SwitchIt! Wildlife Extra
Review
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Here's what Pete Wells, Winner of Becta's ICT in Practice
Award 2006, had to say about SwitchIt! Wildlife Extra...
Product design...
The teacher options on this product are vast and absolutely
fantastic allowing the teacher to tailor the product to be enjoyed
and used effectively by even the most disadvantaged pupil. The range
of activities is excellent too, from simple picture builds to really
engaging, AGE APPROPRIATE stories (rare for teenagers with SEN!)
that cover an awful lot of curriculum areas. Added to this are
printable flashcards and links to web based extension exercises
which add even more value to an already great title. Note must be
made of the graphics and sounds, which are appropriately simple and
colorful so users are not bombarded with stimuli.
Supporting pupils with different needs...
The very nature of the title instantly draws in users of all ages
right off the bat, our students WANT to use the product, which is
very important! As ever with the SwitchIt! series the user options
are fantastic. Access options include mouse/touch monitor access
(brilliant for gross motor movement and whiteboards), keyboard,
IntelliKeys keyboard and a range of switching options which really
focus on switch development. As well as the great access options,
the type of activities are great too - simple picture builds through
simple, yet very clever stories which touch many curriculum areas.
Supporting learning objectives...
For the learner there are many subtle ways of showing learning
objectives. An uncluttered, simple screen help with the pupil's
understanding of the subject and there is a nice big visual prompt
to tell student when a switch press is required. For the
practitioner, the program comes with the much mentioned teacher
options which make the objectives self explanatory. As well as this,
you get a fantastically informative instruction book which goes
through each of the stories giving keywords and ideology behind the
title. As well as this there are web links to support material as
well as extension exercises.
Providing motivation...
The resource has cleverly chosen a topic (wildlife) that has
universal appeal and looks wonderful! The many stories included
within are simple but very 'moreish!' Some are funny (sliding
penguins!), some are VERY tense (I defy anyone not to want to see
what happens next when the shark swims up to the diver and opens his
mouth...) and all are definitely engaging. Each stage of each story
or picture build is designed to increase anticipation and a sense of
what happens next... With the great sound, excellent graphics and
sheer number of fun activities, pupils want to use the program again
and again.
So what's the best thing?
For me, one of the strongest features of the product is its age
appropriate nature. This product does not insult teenagers and
adults with SEN. I also applaud the product for introducing some
very complicated and relevant topics in a genuinely intelligent,
entertaining and appropriate manner - food webs, deforestation,
reproduction, habitats and life cycles are all present and well
handled. Most importantly, Inclusive haven't rested on their
laurels. SwitchIt! Wildlife offers alternate endings to the stories
- sometimes the boar gets eaten by the crocodile (which cheekier
children love!) and sometimes it escapes, which adds significant
longevity to the title.
 
Overall...
I love it! The title is wonderfully cross curricular allowing simple
maths, PSHCE, science, ICT and literacy to be seamlessly blended
together. Some of the topics and concepts within the deceptively
simple program are very complicated and difficult to get across to
students with learning difficulties, so SwitchIt! Wildlife Extra
gives teachers an effective outlet to cover many curriculum areas
sensitively and effectively.
A fantastic resource for single users or whole class teaching - a
winner!
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