An interactive and engaging way of learning!

- Kathleen Pomeroy, Tom Price Primary School

We have found Upfront to be a valuable resource in our classroom activities. We are currently using it with our Year 4/5 and Year 6/7, and with the 8 students in our Gifted and Talented Class. The focus has been on higher literacy levels, and by using a mixed bag of questions, I have been able to diagnose strengths and weaknesses, whilst the kids think it is a game! Valuable lesson preparation time is saved by using the question sets in Upfront. Students are drawn to digital activities and the content is challenging. Furthermore, Upfront promotes risk taking as the kids get two chances before the correct answer is given. I have found that more than two attempts tends to turn the boys off in particular.

I see Upfront as an engaging way of practising test-style questions in an interactive format without any of the stress of a test environment. The program is user-friendly, holds the students’ attention and is challenging enough that students persist with it through the levels. Using the program with the Smartboard allows for physical, visual and discussion-based learning with the whole class, catering to different learning styles simultaneously.

We have found Upfront to be a good investment for our school and would recommend it to other schools embarking on effectively implementing whiteboard technology.

An invaluable teaching tool!

- Andrew Watson, Armidale City Public School

Upfront is an invaluable teaching tool and resource which can be used in many different ways. It has become an integral part of my teaching program. Its flexibility allows it to be used for the introduction of topics, the revision of topics or general content teaching.

Upfront can be used to extend groups or provide the concrete base for those students who have selective needs. The flexible nature of the program and the ability to select from a very comprehensive and relevant question base is extremely time-efficient and saves much time in lesson preparation.

The activities contained in Upfront are extremely relevant whilst the ease-of-use of the program format makes it user-friendly for both the student and the teacher alike.

Since implementing Upfront, there has been a significant improvement in academic performance and engagement in the curriculum, as well as there being a measured improvement in individual and classroom skills. I have no hesitation on recommending Upfront as a vital component of modern-day teaching.

A beneficial addition to any school’s library of software!

- Stephen Dowd, St Matthew’s School, Windsor NSW

Upfront is fantastic to use in the classroom because it generates the
opportunity for lots of student interaction and problem solving
together. It supports the type of learning we are engaged in which is
student generated. Our principle has been: Let the children do it –
Upfront allows teachers to get out of the students’ way!

We mainly use Upfront in our mid primary classes, however it has been
effective at all ages. We employ a numeracy block lesson format and
Upfront is perfect either in the warm-up section, as a whole class
activity, for small groups or even for individual learning. Students
love having the ability to manipulate the board as they explore their
understandings and calculations.
Whilst Upfront lacks the manipulative characteristics of some other
Interactive Whiteboard programmes, it beats them on the range of
prescribed tasks available. We consider that our purchase of Upfront
for the school has been a worthwhile investment, and would recommend
it as a beneficial addition to any school’s library of software.