18/7/2008

Ref: IS017

Exhibiting at The Scottish Learning Festival 2008 (stand F32), experts in school software and assistive technology, iansyst Ltd, are launching three exciting pieces of software to help Scottish school pupils, including those with dyslexia and other disabilities, improve their literacy, numeracy and thinking skills. iansyst Ltd will be showcasing WordSmart, an interactive software tool for teaching phonic skills for reading and spelling, Nessy Fingers, a typing tutor with a difference, and a new version of the highly successful concept-mapping software Kidspiration.

Designed by teachers, WordSmart offers schools a structured and systematic way of teaching phonics skills for reading and spelling. Through a synthetic phonics approach, the software introduces phonic patterns in line with the revised National Literacy Strategy, and its bright and child-friendly graphics and incorporated rewards system for progress make learning fun. Aimed at the Foundation stage, it reflects phases two to four of ‘Letters and Sounds’, part of the new phonics framework for schools.

Leaving teachers free to teach rather than continually assess attainment levels, WordSmart is designed to help ensure that every pupil’s progress is monitored. Through its built-in lesson tracking facility, teachers are able to review each lesson and view the number of successful and unsuccessful attempts a pupil has made to spell a word. For their lesson activities, teachers can either use the pre-determined word supplied within WordSmart or adapt the word lists to match the specific needs of a class or individual.

Employed as either a stand-alone desktop application or in conjunction with an interactive whiteboard, the software can be used in any classroom. Ideal for use as both a whole-class teaching tool or on an individual basis, the software can also be used as an individual intervention to support pupils with specific learning difficulties.
Learning how to type is made easy and fun with Nessy Fingers, a typing tutor which uses the alphabet to teach keyboard skills (unlike other typing tutors that start with the 'home row'). This enables children to learn the alphabet in just five short lessons. To improve their typing skills there are several exciting games, complete with a range of music and noises, which use National Curriculum word lists to practise with. There is even a 'Hall of Fame' where pupils can win trophies as a reward for accurate typing.

For children with dyslexia or other related learning difficulties, the settings menu allows different colour styles for the text bar and there is a timer available for the games.

Kidspiration is a leading concept-mapping program which helps school children develop literacy, numeracy and thinking skills through visual learning. Used to strengthen word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension and written expression at Key Stages 1 and 2, now includes Maths View to encourage basic mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Supporting personalised learning, Kidspiration allows pupils to express their creativity and thinking with pictures, words and numbers. Projects can be quickly generated with the software, allowing students to organise their thoughts using a library of over 3,000 symbols. The maths section includes five tools to develop number sense, spatial reasoning and understanding of the four basic operations.

Kidspiration is also ideal for dyslexic learners who benefit from visual learning tools to explore and understand words, numbers and concepts; iansyst will be demonstrating the latest version.

Providing help, information, advice, product comparisons and reviews, iansyst Ltd’s www.dyslexic.com website provides a one-stop shop. Sharon Goldie, Education Consultant with iansyst, comments: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish schools to provide young people with engaging software and technologies to make learning fun. We welcome the addition of WordSmart, Nessy Fingers and Kidspiration to our product portfolio, as they are both innovative and inclusive, so work well in the mainstream classroom and with pupils that have dyslexia or other learning difficulties.”

Continuing to help dyslexic and partially sighted pupils and those with reading difficulties, iansyst’s dyslexia specialists will be available at the show to talk to visitors about their work within education and updates to www.dyslexic.com – the advisory portal with up-to-date dyslexia news, advice, training information and technology.

WordSmart costs £45.00 for a single user, Nessy Fingers costs £17.01 for a single user and Kidspiration costs £39.00 for a single user (all ex-VAT prices).

For further information about the products and iansyst Ltd, please Tel: 01223 420101 or visit the web sites www.iansyst.co.uk/www.dyslexic.com.

back to news »