Welcome to the first edition of Primary Focus in 2008, published to coincide with the BETT Exhibition at Olympia in London (9-12 January 2008). The major positive change to the Primary Focus journal is that, similar to other Naace publications, we are now encouraging Members to contribute and interact with Articles, myself as editor, and other Members - with the idea of stimulating points of view within a continuing professional dialogue.

When computers first arrived in primary schools in the early 1980s, the BBC ran a series of programmes on their use in schools called 'The Learning Machine'. We were excited then by the huge potential of ICT for learning but the technology of that time was not much good for teaching: the interactivity was too limited and the screen too small.

Things are different today. Twenty-first century ICT is superb for teaching. The interactivity is literally at your fingertips and screens can be as big as you like. (In Las Vegas this January I saw a Celine Dion extravaganza where the whole of the backdrop was an 80ft computer screen.)

But it's not just what you've got - it's how you use it. This publication is about the latest technology in the hands of creative and interactive teachers. Read on and be excited by the new potential of interactive teaching technologies.

The cover pictures are of my daughter. One was taken on her first birthday. I think it shows personalised learning; she had made her own choice of what she learned, when she learned and where she learned; she had access to one-to-one support if and when required; the task gave her instant reward and instant feedback; she had open access to someone who had knowledge of her learning needs; her learning platform was the floor.

The other was taken recently. She is now 20 years old, at Leeds University studying philosophy and psychology. She makes her own choice of what she learns, when she learns and where she learns (within fairly broad limits); she has access to one-to-one tutorial support by email if and when required (her dad's a psychologist); the tasks are rewarding (because she is interested in them) and although feedback is not instant she is now old enough for deferred gratification to be an effective reward; she has access to a tutor who has knowledge of her learning needs; her learning platform is her computer/the university/the world.

But how much personalised learning has gone on in between? Not a great deal I suspect.

All the articles in this term's edition of the Naace Primary Focus explore ways in which personalised learning can become a reality during the years of compulsory schooling.

I have enjoyed reading them. I hope you do too.

Heather Govier (guest editor) h.govier@btopenworld.com

Within these pages you'll find many ways in which you can deliver a rich curriculum through a range of topics. We have chosen to focus on just five. For younger children there are some exciting ways to learn about Food. Margaret Allen highlights the versatility of IWBs and Susie Arnott and Marie Hindmarch suggest ways of using stories as a starting point. Andy Pierson brings inspiration and help when teaching music in a Seaside topic. Photographs of beach huts, taken by Roger Keeling, provide a stimulus for mathematical activities.

Anyone who works with pupils who have additional or special educational needs will understand when I say how difficult it has been to try to cover the range of needs that this encompasses. I am delighted to have such a diverse and talented group together in one publication and between them have created a magazine that should have something for everyone and lots more to make you think and consider how your classroom practice could benefit from their experience. I hope you enjoy reading the articles and that you are inspired to try out some new ideas in your classroom.

Sandra O'Neill
Guest editor

In this edition of Primary Focus we have a range of articles that will help teachers to embed ICT into their planning and teaching of Art and Design and Design Technology.

It is hoped that these articles will prove an inspiration for teachers. Sincere thanks to all who contributed. The articles exemplify creative teaching and offer many ways of embedding ICT into the Art and Design Technology curricula.

As so many teachers now have access to interactive whiteboards, their teaching of subjects such as Art and Design Technology can be greatly enhanced by visiting the many wonderful websites available out there. Glynis Hart's article on NGfL websites should prove very useful in this respect.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and contributing articles for this publication and hope you will find them as enjoyable as I have.

Rosemary Gledhill
Guest Editor

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.

The introduction of modern foreign languages to the primary school is quite a challenge to most schools but fortunately there are some good case studies, dictionaries, translators, sets of lesson plans, worksheets, presentations, flash cards and other resources online. There are also opportunities to develop your own skills with online lessons and chances to network with other teachers. Reviewed by Jim Merrett

Doug Dickinson explains how modern technology can transform the perennial favourite - keeping weather records - into a dynamic and multi modal activity.