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  This week, bee-it’s Bryan Plumb visited Crick Software’s UK offices for a sneak peak at Clicker 6, the eagerly-anticipated new release which is due to be unveiled at BETT 2012 in January...
Crick Software’s highly acclaimed literacy support tool, Clicker, which is currently in use in over 90 per cent of UK primary schools, is about to be revolutionised with an impressive upgrade.
Clicker 5 has proven popular in supporting learners of all abilities across the globe to achieve literacy success by providing access to assistive tools such as a talking word processor, word grids and a wealth of curriculum-related images designed to help bring work to life. Schools are also able to purchase bolt-on products to work within Clicker such as the drawing tool, Clicker Paint.
At BETT 2012, Crick Software is poised to launch the latest version of the software, Clicker 6, which has taken three years to develop and comes complete with a whole range of new features and improvements.
The first major development to the system that visitors to Stand F40 will be able to experience is the use of wizards to enable teachers to create their own resources. Anyone with previous experience of trying to create their own sentence building sets within Clicker 5 will know that it can take a good twenty or so minutes to fully customise the look and feel of a resource, however the new wizard enables this to be done within seconds. Teachers now just need to copy and paste information such as images or text into the wizard, select which type of resource is required and the system generates an activity which is ready to use instantly.
Tracey Bradshaw, Special Needs Advisor for Stoke-on-Trent local authority, also attended the Clicker 6 preview day. She commented:
“I really like the look of these wizards; they are incredibly straightforward to use and will be a great help to many teachers.
“I often go in to schools and train staff on how to use Clicker 5. Whilst the system is straightforward enough, teachers that are less confident with their IT skills may struggle to create their own resources. With the new wizards, they simply need to paste relevant text and images into a word box, hit ‘go’ and they have a fully functioning customised resource ready for use!”
There have also been a number of changes to the existing Clicker word processor, including a very impressive word predictor. As a pupil types, and providing the word predictor has been switched on, suggested common words appear for the pupil to select from, assisting them not only with their English skills but also encouraging them to use a more extensive vocabulary than they may previously have been used to.
 Clicker 6 includes a word predictor to help improve English skills and encourage a wider use of vocabulary
Additionally, Clicker Paint has been integrated with the word processor enabling pupils to create their very own images to support their writing, alongside access to over 2,500 existing curriculum pictures and the ability to take instant photographs from their webcams.
When reading or writing with Clicker, a pupil can right click a word to hear it being read out, however this can prove to be a tricky task when using a whiteboard or assistive technology such as trackballs or eye-control devices. In a bid to improve functionality regardless of what technology is being used to control Clicker, Clicker 6 features a handy ‘Mouse Dwell’ button which once selected makes every further mouse click act as a right click.
Ros Henshaw, SENCO at a Leicestershire primary school and a Special Needs Advisor, discussed her feelings about the new version of Clicker. She said:
“I am really excited about this. There is so much emphasis at the moment on independent learning and so much pressure on teachers to show evidence of pupils’ progress, however if a child has difficulties in recording their learning, then showing evidence of work is very difficult.
“There seem to be more children with motivational, attachment and specific learning difficulties which make it very difficult to teach. Many children are interested in learning, but when it comes to recording information about their lesson, they put their own barriers up and immediately disengage. Clicker 6 allows the pupils to be in control and feel safe by including a multi-sensory approach to learning. The word predictor is an excellent way of helping children without the teacher needing to be directly involved which encourages independent learning and, by making the inclusion of images so easy, children can really engage with Clicker and their work!”
Visitors to BETT 2012 will be able to test out Clicker 6 for themselves and see the whole range of new features on offer. Additionally, Crick Software will have special promotional prices for both existing Clicker schools and those that are new to the system.
For more information about Crick Software, click here.
Crick Software will be exhibiting on Stand F40 at BETT 2012, which takes place from 11 - 14 January at Kensington Olympia, London.
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