I reported last term on the recent acquisitions of iPads and laptops, courtesy of Bellevue. These exciting new machines will be housed in the main school building so that they can be easily used in the classrooms. Whereas, the Macs in the existing ICT room will continue to be used for skills training (word processor, spreadsheet, database, presentation, photography and music composition), the new technology will enable us to augment the teaching of classroom subjects in a more accessible way with up to date technology.
iPads will be used for easy access to the internet and specific apps such as ‘Planets’ (Science), ‘ArtHD’ (Art), iFPoems (English), ‘World Map’ (Geography) and many, many more!!

The laptops will be used for internet access, for example in ‘MathsWhizz’ (see below) and for creative work. We have two projects planned for each pupil: one is an illustrated story; the other an animation project. Hopefully you will see the end results of these on the website in due course.

Finally, another word on ‘MathsWhizz’, the personal online Maths tutor for Years 1 to 8. The children completed their initial assessment before Christmas so now the programme will start to take the children through a range of topics at their level, first consolidating, then moving forward, linked to the teaching in school. Teachers will be able to track their pupils’ progress and the children have many incentives to make progress: gaining ‘credits’ to buy virtual pets or play games or to challenge each other. 

Ideally, each child should spend one hour per week on the programme: half an hour at home as part of the homework routine (this can be divided into smaller chunks, e.g. three sessions of ten minutes); and half an hour built into the timetable.
If you haven’t already done so, please take a look at www.whizz.com for more information.