Global times-tables fun: Tutpup

Tutpup allows children to compete against others from around the world to answer times tables questions. They win games by answering questions more accurately and faster than an apponent.

For winning games and other achievements they are awarded with virtual medals and trophys. As a teacher, you can monitor the progress of children in your class. Children in my class really enjoy playing Tutpup because they are racing against real people rather than just the computer.

 Online safety
 A great thing about Tutpup is that it is a very safe website for children to use. When they sign up, children create random screen names using an animal, colour and number. Their interactions  with other users are limited to playing the game and they are not able to chat or send messages to other players.

 Setting up Tutpup

When you start using Tutpup, it requires some time and effort to create the teachers and pupils accounts. However this is definately easier than getting the children to set up their own accounts.

When you create a 'teachers' account, you choose a class code. By putting in this code when you sign up the children, they become linked as a class and you can monitor their progress. You can also get a list of all the children in your class and their Tutpup name, which is very handy to print out as a reference.

Other features

As well as times tables, Tutpup can also quiz children on addition, subtraction, algebra and even spelling. I think it works best with times tables because of the emphasis on quick recall.

Child-friendly computer game design: Scratch

Scratch is a free piece of software which allows children to make simple games and animations.

You start by choosing a 'sprite' (a picture) which you then give instructions by slotting together colourful puzzle pieces. So, by choosing the appropriate instruction, you could make your sprite move when you pressed the space bar or change colour when you press the 'enter' key.

Scratch comes with a quite comprehensive library of pictures to use as Sprites and backgrounds. It also includes lots of sounds (headphones are recommended for a Scratch lesson!)

Using Scratch in class
We used Scratch with Year 3 as part of a unit of work on control technology. It fit in well with this unit because it simplifies the concept of creating a list of commands for a computer to follow. It was a good supplement to work with floor turtles.

Year 3 children enjoyed using the software and most managed to make very simple commands to change the Sprites colour or make simple movements. I think older children might get even more out of the program as they explore different functions and assign different movements to different keyboard keys.

Getting started with Scratch
To use Scratch, you need to download it from the website. You could just play around with it, but I would recommend downloading and reading the official 'getting started guide'. It is quite short and talks you through the basics of choosing a 'sprite' and creating a simple list of instructions.