Espresso for Secondary Schools, a new service offering curriculum-specific lesson resources for secondary schools incorporating high quality video footage, multimedia activities, worksheets and websites accompanied by detailed teacher support notes is previewed at stand M87 by Espresso Broadband plc.
Espresso’s secondary service promises to provide the same standard of teacher support as its existing Espresso for Primary Schools service. Lesson resources are built around current, topical TV progammes and news reports - many re-voiced to focus on curriculum objectives - together with links to relevant websites and interactive activities. To appeal to an older audience, Espresso has replaced the cartoon characters of the original primary school service with animated teachers who take students through topics.
Incorporated in the service is a homework facility that assists learning beyond the school buildings and school day. Accessible through any computer with Internet access, this facility features printable worksheets and links to websites for further research. Other useful features of this service are the differentiated extension activities ‘Take me Further’, giving gifted pupils the chance to make further in-depth research into topics, and 'Having Problems', featuring examples and advice for children having difficulty with exercises including hint buttons which point pupils towards helpful websites.
Subjects to be previewed at BETT 2001 include Personal Social Health Education, featuring news reports on the human rights legislation passed in October 2000 and activities that encourage pupils to consider how the legislation might affect them. James Mawdsley, the human rights activist imprisoned in Burma for over a year, is also featured in video news clips and newspaper articles as pupils are encouraged to look at human rights issues in other countries. Additional issues covered include homelessness and the government’s recent campaign encouraging the public to give money to charity rather than beggars. Pupils are offered links to the Crisis website, while activities ask children to investigate why young people become homeless.
Freda Wolfenden, Producer of Espresso for Secondary Schools says, 'We believe Espresso’s exciting use of new media, providing focused, stimulating real-world material, will transform learning in many curriculum areas. As teachers embrace new technology, Espresso will give them materials to open up new paths to discovery and achievement'.
The Key Stage 3 resource banks being shown at BETT 2001 are the ‘Berlin Wall for Year 9 History’ and ‘Floods for year 7 Geography’ together with news clips and websites in 6 curriculum areas. The service continues to grow with new resources for Literacy, Personal Social Health Education and Citizenship, Science and History.
Espresso uses satellite technology to deliver weekly feeds of information to schools. A satellite dish and Espresso box - costing £1875 - are required to receive and store the information. For the average Primary School a subscription fee of £5 per pupil is payable yearly. Espresso for Primary Schools can be ordered through the website, www.espresso.co.uk
For further press information or paper versions of this release please contact:
Espresso Marketing, Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, W6 9RL
Tel: +44(0)20 8237 1200
Fax: +44(0)20 8237 1201
Email: info@espresso.co.uk
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