BETT 2007 PRESS RELEASE
3rd January 2007
Recent winner of a Learning on Screen Award, Espresso Education (Stand C30) continues to creatively meet the needs of teachers and pupils through its ever-growing and expanding Primary Service. New content available on the service this year provides fantastic video-rich content for core subjects, but also imaginative teaching solutions to tackle areas such as EAL and PE through ICT.
New features include:-
Primary MFL
¡Vamos! and Los geht's!
Hot on the heels of our popular Primary French service, this year Espresso will now be able to support the teaching of both Spanish and German. With 51% of primary schools currently teaching a foreign language ahead of the 2010 timescale, teachers will find Espresso’s video-based MFL modules a fun, turn-key way to start developing their students’ basic language skills.
In expanding this provision we will not only offer schools more variety of languages, but also provide them with the basis to support a ‘comparative language’ approach to teaching, reflecting on the building blocks, similarities, and differences between these European languages.
Literacy
Performing Stories
Everybody loves a good story, and our 'Performing Stories' module, developed by Espresso with Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online, certainly brings them to life. Designed to support speaking and listening skills through storytelling, this module uses stories filmed on location with professional storytellers as the basis for workshops to develop storytelling through music, dance and words. The video tales are based on traditional stories: The Cobblestone Maker, The Lancashire Giant, and King Dunmail, each with a contrasting, vibrant style.
The workshop format provides teachers and pupils with a step by step approach to developing their own work with the help of resources from the 'Toolkit': music tracks, banks of photos and sounds, a mood board, a multimedia graphic score activity and original scripts. It also addresses objectives from the dance and music curriculum where many teachers feel the need for some expert help.
PE
Team building and Swimming
If you think that a computer has no place near a swimming pool, we’ll prove you wrong! With funding provisions and curriculum requirements for swimming programmes shifting, Espresso has worked in partnership with the Amateur Swimming Association to deliver ICT-based preparatory teaching resources so that students can make the most of those precious hours in the pool. The module uses videos and interactive activities to cover topics such as: preparing to swim, stroke technique, life saving, water confidence and safety.
Similarly we worked with Somerset LA and local schools to show how trust, adventure games and team problem solving activities can be used to develop collaborative learning in school. Filmed at an outdoor activity centre, the video and multi-media rich module helps fulfil the aspirations of 'Every Child Matters' by helping students to make wise choices, listen to others and effectively use their voice to make a difference in their lives.
Foundation
Ourselves and Homes
Espresso’s youngest users have a lot to explore on the service these days as our Foundation area continues to grow with the edition of the two new modules. ‘Ourselves’ and ‘Homes’ both utilise engaging video clips with age-appropriate voice-overs to stimulate discussion and help teachers develop their students’ knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Teachers also have something to smile about with a new Staffroom format to aid planning as each resource links to both the Stepping Stones and Early Learning Goals.Sophy Gasson, Espresso Education, Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 9RL. Tel: +44 (0)20 8237 1200 Fax: +44 (0)20 8237 1201.
More information is also available from www.espresso.co.uk
