A wide range of Primary classroom activities, reviews and resources has been developed and published over the years originally by MAPE and, more recently since the merger in 2004, by Naace.

An ICT resource for teaching mental maths

Focus: ICT Coordinator

In this jam-packed issue, the lead article looks at the use of Windows Movie maker to develop ICT and geography skills and on page 3 Jackie Lester offers advice on preparing for an Ofsted inspection. On page 4 Rhona Dick introduces two pieces of software for exploring moral dilemmas and finally we have a Top Tip for maths teaching.
For comment or contributions please contact me at h.govier@btopenworld.com

Naace have been successful in securing a TDA bid won by Steven Coombes based at Bath Spa University and being delivered as a 'Visual Learning Course' by Christina Preston and John Cuthell at MirandaNet (based at The Institute of Education, London).

The authors describe the adventure game, Zoombinis Logical Journeys, and explain how this software can help to develop critical thinking skills of the kind that are useful across the curriculum and in many areas of life.

In this Article, Christy outlines how ICT may be used to help teachers ensure that lessons on 'world writing' are successful. It provides a review of the range of resources available from BBC Active designed for use on a whiteboard, supporting whole-class teaching.

As more studies emerge into the potential application of computer games in both industry and education I'm interested in whether computer games can hone cognitive skills in the same way that a recent US study claims that they can improve fine control skills for surgeons. 'Wii warm-up good for surgeons' BBC News Online 17 January 2008.

As part of a longer article to published in the next edition of Primary Focus, Jim Fanning provides his blog of a two-day flexible learning course. Is this the way of the future?

A teacher in an English schol abroad describes two activities which use ICT to make cross-curricular links.

Jim Fanning, Assistant Head at Tideway School, has produced some really interesting ideas for what an online lesson might look like and has created a picture of what a cover teacher/supervisor might need to be aware of. Tideway School is a Specialist Technology College in Newhaven serving 700 students aged 11-16.