Maths-Whizz
Maths-Whizz is an interactive teaching resource designed for Reception through to Year 7. The resources for each year group consist of three CDs, covering the three strands of the National Curriculum for mathematics.
The software is linked to every objective within the National Numeracy Strategy and particular topics are easily located within each CD. Objectives are clearly signposted so that users can easily find which disc is required.
Each objective offers four levels of differentiation with a mixture of activities, which consist of written worksheets and interactive activities. The resource will allow teachers to find something interactive to support many of their lessons. The number of activities available differs according to topic and ability level, so while some topics only have one activity for each ability level, other topics have as many as eight. As the discs are packaged by year bands, a further option is to browse forward or back a year for activities at the far ends of the ability spectrum. The interactive activities would be ideal for whole class or individual use. The worksheets could be used to support or enhance the interactive activities, although many schools discourage their frequent use in favour of a more kinaesthetic approach.
It is easy to navigate your way around the software due to a clear main menu. This contains the main features of the programme allowing access to the results, dictionary and tools options.
The graphics within the software offer interesting animated solutions, which would appeal to all styles of learner. Some children may find the sounds distracting and prefer to use the programme facility which allows the sound to be turned off.
The dictionary is a good tool to share as a whole class or individually, and allows quick definition, revision and consolidation of mathematical terms. The tools option is a versatile feature that could apply powerful visual aids to any mathematics lesson; teachers can tailor activities to specific objectives using this tool. The use of a protractor, compass, ruler and money are very effective, although many schools may already have these features within other interactive whiteboard software. This option is not accessible when an activity is active, which does reduce its flexibility.
Learners’ tracking is an integral part of the product; pupils can access their report, which tracks progression during a lesson. Teachers can view the percentage of questions answered correctly, the number of times that the help section was activated and the time taken to complete the exercise. However, the whole activity has to be completed to activate the report and due to time constraints within a classroom, it may not always be possible to complete an activity. Children, who respond slowly, whatever their ability, will have no track records and therefore no written form of assessment. It was also unclear how to distinguish individual children’s reports to ascertain which details referred to which individual. Although a useful feature, the circumstances mentioned above question its effectiveness as a form of assessment.
A few fundamental flaws were detected in the software, which if addressed would make the software more accessible to all children and promote learning. The Reception year discs often ask for a task to be repeated if incorrect. If the respondent still obtained an incorrect answer, a written instruction was given. This would rely on adult support for children of this age who are unable to read. An enhancement of this feature could include a verbal instruction as well as a written one. A Year 7 activity, which uses addition, asked for an approximate answer to a calculation. It proceeded to offer a closer approximation than the one given but with no explanation or modelling. The closer approximation was then still visible as children were asked to complete the column addition calculation; in effect, almost giving the solution.
Many of the features of the software are very effective, such as the ease of use, content of activities, graphics, links to curriculum objectives and good coverage of those objectives.
Whilst we feel that ‘Maths Whizz’ offers an interactive learning and teaching solution with activities that will encourage children to be enthusiastic about mathematics, the range of activities, particularly if used as a key resource, needs to be extended.
As many interactive activities and ‘worksheets’ are readily available to download free from many websites, we feel that the software needs to include a more comprehensive range of activities in order for schools to invest precious funds in it. A wider variety would also ensure more continuous use of the software without repetition, thereby making it a more captivating resource for children and teachers alike.
Julie Millard and Lindsay Taylor
Final year students on the BA Primary Education with QTS course at University of Northampton
Maths-Whizz
www.whizzeducation.com
Whizz Education
Room B121
Macmillan House
Paddington Station
London W2 1FT
Yr R – 2 cost £250 + VAT
Yr 3 – 6 cost £375 + VAT
Yr 7 costs £500 + VAT
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