The World of Crystal Rain Forest

www.crystalict.co.uk

KS1 - KS2 (Years 1 - 6)

ICT, Mathematics & Science

used with whole class

used for revision purposes

This website offers a highly interactive approach to teaching ICT skills combined with problem solving for the entire range of Primary age groups. There are 12 different areas on this extensive site covering for instance, control, monitoring, modelling, simulations, working with information, problem solving, adventure programs, ICt tutorials, and creativity, and I used it in a number of ways. Year 1 were busy looking at the basics of logo including setting a simple sequence and following it. We used 'Flobot' to see if we could enhance their learning experience by putting their sequences into practical purposes.

I also used other parts of the website for problem solving aspects as a revision aid for our Year 6 children. The site is extremely useful in looking at logical problem solving, angles and shapes. We also examined 'Gomez Returns' to see the effects of monitoring and control and to work this half term using 'robolab'.

Before using the website we thought it was important that the children understood practically how logo works and ensured that this understanding was secure before moving to the resources available on the site.

The website offers a vast range of activities suitable for across Key Stages 1 and 2. It allows for logo, control and monitoring aspects of ICT to have a practical purpose - and when set in a context children found the activities more stimulating and memorable. They also found some of the activities challenging, this provided good opportunities for reasoning (especially in Year 6) in order to solve the problems. It allowed me to facilitate discussions such as 'what would happen if' and we were able to test out predictions as we went along. The other great feature about the website is that if it is used within an ICT suite every child can have access at the same time. This rarely happens in the classroom as resources tend to be expensive and easily misplaced, which means children have to share, take turns or work in large groups. The website ensures a hands on approach for all children although the practical element in the classroom still has an important place.

easy to use independently

The website is really easy to use, it's colourful and most screens are provided with a button to return to the main menu. Occasionally we would get stuck on a task and found it difficult to navigate our way out and without a help button the children found this a lttle frustrating. Otherwise the site is very user friendly and we quickly found our way around.

There is a comprehensive Teacher Zone, which provides access to downloadable resources, lesson plans, appropriate Key Stage information and further educational support.

With Yr 1 we orally revised logo by giving instructions and someone physically following them. We discussed what would happen if something went wrong and how to reverse a decision. They were quite confident with this but needed experience of trying it out. We used 'Flobot' initially with an interactive whiteboard but in hindsight I wish I had used the ICT suite so that they all got hands on experience (and this is something their class teacher will do). We followed the instructions as and when requested. When logging on the website does not remember where you have got to, or how far you have progressed. However the children preferred to follow the 'adventure' because this puts all of the different problems into a context and they enjoyed this aspect of the program. The downside was that some children were too eager to 'get on with the ICT aspects' and not patient enough to listen and pay attention to the journey. This resulted in some of them losing interest. We did change to the tasks themselves but again some children were motivated throughout, others found the actions too slow to respond. Nontheless the children did show understanding and the ability to complete the tasks, learning from errors they made.

The Yr 6 children had a look at 'Gomez Returns' as a pretext to using Roboloab control and monitoring this half term. They really enjoyed the tasks but not the 'adventure' mode as they found it too slow. They did enjoy the challenge and the chance to try and try again if they did not succeed. They became quite supportive of one another and had discussions in terms of reasoning in order to achieve their goal. It was extremely useful to simply watch and listen to their skills in their reasoning with each other. After this we used various programs in our Maths lessons to help with our revision. The children enjoyed 'Bamboozled' the best as we have been working on logical problem solving as a whole school, and this was really good as it gets harder making it quite addictive. It includes a complete printable book of support sheets and lesson plans.

We also looked at 'Nature Park' to revise shape but we found this a little more demotivating as it was slower and did not cover a great deal in depth. We used the program primarily as a mental and oral revision task and it was useful to assess the children.

Monitoring and assessment is purely based on outcome. The website does not provide you with an error analysis or details of skills required, in fact most elements of the program do not allow you to progress until you have achieved success (which can be frustrating at times). There are of course unlimited opportunities for teachers to assess through questioning and directed teaching.

The children enjoyed using the website and found the tasks motivating on the whole. Some parts of the site were too slow inbetween tasks and children in the main preferred to take the option of just completing the tasks rather than taking the journey. The logical problem solving was enjoyed by everyone and the Yr 6 children were highly motivated by 'Gomez Returns' and wanted to know if there was a version for the Playstation.

The children really enjoyed using Sherston's World of Crystal Rainforest website, it was motivational and I was glad of the opportunity to assess their skills. Having the opportunity to use ICT in a practical context was helpful for the children and provided stimulating discussion and reasoning. The opportunity for every child to put their 'logo' skills to the test was really useful and finding out what happened when they went wrong allowed the possibility to challenge thinking. The problem solving became somewhat addictive and the discussion that came from this was wonderful.

As a school resource it is great value for money, as it includes content from 12 separate CD-ROMS, covers the entire Primary range and is available for access at school and home. New content is constantly being added to the site, with new 'Prof casts' each half term.

In all the title offers a unique opportunity to use ICT in context and provides a hands on approach to the use of logo, control and monitoring. Alongside this are a number of programs that offer mathematical challenge and are useful as a teaching and learning resource in the classroom.

Read KS1 Content evaluation...

Product Overview

This product is published by Sherston (Tel: 01666 843200)