If you are aware of useful literacy ICT resources for the home and the classroom, email sam.brookes@literacytrust.org.uk.
Below is a small sample of literacy and learning software.
For extensive reviews and recommendations see the following
websites - www.teem.org.uk
or www.becta.org.uk.
Accelerated Reader is a computer programme, from Renaissance
Learning, based on quizzes which aims to raise pupils' literacy
skills by motivating them to read more. Visit www.renlearn.com/ar/
Keytools Ltd is a company offering
a wide range of IT technology specifically developed for individuals
and students coping with physical or educational challenges.
Certain products are intended to aid literacy difficulties.
For more information, visit www.keytools.com
or call 023 8058 4314
CTAD (Cambridge Training and Development) provide
ICT resources that target basic skills and support literacy
teaching, including Football Basics a motivational package
for young adults. Visit www.ctad.co.uk
Destination Literacy - a resource from Riverdeep learning
with different packages for Foundation, KS1 and KS1 level
learners.
www.riverdeep-learning.co.uk
Digitexts
from Longman are a series of interactive, multimedia, non-fiction
literacy texts written specifically to teach reading to key
stage 2. It can be a whole-class, guided or independent activity
and works to embed ICT into learning and teaching. For more
information call: 0800 579 579
EasyTech, is an online learning
tool from Learning Pathways available for key stage 1,2 &
3 to help students gain foundation skills in ICT, whilst enhancing
their understanding of literacy and numeracy. It features
an interface designed by former cartoonists from the Nickelodeon
television channel. For more information visit www.learnpath.com
or call 01332 297729.
Everyday English Editor
A software tool that enables users to paste text into the
Editor window of a secure website. The Editor then shows the
percentage of everyday words, based on its 17,500 word definition
of everyday English. It also highlights non-everyday words
and long sentences, making it easy to spot passages where
readers may have difficulty. Useful for anyone preparing written
material for adults with lower literacy levels. Visit
www.optimum-uk.com/Editor.html
Fun with Texts 4.0. A computer authoring software package
with activities including sequencing paragraphs, unjumbling
words and decoding whole text. The new version of the program
contains multimedia enhancements such as audio, video and
pictures. Further information can be found at www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/fwt.htm
Kar2ouche. Highly recommended by many schools, this
package enables pupils to create storyboards, role-play sequences
and animation to enhance understanding of texts and literacy
skills.
For a free demonstration call 01865 866330. Website: www.kar2ouche.com.
Email: contact@kar2ouche.com
Literacy Activity Builder. A
content creation tool, originally designed for the whiteboard.
It is based around nine literacy templates, which the teacher
can add their own content and images to. The builder fits
in with the governments Harnessing Technology Agenda and children
can access activities at home through the schools website.
For an idea of the activities that can be created visit: www.blackcatsoftware.com/products/LiteracyActivityBuilder.asp
www.schoolzone.co.uk/resources/evaluations/interim.asp?p=gran-1844412199
Literacy Banks - Software packages developed by Sherston
and available for each of Years 3 to 7. They are designed
to make it easy for teachers to integrate ICT into the literacy
hour. www.sherston.com.
Microsoft video case studies demonstrate ICT use for 'personalised
learning' to accommodate students with different learning
style preferences. www.microsoft.com/uk/education/
learning/case-study
Oxford Reading Tree Stage 1 & 2 First Phonics Talking
Stories - New software by Sherston, for teaching and supporting
phonics in literacy. Each CD-ROM contains 6 talking stories,
and plenty of practice for the young reader. Software specializes
in fluency, accuracy, and understanding, using the National
Literacy Strategy of key words, simple sentences, and CVC
words. www.sherston.com
Reach Out Interactives Limited provides
3D Software & Hardware solutions for the education sector,
including a software development based on Mind Mapping on
the widely read book, Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck, developed
in collaboration with Middlesborough City Learning Centre.
Website: www.reachout-interactives.com/
Riverdeep Interactive Learning - developers and publishers
of a comprehensive range of ICT-based literacy content and
activities, suitable from the early years emergent readers
to the end of primary education, both in school and home,
includes Destination Literacy and Bailey's Book House. The
portfolio is supported by cross curricular titles including
SpongeBob SquarePants Typing and Kid Pix 4.
Visit the Riverdeep website for more information: www.riverdeep-learning.co.uk
SAM Learning provides online exam practice and revision
for SATs, GCSEs and A-levels to over 900 schools in England
and Wales. SAM Learning is supported by the National Association
of Head Teachers and approved by Curriculum Online, the National
Grid for Learning and the Parents Information Network. www.samlearning.com.
Say Cheese! Early Years and Say Cheese Infants. These
CD-ROMs from publishers Sherston have activities designed
to meet literacy targets for children, including those with
Special Educational Needs. Say Cheese! Early Years (for three
to five year-olds) teaches and reinforces problematic and
high-frequency words that are difficult for young children
to learn to read. Say Cheese! Infants (for five to seven year-olds)
uses sight to teach word recognition through structured activities
on wordlists from the National Literacy Strategy. Say Cheese!
Early Years and Say Cheese! Infants cost £34.95 each for a
single user version. These titles are available to schools
on 21 days free approval, are registered with Curriculum Online
and can be purchased using e-Learning Credits (eLCs). For
more information email jamie.bayliss@sherston.co.uk
or call 01666 843 200.
Shannon's Game - Software that aims to encourage
familiarity with spelling patterns and strategies in a fun
and competitive form. Spelling strategies are learned based
on the structure of words, and the programs addresses both
native and foreign languages. www.resourcekt.co.uk
Tell a Tale 2. Aimed at foundation level and key stages
1 and 2, Tell a Tale 2 enables early readers to practice and
develop their reading skills by writing a three-sentence story
using a simple interface. There are three levels, which the
teacher can select according to the child's ability. The graphics
are colourful and animated and there are worksheets included.
Visit www.4mation.co.uk
for more information.
The Track Series has been developed by experienced
specialist teachers and is designed to support the acquisition
of literacy, from early recognition and discrimination skills
to the more complex word recognition skills. Track Series
provides support for all learners, from the very young to
those who may have specific difficulties in learning to read
and write (including dyslexia, dyspraxia and difficulties
associated with poor attention and memory) and older learners.
Track resources are fully configurable for individual need
and contain printable and photocopiable resources such as
worksheets, workbooks and clip art. The Track Series is ideally
suited for use with interactive whiteboards. Teacher options
include a facility to record individual reward sequences,
choice of size, type and colour of font, choice of background
screen colour, timed activities and US audio support. The
Track Series enables students, whatever their specific needs
and areas of difficulty, to work on achieving fluent and accurate
levels of literacy in an environment which is fun, non-judgemental
and aimed specifically at their own needs. For more information
visit www.semerc.com or
contact tel: 0161 827 2927 fax: 0161 827 2966. Or by post
to SEMERC Orders, Granada Learning, Granada Television, Quay
Street, Manchester M60 9EA
Unlocking Literature
This CD-Rom by Trevor Millum and Chris Warren offers innovative
and pratical approaches to poetry GCSE. Poems are presented
in electronic format, and in tables, 'mapped' and 'collapsed',
and an Interactive Whiteboard. The CD includes all the pre-1914
poems in the OCR and AQA A and B anthologies, with suggested
approaches. The CD Rom has a 30 user site licence. Members
of NATE: £90, non-members: £100. Contact: NATE,
50 Broadfield Road, Sheffield S8 OXJ; Tel: 01142555419; email:
natehq@btconnect.com.
www.wieser-software.com/spelling/
Spelling programme, available in English, French, German
and Spanish. A trial version can be downloaded for free from
the website.
Young Writers Workshop CD-Rom. Package aimed at developing
upper primary pupils' language and ICT skills. Students assume
the role of a print, radio or television journalist to create
imaginative writing including photo features and scripts.
Produced by Granada Learning. ISBN 1841240745, cost £49.
Contact: Granada Learning on 0845 602 1937. www.granada-learning.com
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A guide to outreach with laptops Angela Wood, National
Institute for Adult and Continuing Education November 2000,
ISBN 1862011095, cost £7.95
This report on the Government-funded Laptop Initiative for
Adult and Community Learning acts as a record of the projects
funded and a guide to setting up further laptop outreach work.
It looks at the principles of outreach and models of delivery
using examples from the initiative including comments from
those who ran projects.
Technical requirements are listed with advice on how to set
up a project team and there are tips on how to get the most
out of local media. Finally, there are ideas on how to evaluate
projects as well as conclusions from the 100 organisation
that returned a questionnaire on the results of their project.
Recruitment was not a problem when laptops were on offer -
one project leader commented: "they bite your hand off." Another
noted that laptops helped to develop a good group feeling
as they were not as imposing as PCs and made for a better
learning environment.
The report concludes that the laptop initiative has widened
participation, broken down the fear of technology for thousands
of new learners and created new partnerships, whilst also
highlighting the need for ICT training for workers in lifelong
learning. Outreach work takes time and is costly, but laptops
give a clear message to learners that they are worth investing
in.
Contact: NIACE publications on 0116 204 4216, or visit www.niace.org.uk/publications
Beyond access: ICT and social inclusion Published by the
Fabian Society, Samantha Helawell, July 2001, ISBN 0716330547,
cost £12.95.
This report sets out the findings of research commissioned
to inform the creation of a socially inclusive information
society, specifically how to engage excluded people using
technology. The report is based on eight case studies of community
ICT projects and on interviews with focus groups on mental
health, work, ex-offenders, estate residents, young people
at risk and Muslim women. The most pressing finding is that
there is an almost complete lack of relevant content on the
internet for people who are experiencing some form of exclusion.
The report emphasises that people want access to the internet
to be a social experience and states that informal drop-in
access is vital for people who have had poor experiences of
classroom education. It recommends that community organisations
and training providers should be funded to work with excluded
groups to help people produce content and where appropriate
fund excluded people directly to produce content. It states
that there is a lack of understanding among professionals
about how ICT can contribute to delivering the objectives
of the national strategy for neighbourhood renewal. It states
that a ICT coordinator be appointed within the NRU to market
good content for excluded groups and maintain synergy between
programmes to improve access and develop content.
As access to ICT is still a problem for most excluded people
the report demands that the Government encourage the provision
of internet access in places such as hostels, daycare centres,
hospitals, women's refuges and prisons and that social landlords
install ICT and connect flats and houses as a normal part
of building and refurbishment of social housing.
Contact the Fabian Society on 020 7227 4900 or visit www.fabian-society.org.uk
Computers and the Community. A selection of case studies
of laptop projects compiled by NIACE in a free publication.
NIACE also runs an email list sharing news and information
about laptops in adult education.
Email munira.arkate@niace.org.uk
for a copy or view case studies online at www.niace.org.uk/research/ict/laptops
/goodpractice.htm
Good Practice and the Use of ICT. Book published online
and edited by Joyce Wood of the Science and Technology Policy
Research Unit at the University of Sussex. It features many
examples of innovative uses of ICT in mathematics, geography
and history, collected during interviews with 150 teachers
as part of a project known as THEO - Teachers Helping Each
Other. The book can be downloaded free from www.rm.com/reports.
ICT - the new basic skill by Alan Clarke and Lisa Englebright,
published by NIACE, October 2003, ISBN 1862011214, cost £8.95.
This book examines ICT, the skills associated with it, and
how it affects different areas. The book concludes that ICT
is inevitably becoming a part of our lives and warns of the
danger of people becoming further disadvantaged through the
lack of such skills. To order contact: Publication sales,
NIACE, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP. Email:orders@niace.org.uk
tel: 0116 2044216
ICT and Pedagogy. The University of Newcastle was
commissioned by the Teacher Training Agency to undertake a
study on ICT and pedagogy, focusing on how teachers make effective
choices about when, when not and how to use ICT in teaching
literacy and numeracy in primary schools. A leaflet summarising
the findings and giving practical illustrations of teachers
making effective choices about how and when to use ICT in
the classroom is available. Telephone the TTA Publications
Unit on 0845 606 0323 or see www.tta.gov.uk/php/read.php?sectionid=47&articleid=696
Further information about the research as well as a full copy
of the resulting report are available on the University of
Newcastle website at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/research/publications/publication/10246
ICT resources and primary school standards. Published
by the British Educational Communication and Technology Agency,
October 2000. These prelimary findings were followed up
in January 2001 in Primary schools of the future - achieving
today. The reports are available free from BECTA's website:
www.becta.org.uk/research/research.cfm?
section=1&id=538. Or contact BECTA on 024 7641 6994. Report
summaries.
ICT Skills for Life Briefing
(Simon Boyd Publishing Ltd- publishers of the Basic Skills
Bulletin) is a thrice-yearly information briefing for Skills
for Life practitioners (supports tutors, coordinators and
managers), which includes news, analysis, reviews, articles
and discussion. For more information visit: www.basicskillsbulletin.co.uk/ict_skills/index.cfm
or call 01223 564334
Literacy and ICT: Cutting Edge Practice in the Primary
School - A magazine published by the National Literacy
Association. It is aimed at primary practitioners and consists
of feature articles on the use of ICT in the primary classroom.
Call 0121 622 5143 to order free copies, p&p will be charged.
The internet, the primary school library and the independent
learner. Published by the Schools Library Association
this is a series of introductory case studies, gathered over
the last two years. It shows children, and adults too, with
differing amounts of ICT confidence and varied technical equipment,
and in a range of curriculum subjects. Cost £8.50, £7.50
for SLA members. Tel: 01793 791787. Website: www.SLA.org.uk
Making Connections: using ICT in the literacy hour.
Resource book for teachers produced by Devon Curriculum Services
and based on collaborative work between teachers, advisers
and consultants on day-to-day classroom practice. Its aims
to share good practice in the use of ICT through a number
of case studies, each of which includes background on the
literacy context, details of previous work undertaken, a project
outline and key activities using a computer. The booklet is
accompanied by a CD Rom that contains a variety of resources
linked to the contents of the book. Cost £25.00
Contact: Publications, Devon Curriculum Services, Great Moor
House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter EX2 7NL. Tel: 01392 384839.
Fax: 01392 384880. Email: vera.anderson@devon.gov.uk.
Managing the Internet in the Primary and Secondary School
Library, by Elspeth Scott. Publications that considers
the management issues involved in the use of the Internet
by both staff and pupils, such as cost implications, security,
information skills and copyright. Includes practical appendices:
an Internet Access Policy, a Surfer's Contract and an Acceptable
Use Policy. ISBN 0900641568, cost £6.00 (£5.00
to SLA members).
Contact: School Library Association, Unit 2, Lotmead Business
Village, Lotmead Farm, Wanborough, Swindon SN4 0UY. Tel: 01793
791787.
Primary schools of the future - achieving today. Published
by BECTA, January 2001. Available free from
www.becta.org.uk/corporate/press_out.cfm?id=1573. Or contact
BECTA on 024 7641 6994. Report
summary.
Using laptop computers to develop
basic skills: a handbook for practitioners. Produced by
the Basic Skills Agency and the National Research and Development
Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy to highlight the benefits
of using laptops to help adults improve their literacy, numeracy
and language skills. It also covers how the use of laptops
can motivate basic skills learners to take up further courses.
Available to download from www.nrdc.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_2838.pdf
Top
Click on it! Joint annual publication first produced
by the National Literacy Association and R-E-M in 2002. It
features reviews of educational technology written by teachers
and pupils involved in NLA project work.
Contact: National Literacy Association, First floor, Leonard
House, 321 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6ET. Tel:
0121 622 5143. Email: email@nla.org.uk.
Website: www.nla.org.uk.
ICT and Literacy - Ideas and resources for KS1/2
This resource is designed to help English teachers make the
most of their ICT Resources. Accompanied by a CD containing
relevant texts it outlines those which can employ computers
for both introducing and practising a variety of English skills.
ISBN 0901292978. Cost: NATE Members £6.95 Non-members
£7.95. To order Tel: 0114 255 5419, email natehq@btconnect.com
or visit www.nate.org.uk
John Johnston, Sandaig Primary, Glasgow tells the TES about his use of blogging and offers soem top tips for starting a blog in your own school. To read the article in full visit www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2424531
The Kindersite Project. US project founded to build
an Internet-based system that will add to the body of research
on the subjects of early-learners' use of technology and to
provide Internet-based content as an educational tool. www.kindersite.org
Learnnewsdesk is the Guardian's online news service
for nine to 14 year olds. Learnnewsdesk is a tool for integrating
current affairs into the curriculum, and a great way of encouraging
a daily reading habit. Its highly interactive design and multi-media
web format provides a framework for pupils to express their
opinions and gain confidence in constructing arguments. With
new articles and features provided everyday, the editorial
team ensures teachers will always be able to find relevant
and trustworthy resources. For more information visit:
www.learnnewsdesk.co.uk
Learning and Teaching Scotland ICT in Education website
for practitioners offers effective practice exemplars (with
video) and ideas on how to use ICT in the classroom, teaching
resources, and opportunities for professional development.
It has also launched a 'blog' for news and views about digital
technologies in Scottish schools. www.ltscotland.org.uk/ictineducation
Innovative Teachers Network Micosoft has created an
online global community to share inventive teaching ideas,
visit http://uk.innovativeteachers.com
www.ncaction.org.uk/creativity
website full of resources to help teachers support and
develop pupils' creativity, launched by QCA following a three-year
research project on creativity in the classroom which found
that promoting creativity improves their confidence, self-esteem
and enjoyment of lessons, and as a result leads to enhanced
literacy and numeracy skills.
Tools for Schools is a registered charity that recycles
high-quality computers that are no more than three years old,
using the huge surplus available from businesses replacing
their computers every two to three years. It was established
in 1998 as the brainchild of Graham Bednash, co-founder of
communications agency Michaelides & Bednash, with support
from The Guardian. Refurbished
computers are passed on to schools for a nominal charge.
Contact: Tools For Schools, 12-14 Berry Street, London EC1V
0AQ. Tel: 020 7689 1990. Fax: 020 7689 1991. Email: andrea@tfs.org.uk.
Website: www.tfs.org.uk.
Track Series aims to support
the acquisition of literacy in the inclusive classroom. It
is a collection of CD-ROMs and workbooks from SEMERC for all
learners including those with learning difficulties, and can
be used with whiteboards. For more information visit: www.semerc.com
Sherston Publishing Group offers
a range of CD-ROMs for various age ranges aimed at raising
literacy standards, teaching phonics and introducing story
skills. For more information call 01666 843 200, visit www.sherston.com
or email education@sherston.co.uk
APAC Training, in partnership with the British Dyslexia
Association, has developed a project to provide free IT training
and support to dyslexic people in the south east of England
(excluding London). The project is aimed at unemployed adults
who may benefit from new or additional IT skills.
Contact APAC Training on 0118 926 3131 or email newestenquiries@computapac.co.uk
Digital Unite. Independent organisation (formerly
known as Hairnet, with a focus on the over-50s) that provides
training and consultancy on ICT skills to organisations, communities
and individuals. Training delivery models are based on engaging
learners on a one-to-one or small group basis, particularly
those who haven't had the opportunity to learn about computers
and the internet, and are at risk of "getting left behind".
See www.digitalunite.net.
MPowerNet. As part of Anglia Polytechnic University,
MPowerNet are NOF-funded training providers in ICT skills
to cross curriculum teachers throughout England. See www.mpowernet.anglia.ac.uk
UK Online centres. As part of a Government-funded
network of 700 ICT learning centres focused on disadvantaged
communities, UK Online centres offer free, walk-in access
to ICT advice and training. They aim to bring people closer
to technology by providing access to email and the Internet
and allowing people to learn at their own pace. Call free
on 08080 100 400 to find out where your nearest centre is.
For those wishing to apply to set up a UK Online centre, a
prospectus is available from DfEE publications on 0845 60
2222 60. For more information see www.ufi.com/ukol/
The internet is a vast resource and teachers, parents and
students should bear in mind that anyone can post any information,
sometimes anonymously, without having to provide proof of
authenticity.
A number of sites on the Internet provide information and
criteria to help with assessing the suitability of online
materials. The sites below is a particularly useful one from
a selection recommended by Alan Pritchard of the Association
of Teachers and Lecturers.
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html
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Software that supports literacy
