2Calculate review

Verdict:

Review Date: 18 Aug 2004

Price when reviewed: Single user £46 inc VAT; site licence up to £351 inc VAT

Reviewed By: Janet Swift

Our Rating 5 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

At first sight 2Calculate looks like a cut-down version of a spreadsheet. To a certain extent it is, but it adds a number of learning tools into the mix, including the ability to speak numbers.

Like a spreadsheet, 2Calculate uses cells for calculations. It is easy to use and will pose no problems for children. Particular noteworthy is its ability to change the formatting so that numbers can be displayed as fractions. To help children learn about money, pictures of coins can be dragged into cells for calculations. It's a simple but effective way of learning.

Teachers won't have to create lessons from scratch, as the software comes with hundreds of predefined activities. These are categorised and cover a range of ideas including sharing strawberries, counting animals and calculating the volume of a cube. When used with the help videos, they also reveal how to use some features of the program that initially seem mystifying. For example, if you were wondering what the thermometer does, it can be used in a Year 3 game that involves reading scales.

The software was developed because it was felt that spreadsheets hadn't made the same impact on mathematics learning as word processors had done with improving writing skills. It aptly shows how computers can be used to enrich the teaching of primary-school maths, while keeping the lessons fun.

We're sure 2Calculate will prove useful to teachers, as it will be popular in the classroom. Older children who are having difficulties with arithmetic or mathematical concepts can also benefit from this package. We would also recommend it to any parent for use at home.

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