FileMaker Launches New Education Resource Centre

Dedicated resource site unveiled to help school managers, teachers and students manage more, teach creatively and inspire learning

London – Apr. 30, 2007 – Today FileMaker announces the launch of the FileMaker Education Resource Centre (www.filemaker.co.uk/educationcentre) to provide teachers, students and school administration staff with a variety of technology resources to help improve school life.

The FileMaker Education Resource Centre will provide ideas and resources to highlight how database software can play a bigger role in the curriculum, not just in the ICT lesson. Databases can in fact bring about real improvements to all aspects of school life be it management, teaching or learning.

The Education Centre is a practical source of ideas to help teachers design creative lessons using flexible database software, in all curriculum subjects, not just ICT. The website, which is regularly updated, also provides the school manager with ideas for improving administrative processes and communication with teachers, students, parents and local authorities. Above all, the Education Resource Centre is simply a fun place to learn more about ICT.

Visitors can access a depository of trial software, demos, hints and tips, lesson activities and reports that can be downloaded for free. Pod casts, videos and movie tutorials are also available as well as a useful newsfeed and links to other education websites, enabling visitors to keep up to date with the latest happenings in the education sector.

Users can download free trials of the FileMaker Learning Packs for Geography, History and RE, 'Education Starter Kits', even a 'Campus Productivity Kit' designed for students.

Case studies from a cross section of state and independent schools that have adopted FileMaker technology in different scenarios have been included under the 'In Action' section of the website showcasing solutions on:

  • How schools have tackled monitoring bad behaviour and bullying
  • Using databases to assist in revision
  • Create lessons and manage supply teacher cover

The flexibility of a database tool such as FileMaker means that it can be whatever you want it to be. Consequently the website has been divided into three key sections: Manage, Teach and Learn. Visitors can therefore quickly find and select the area most relevant to them.

Tony Speakman, regional manager for FileMaker comments: "In the last few years there has been a big change in attitude about how technology can improve life in schools and investment in this area has increased. To assist schools, we have created the Education Resource Centre so managers, teachers and students can find the inspiration they need to make their lives easier to help bring about improvements in efficiency, communication and creativity."

Nicky Fortune, director of ICT at Cheltenham College Junior School comments, "As a teacher I'm always looking for new ideas to make my lessons more creative and stimulating. By providing children with the right tools I can help them use their visual learning abilities to the best effect. It is rewarding in the classroom when you see how it inspires students to be creative."

The FileMaker Education Resource Centre helps to dispel the commonly shared view that database software does not always relate to real life for pupils or the applications they can readily understand. A growing range of educational solutions, for use both in and out of the classroom, and built using the FileMaker database tool, help schools in every aspect of collecting, managing and reporting on student and administrative data and well as inspiring learning in the classroom.

The website can be found at – www.filemaker.co.uk/educationcentre

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).

Media Contacts:

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

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