Acorn Computers, the UK's leading supplier of computers to schools, has launched a free video, presented by Judith Hann of 'Tomorrow's World' fame. The video is designed to bring a fresh approach to classroom computing for primary school teachers, regardless of their previous IT experience.
'Making IT Work - A Video Guide For Primary Schools' features teachers and children talking about their real-life IT experiences as well as useful checklists, facts and ideas about the key issues of multimedia computing, computer networks and funding. Acorn expects at least 10,000 IT co-ordinators, teachers, heads, governors and teacher trainees to watch the video in the next six months.
"Computers are easy to set up and use and have exciting educational benefits - these are the over-riding messages that you hear from the teachers and pupils in the video," said Alan Bennett, Primary Sector Marketing Manager at Acorn Computers. "With IT now firmly embedded in the National Curriculum, many primary school teachers want to get to grips with computers but don't know where to begin or don't have time to start looking. The Acorn video will help them become more confident about some of the latest developments such as creating multimedia, using CD ROMs as a learning resource and networks."
He continues: "Recent publicity over school budgets has heightened concern among headteachers and governors that they need to reconcile spending restrictions with the need to plan IT provision to meet the demands of the new National Curriculum. Maximising resources by sharing CD ROMs, printers and hard drives through networking is an ideal way to do this - and spreading the cost by leasing equipment is an obvious way of overcoming budget limits. The video presents schools with the facts and a way to go forward."
The video examines a range of issues, including the ease with which children can create multimedia resources on Acorn computers and the educational benefits derived from using CD ROMs. Networking with Acorn Access to make the most of existing classroom computers and share valuable resources such as CD ROM drives and colour printers is also featured. As well as giving children access to more resources, financial savings can be made as fewer printers and CD drives need to be purchased.
The video also shows how sharing hard disc drives over a network can give floppy drive computers a new lease of life and make the lives of IT co-ordinators easier as they no longer have to load discs on each computer in every classroom. The video was made with the help of Norfolk County IT Team and features the following local schools: Cromer Junior School - discussing networking and leasing; Colman Middle School, Norwich - Acorn Access networking; Firside Middle School, Norwich - children authoring multimedia; Roydon Primary School - using CD ROMs as classroom resource. The multimedia work featured in the video was part of a county wide project initiated by Norfolk County IT Centre last year.
For a free copy of the video, look out for the direct mail coupons, or write to:
Online ServicesFounded in 1978, with 1994 revenues in excess of £50m, Acorn Computers is a leading provider of IT to UK education and was the first supplier of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 1987. Acorn works closely with a strong community of industry partners, users and software developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education, consumer, publishing and international markets.
Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the objective to design interactive multimedia products.