Website I have chosen: http://www.planetsherston.com/
What age range can it be used for: it can be used by any child aged between three and eleven, during a primary school lesson or at home.
The basic functionality of the program: this website has a range of activities for different subjects that are suitable for any child to use. Each activity it made suitable for the age range using it, as it has a drop down box with the key stages in, easy to select the age group. Then the individual can select what subject between; maths, computing, English and humanities. The last step is to choose what topic and then on the other side of the screen has a list of programmes that suit the child’s learning. There are fun games for the children to get involved with. Some of these are: filling in the missing numbers, listening to phonic sounds, electricity and lots more. Each activity has clear instructions that are said to them by an object in the game.
Ease of use: the website is easy for children to use as the instructions are clear and big to notice. However, some children in early years might struggle to use the program on their own as, they might not be able to read the instructions or understand the layout of the activity.
How this program can be used to support parts of the curriculum: the program can be used after the teacher has introduced a new topic or can be used as a start activity to build on the pupil’s knowledge. This would help the teacher assess the children’s prior knowledge and understanding and then know what needs more work on. For example, the maths curriculum highlights the importance of teaching children their numbers and knowing the right order in which they go in, to understand place value when they reach ks2.
Two things I like: 1. How easy it is to use as an adult. 2. The variety of topics there are for the subjects.
Two things I didn’t like: 1. How it is very limited to what subjects as it only has four subjects to choose from. 2. If the sound didn’t work on the computer then the activities wouldn’t work because the children wouldn’t be able to hear the instructions.
Olivia Keith
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