Educational Software products beginning with B

Backtracks successfully manages to provide teachers with a way of teaching some of the harder aspects of the Music Curriculum. The ability to quickly produce professional looking and sounding clips is extremely motivating and the structure of the Projects allows children to be challenged throughout. This title is well worth investing in as it supports many cross-curriculum links where film, television or animation are being studied, and will give a good boost to ICT skills.

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This product provides an excellent in-built scheme of work for the delivery of Key Stage 4 GCSE Foundation Tier Mathematics. The author has never met such an integrated learning package where traditional textbook, white board and software meet to provide a very compelling teaching resource that could be readily utilised by even non-specialist and supply teachers. The level of IT expertise required to use the software component is also refreshingly low.

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This is an excellent site designed to support GCSE revision. It can be used independently, or in mixed-ability groups. Each pupil can work at their own pace and each bitesize chapter has an interactive test, which pupils can complete and receive immediate feedback on. The site is large and covers many GCSE subjects. Although it is not in-depth enough to fully support revision, it is a stimulating introduction to study and is particularly useful for Special Educational Needs pupils with reading difficulties.

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This website is helpful to a degree, but the coverage is not exhaustive. The sections are small enough to fit into revision lessons and will break the inevitable rut of answering practice papers. In each of four areas the user can look at a ‘Revision Bite’ or go straight to a test. To extend revision, the user can go on to Chemistry Site Bites, which is a link to non-BBC sites that have been selected for revision purposes.

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The revision sections were well thought out and provide a good series of exam and revision questions. The lack of a grading system and length of the exam section were a little disappointing: they are more suited to the home user. Navigation was a bit of a problem to start with, but as the pupils used the software they became used to the navigation style. Overall, the software is a valuable revision tool, but there are areas which could be improved to make it more suitable for school use.

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Because it focuses on basic skills, many aspects of this website are suitable for use with children with Special Educational Needs, to support their early learning. The site offers simple basic skills practice for addition and subtraction and letter recognition in an accessible form. It has three interactive stories, which are well presented and encourage good use of listening skills. There are printable worksheets, including mazes, dot-to-dots, finger puppets and cookery. The children enjoyed using the site and were able to access and print out things without help.

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This is a useful site for learning and consolidating knowledge of the multiplication tables from two to 12 times, so it could be used with children throughout Key Stages 1 and 2. Children with some Special Educational Needs could use the site. All the tables are covered, which means children of all abilities can work at their own level at similar tasks. Even the challenges can be differentiated for children of all abilities by choosing the appropriate level and time.

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The Numbertime website reinforces basic Numeracy skills of number recognition, addition and subtraction in a fun way. There are some very good games for children and some useful support materials for teachers. The games involve simple matching skills, number recognition, the 100-square and addition and subtraction. It is probably most suitable for more able Reception and Year 1 children as the worksheets and games for the earlier stage are somewhat disappointing and would be very dependent on adult support.

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The site supports the National Literacy Strategy at Key Stage 1 and is a descendant of the Words and Pictures TV programme. The site is primarily aimed at Word Level work and contains useful modules involving CVC words, Consonant clusters, Long vowel sounds and High Frequency Words. There are numerous resources that support each activity and the Literacy Objectives in general: printable worksheets covering Word, Sentence and Text Level for use as independent tasks during the Literacy Hour. These are well-organised and easy to print off.

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This easy-to-use CD-ROM contains talking reference books and helps Key Stage 1 children to learn about the six major faiths in Britain today – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Each faith contains sections about different aspects and ends with ‘Do you know?’ tasks. Extensive teacher options make the program accessible to different abilities and there is also a record-keeping area, if required. The program is interesting and appealing for children, with good quality illustrations and photographs.

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BBC Magic Grandad's Seaside Holiday is a good quality, user-friendly History resource which can be used for whole class, group and individual work. The activities and tasks are motivating and are appropriate for the age of pupils for which it is designed. There is a Teacher Options area on the CD-ROM which allows the teacher some control over what tasks and activities are available. With appropriate adult support most children would be able to use the material effectively.

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The BBC News Archive is a huge resource, covering many current topics. The site provides a wealth of information for reports on relatively recent events and issues, particularly for Key Stages 4 and 5 and the more able at Key Stage 3. The links to other sites are also useful for seeking out more specialist and detailed information. The search facilities are quite good, although they can be a little difficult for younger Secondary, or less able students to access for themselves.

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This CD-ROM enables Year 1 and 2 children to conduct virtual scientific experiments that would be difficult to do in real life situations and is ideal for use with a whiteboard as well as by individuals. The simulations cover the key concepts of the Key Stage 1 Science Curriculum and are accompanied by a range of questions to focus the children’s investigation. Children can alter the variables in the simulations and view the results in graphs and tables.

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This CD-ROM enables Year 3 and 4 children to conduct virtual scientific experiments and is ideal for use with a whiteboard as well as by individuals. There are seven simulations and children can alter the variables in the simulations, run simulations concurrently, and view the results in graphs and tables. The simulations model scientific investigations that would be difficult to do in real life situations. Each one is clearly presented and is accompanied by a range of questions to focus the children’s investigation.

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This CD-ROM enables Year 5 and 6 children to conduct virtual scientific experiments that would be difficult to do in real life situations and at a speed that would be impossible in the classroom. There are seven simulations and children can alter the variables in the simulations, run simulations concurrently, and view the results in graphs and tables. Each simulation is clearly presented and is accompanied by a range of questions to focus the children’s investigation.

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Be a Director is an interactive resource for PSHE and Citizenship that asks pupils to explore five stories relating to citizenship and moral and social incidents. The user’s decisions are reflected in the route the story takes and the software can voice non-politically correct answers, providing an excellent stimulus for debate. It can be used by individuals, groups or whole class and the teacher can pose questions to children through the messaging system, as well as view their progress and time taken on a task.

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The website is very wordy, but the stories are good, and having Billy Bear as a central character is a good idea, as it gives the children something to focus on. There is a lot on the site and children must be given a focus or activity rather than being allowed to browse the site. One of the main problems with the site is the need to have Java Applets and the time taken to access some of the games. However, you can focus on the stories, which are great.

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The program tells this traditional tale in two ways: prose and in a lively song. It can aid the development of language skills through strong rhythms, rhyme and alliteration, repetition, a familiar structure and a chorus for children’s participation. The comprehensive accompanying book clearly explains how the activities link with the curriculum and suggestions for providing opportunities for high quality teaching, learning, questioning and thinking skills. Onscreen activities are easy to navigate and generally reinforce and enhance the story.

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This software covers all the key concepts of Key Stage 3 Biology and is ideal for use with an interactive whiteboard. It can also be used by individual students for revision. The four main sections are Building Blocks of Life, Human Beings, Plants and Ecology. Each section contains a number of chapters that begin with an animation, text and a voice-over. The chapters are followed by interactive questions of the ‘drag and drop’ variety.

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This is a very comprehensive Business Studies and Economics website. It provides an excellent set of revision materials, including help sheets and glossaries, exam questions, case studies and some in-depth company facts and statistics. The site clearly indicates the relevant topics within the Curriculum although it does not distinguish between GCSE content and beyond. With teacher guidance and intervention it could be a useful revision aid in class.

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This online resource is aimed at Key Stage 2 children and is intended to help them explore the nature of friendship and the importance of communication in building relationships. It consists of an online comic divided into seven sections, each with a quiz. The site is appropriate for whole class use with an interactive whiteboard or for individual or paired work. It would be appropriate for both Citizenship and PSHE although it contains little in the way of interactivity.

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Bond Builder comprises a set of interactive challenges to facilitate the learning of number bonds and multiplication tables. It provides a structured and progressive system for developing and monitoring pupils' knowledge of number facts and enables a personalised approach to learning.

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A complete interactive study skills programme aimed at adults and students over 13 years. BrainBooster combines printable activities with interactive excercises, and can be followed independently to improve grades and help pass exams, allowing students to discover their learning strengths.

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The website provides a wealth of information on all aspects of human health, including PHSE issues involving the human body. It uses humour to put points across and users can email the characters they meet on the website. The site is user-friendly in terms of accessibility and appearance. Images are large, friendly and clear, and the site has a warm and friendly feel to it that is reflected in the graphics and animations. There is very little writing on the site, aiding poor readers.

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BritKid is a well thought out website. Its producers have endeavoured to provide a resource which is up to date, appealing to students and informative. The range of issues covered is extensive and would appeal to teachers of PHSE, RE and English, where a resource like this is valuable for generating speaking and listening work and writing opportunities. The ‘Serious Issues’ section is a great resource for both teachers and pupils, giving information on law, History and other topics in a factual, no-nonsense manner.

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This would be a valuable addition to any Reception or Key Stage 1 classroom. The topics cover areas such as the senses, colours, shapes, letters, numbers, adult and baby farm animals, seasons and time. There are 63 interactive staged learning activities available including matching, sorting, jigsaws, visual discrimination, spatial awareness, identification of body parts, shapes, numbers and letters.

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This title is great fun to use in the classroom. Children (and adults!) enjoy all of the different activities, which motivate and interest them. This is not full of gimmicks, however, and is an excellent way of reinforcing many of the key objectives in number and counting in the NNS. It can be operated by the children without adult help, following a short introduction, but must be set up by the teacher in advance of each session.

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This website is a directory of contact details for helplines and websites that offer guidance and support on a number of issues that may affect teenagers’ lives and mental health. The areas covered are depression, anxiety, bullying/racial abuse, sexual abuse, family violence and eating disorders. The site will be of particular use to teachers of PSHE and Citizenship but provides support for all staff involved in a pastoral capacity.

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This downloadable information leaflet, developed in association with Childline, is aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils and contains suggestions for help and support about bullying. The leaflet identifies what is meant by bullying and gives pupils ideas on what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied. The leaflet is not particularly eye-catching as it contains a large amount of text but it would be a useful resource for encouraging discussion during PSHE lessons.

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This downloadable information leaflet, developed in association with Childline, is aimed at Key Stage 3 pupils and contains suggestions for help and support about bullying. The leaflet identifies what is meant by bullying and gives pupils ideas on what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied. The leaflet is not particularly eye-catching as it contains a large amount of text but it would be a useful resource for encouraging discussion during PSHE lessons.

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It is an excellent piece of software, well designed and easy to use. The design and content, including video clips, provide an ideal tool for teaching about ‘minibeasts’. The program encourages pupils to look more closely outside and helps them identify different habitats and the animals that might be found there. It is a very useful resource for their research when creating branching databases. This software is a ‘must have’ for all Primary schools.

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BuzzWebz is a useful program enabling children to produce professional looking websites without the need to learn html. They can collaborate and work simultaneously on the same project, finally publishing their completed websites, easily and safely, on a local network or an external website. An extensive resources library is included and websites can be created from scratch or from pre-loaded templates that can be edited and customised.

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The main site covers everything you could want to know about using wind as a renewable energy resource. The section Wind Power Primer contains detailed explanations on 26 topics, though the information and language of many of these is too advanced for the target audience. The FAQs, however, are more suitable. The answers are fairly short, very readable and would be easy to take notes from. Individual questions and their answers can be highlighted and printed. There is a map of wind energy in the UK.

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