to SEN:
Very useful for visual and auditory learners.


Can Text be Spoken: YES
Child’s Control over the activity: HIGH
Quality of Sound / Images: GOOD
Can you print out: YES
Adult support required: SHORT INTRO

Leaps and Bounds Review

Application Review – LEAPS & BOUNDS (3-6 years)

Granada Learning
Semerc

Main Learning objective – as back cover: Sensory awareness and response, prediction and coordination skills, lengthen concentration span, develop decision making skills and encourage tracking and left/right orientation.

Easy and fast to load. No need to leave CD in.
Response (to child’s action) fast
Music, sounds, animal sounds (option to turn off)
6 types of activity, including musical keyboard, animal sounds, matching pairs – differentiated 3 levels.


Activities involved simple cause and effect, mouse control, colourful images
Some sounds and images were inappropriate e.g. when wrong monster poked tongue out and blew a raspberry!
Adult support not required

Teddy Bear Tools

Easy to set up
We think it is suitable for Foundation Stage – particularly Nursery. Would need some support or children could get ‘carried away’, especially on the ‘stamping’!
Child can move around areas easily – maybe too easily.
Sound and images were clear and bold.
The writing on Big Ted level was too complex. There was no sound on word bank - only in finished document.

2Simulate evaluation

Title: 2Simulate



Publisher: 2Simple

Supplier: 2Simple Software Ltd

Age Group Suitability

Year 2:
Unit 1 Narrative Stories with familiar settings

Year 3:
Unit 1 Reports
Unit 1 Narrative Stories with familiar settings
Unit 5 Narrative Plays

Year 4:
Narrative, Issues, Dilemmas & plays
Non-fiction Unit 1 Recounts and Reports
Unit 2 Narrative Set in Imaginary Worlds

Year 5:
Unit 3 Persuasion
Unit 2 Recounts

Year 6:
Unit 3 Arguments
Non-fiction Unit 2 Journalistic Writing


Integration with other areas of Curriculum

Literacy
Geography
PSHE


No reference to SEN support materials or differentiation.


Better used for whole class and group work using the interactive whiteboard or the pc.

Good sound and images.

Clicker Phonics

Clicker Phonics



Main learning objectives:

Teaches Phonic awareness

Red Level – discriminating between environmental sounds

Yellow Level – Id patterns in words – Develop awareness of sounds within words

Blue Level – Systematic synthetic phonic word.



Compare to alternatives – Goes above and beyond clicker, Jolly Phonics and Ruth Mishkin

Integration – Literacy, Music, ICT - KUW

Potential for group work / collaboration – High group work possible for all activities. Could be used individually or whole class.

Implications for class use – Need good speaker and microphones. Check works before use with class/groups

SEN issues – Use with Clicker 5 For use with any child with reading difficulties

Strong features – very visual, links to new letters and sound.

Summary - Great ticks a lot of boxes in terms of phonic provison and activities.

Hardware – Needs Clicker 5, Win 98, Mac OSX