FileMaker Learning Packs Launched by Douglas Stewart EDU to Provide Cross-curricular Learning

London UK - Jan. 10, 2007 – At BETT 2007, the world's leading educational ICT event, Douglas Stewart EDU will be launching the Curriculum Online (COL) approved "FileMaker Learning Packs", a curriculum-based pack that will provide teachers and students with easy to use database software tailored for a range of subjects.

The FileMaker Learning Packs will contain a copy of FileMaker Pro 8.5 and teaching and learning materials for Geography, History, Religious Education, with more uses highlighted for Science, ICT and Physical Education. The technology is more sophisticated yet easier to use than MS Access and Excel, enabling teachers to conduct cross-curricular learning supported by activities and exercises in the FileMaker Learning Packs.

The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), which is the Government partner in the development and delivery of eStrategy for education, has accredited the FileMaker Learning Packs, which will be available to purchase via the eLearning Credits scheme. The funds were specifically created to transform teaching and learning by improving access to ICT resources for all pupils. By providing a central budget for these purchases, it can ensure the money is spent appropriately on new technology so teachers and pupils can benefit and learn from the resources. In November 2006, the Government announced a further £125million to the eLearning Credits fund for the purchase of software for secondary schools to transform the use of technology in education.

John Gardner, education programme manager, Douglas Stewart EDU comments, "The Becta approved FileMaker Learning Pack provides curriculum, assignments and teacher support to easily implement databases in the classroom with varied learning approaches. There are numerous requirements for database usage throughout the national curriculum. Douglas Stewart EDU has developed teaching and learning packs to be used across a wide range of subjects at KS2, 3 and 4 of the national curriculum, such as Geography, History and Religious Education."

"The use of technology in the classroom can help transform lessons for both teacher and pupils. FileMaker are looking to achieve greater understanding and increased use of databases within the curriculum, rather than simply ICT lessons, to demonstrate how technology can help engage and inspire students. The FileMaker Learning Packs will encourage creativity as well as drastically reduce teacher administration," said Tony Speakman, FileMaker's regional manager for Northern Europe.

The FileMaker Learning Packs are available for 10 Classroom users from £325 plus VAT and 30 Classroom users from £850 plus VAT. Schools can purchase the FileMaker Learning Packs using their eLearning Credit (eCL) funds via educational resellers such as Academia, Civica, Pugh, Ramesys and Viglen.

Notes to Editors

About Douglas Stewart EDU

Douglas Stewart EDU Ltd (www.dstewartedu.co.uk) is a specialist distributor of computer products into the education and charity markets. As part of The Douglas Stewart Company based in the US with offices in Canada and the UK, globally we have more than 55 years of experience in the sales, marketing and distribution of products to educational resellers as well as their end-users. Based in Hampshire, UK with distribution facilities in the UK and the Netherlands, Douglas Stewart EDU sells through educational and charity focused resellers throughout Europe.

About FileMaker, Inc.

FileMaker Pro is used by millions of individuals and workgroups around the world to be more productive and efficient. Business, education and government customers rely on FileMaker to manage people, projects, images, assets and other information. In addition to being the number one-selling easy-to-use database software, the award-winning FileMaker product line also includes low-cost Applications that automate basic business tasks, ready-to-use Starter Solutions, and tools to create and share solutions from the desktop to the web. FileMaker, Inc. is a subsidiary of Apple Computer, Inc (AAPL).

About eLearning Credits

The e-Learning Credit funds were specifically created to transform teaching and learning by improving access to ICT resources for all pupils. By providing a central budget for these purchases, it can ensure the money is spent on new technology so teachers and pupils can benefit and learn from the resources.

The FileMaker in the School Curriculum Pack consists of:

Three cross-curricular assignments supported by activities and exercises integrated with FileMaker 8.5 Pro. The three assignments – one Geography, one History, and one Religious Studies, are supported by 20+ tables of information in 3 databases, and 140 slides and pages of supporting exercises, user help and guidance.

The Geography assignment guides the student through five investigations into the effects of tourism on a managed visitor location. The data collected and analysed in FileMaker helps the student to develop informed conclusions and evaluations, and present a well-structured report of their findings. It also presents opportunities for students to make more in-depth studies and related reports.

The History assignment focuses on the period of industrial growth between 1750 and 1900 and guides students through a study of the relationship between the inventions of that time and the dramatic changes in population numbers in Britain and Ireland. Students can compare more clearly various types of information about the period and form better informed views.

The Religious Education assignment encourages students to build data about World Religions and how they celebrate their faith. The data is analysed, searched and 'related' in FileMaker and a structured report is produced presenting the understanding knowledge and ICT skills learned.

FileMaker 8.5 Pro Application Disk

User manual

Installation Guide

Full-length tutorials for students and teachers to further explore the potential of the programme.

Key Features of 8.5 Pro for Educators:

Safe, sophisticated and powerful

User-friendly interface with extensive integration capabilities

Container fields for pictures, charts and MS Office and other documents (linked to their source if required)

Web-viewer and portal functions

Scripting functionality

Easy sharing capability

Media Contacts

Douglas Stewart EDU:
Lori Mercier, Managing Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 612 806
Email: lmercier@dstewartedu.co.uk

FileMaker:
Sam Hall / Helen Carroll
+44 (0) 845 3700 655
Email: filemaker@octopuscomms.net