MK Teachers’ ICT Software Blog

Incredibly useful! Ideal for infant schools as it combines everything you need for children to practise their skills from a basic graphics package to data handling to a publishing package etc. etc. on a variety of levels, so it can be used to differentiate or used for different age ranges across the school. I have found it to be very good value for money.

A database program which is easy for teachers and pupils to use! It is very attractive to the younger age range who can create their own databases with imported or personally drawn images incorporated into the card display. We are currently using it with our Year Three who have created class databases of themselves with their own personally drawn images. We have the program installed on the network, thereby enabling the class to add each of their cards simultaneously onto the server. If another machine is set up with a data projector, the children can oversee the additions made to the database as they are occur.

This is a database program.  It allows children to use and create their own databases as well as experimenting with pre-created ones available for free on the net.

I have used this program with year 3 children and it is a good program for the children to input data onto a created database.  They can then sort the information and create graphs.  It is more difficult to use when the children are expected to create their own database (year 5).  It is rather fiddly and complicated and i am sure it could be simpler.

http://www.logo.com/cat/view/junior-viewpoint.html

I have chosen this software as an example. I do not have direct experience of its use or usefulness in Key Stage 1 or 2. It hypothetically fits with searching CD Roms to find things out. 

This is what the blurb says about this software.

This is an essential multimedia encyclopedia for children. It includes more than 5,000 screens and pop-ups, 40 videos, 90 animations and 2 hours of audio. Key Features: The only CD-ROM encyclopedia created specifically for children aged 7-11. Designed by educational experts. Unparalleled depth and breadth of information. Cutting edge text-to-speech and VR technology.

I am hoping that other teachers will have software that they use to teach these aspects of the curriculum that they will post up in due course.