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Paromita Pain

Software tools can transform the class so students will pick up their books with relish — not resignation.

HERE'S some good news for teachers. Software is at hand to lighten their load and provide exciting ideas to enliven lessons, add pizzazz to discussions or even calm an unruly class.

And what makes good news even better is that the range of software available to teachers calls for only basic system requirements. Also, one doesn't need to be a computer wizard to use it, be it to print out worksheets or generate report cards.

Take www.myteachersoftware.com, for instance. It has nearly dozens of free software programmes that can be ordered online, and only shipping and handling charges apply. Easy Language 16 is a vocabulary, phonetics and language improvement tool that has 16 different languages from around the world packed into a portable CD. Any of the 16 languages can be used as a base language to learn from, like French from English or English from Spanish.

In an Indian classroom, the English content will help students perfect their pronunciation. The software has videos and different photo tours with interactive games to sustain learner interest. Meant to teach children beginning to learn languages, and sharpening language skills, it also allows multimedia addition of different characters and scripts, besides various Internet links, to make it a perfect class resource. Since it has German, Arabic, Dutch, Italian and Spanish, it may also help college graduates seeking an international career. It works on a Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP platform.

Published by Galswin, Maths For The First Grader believes that learning is a game so all the exercises are in the form of interesting challenges that makes learning mathematics an exciting adventure at the primary level.

It covers numbers from one to 100, teaches numerical concepts such as dozens and half dozens, measures of length, money and weight besides geometric shapes. The Galswin creation module allows the user to create or adapt various adventures, the better to understand numbers.The Image Libraries has a multitude of characters with whom students can write their own story and go on personal adventures, learning through fun all the while. All it requires is a computer armed with Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP.

The Learning Company, US, has developed the ClueFinders Math Adventures Available in a Macintosh or window 2-CD Set to make mathematics easy for nine-to-12 year olds. Students learn as they join the cluefinders in an exciting mystery in the Himalayas on a dizzying trek, discover ancient villages where valuable treasures are disappearing and investigate suspicious villagers. The software is free and costs $5.95 for the shipping and processing fee. Since at a primary level there isn't any set syllabus, it can be used in any classroom with ease.

Once students realise that numbers are enjoyable, they will never be intimated by maths again. The games provide life to characters and young children who may not like the numerical might want to come back because of the characters.

Teachers may lose patience but not animated characters, so children can learn at their own pace. Look up http://www.smart-estore.com for more details.

Often teachers face a situation in class which calls for immediate rewarding of children but they are not armed with sweets or fancy ribbons. At such moments, http://www.justfreestuff.com/teacher.html might help. The site hosts free stuff that teachers can use as instant ways to say, `good' or soothe ruffled feathers.

The Free Sticker Pack For Teachers allow the printing of free stickers. All it calls for is a simple form that needs filling with the correct e-mail ID to have the printable set of stickers delivered. Another site, http://www.teacherhelp.org, has free educational resources such as free printable colouring sheets that can keep any class busy for hours and indoor activity ideas such as crafts, puppets, scripts, puzzles and games. Check out http://biblekidsfunzone.com/color/noahsark3.html for a sample of the colouring sheets. Moral science lessons are probably the toughest challenge. How can ideas of honesty and goodness be inculcated without one sounding prissy or didactic?

Thanks to innovative software, moral science lessons needn't be long boring sermons on how to be good. Instead they can be spiced up chicken soup style! Games like the Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2 Scavenger Hunt Contest available at www.preteenplanet.com promise to teach good behaviour and positive actions while challenging listening skills via inspiring and thought provoking stories. And http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/gen/ayw/ has many novel ideas to incorporate character education. Then there's www.siteteach.com, a class site, which teaches one to host class Web pages without knowing complicated HTML programming or paying to host a site.

So you see how software can help the teacher to motivate her wards to pick up their books with relish — not resignation.

Picture by A. Shaikmohideen

paromita@thehindu.co.in

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