Help

There are a variety of downloadable resources available from the National Strategies.

Many files are provided in three different file formats to ensure that the information is as accessible as possible. 

Note on interactive whiteboard files

Some interactive whiteboard (IWB) files may incorrectly open as xml code or .zip files. If this happens, right-click on the link and save the file to your computer then rename it so it ends with the correct file extension (.xbk, .nbk, .flp, .et or .yar).

Another known IWB issue is that some SMART (.xbk and .nbk) files cannot be opened in newer versions of SMART Notebook. If you receive an error message stating 'Notebook was unable to convert some files. The Legacy Notebook File Converter failed', you should make sure you are running the latest version of SMART Notebook and rename the file so it ends with '.notebook' rather than ‘.xbk’ or ‘.nbk’.

.exe

Executable files for the PC. Malicious code can be included in .exe files and, as a result, they can be a security risk. For this reason, some networks and PCs have restricted access to .exe files.

Where access to .exe files on a network has been restricted, a system administrator will need to add the following URL to their firewall and any internet monitoring applications.

• http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/nationalstrategies

.exe files provided on the Standards Site have been checked and can be considered safe to install or run.

.zip

Compressed files that may contain one or more files when uncompressed on a PC.

You can decompress Windows XP.zip files without additional software by right-clicking on the .zip file and selecting the 'Extract All' option from the menu.

For older versions of Windows, you will need a compression utility to decompress the files. A selection of freeware, shareware and commercial utilities for the PC can be found on the Tucows web site.

.hqx

Compressed files for the Apple Mac that can be uncompressed by Mac OSX by double-clicking the downloaded files.

A selection of freeware, shareware and commercial utilities for the Apple Mac can be found on the Tucows web site.

.gif, .jpg or .jpeg

Standard website image file formats that can be viewed in a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, or using any standard graphics software.

Some pages have media files associated with them in video or audio formats that can be viewed or listened to on a PC. Many have been packaged in .zip files (see section on Compressed Files) to enable a single download. Once the .zip file is uncompressed the resources contained within can be used.

Video

.avi

A video format that can use different levels of compression to save on the file size. .avi files can be quite large but the advantage of this format is higher quality video playback. These files can be played using Windows Media Player (supplied with Windows) or the free RealPlayer, which is downloadable from Real.

.wmv

A video format that can use different levels of compression to save on the file size. The larger the file the better the quality. .wmv files can be played with Windows Media Player (supplied with Windows) or the free RealPlayer, which is downloadable from Real.

.mpg, .mpeg and .mp4 files

These are all versions of .mpeg video files and can be played using Windows Media Player (supplied with Windows), the free RealPlayer from Real, or the free QuickTime player from QuickTime.

.mov or .qt

Video files in Apple's QuickTime format and can be played using the free QuickTime player from QuickTime.

Audio

.wav

An audio format that can be played using Windows Media Player (supplied with Windows), the free RealPlayer from Real or the free QuickTime player from QuickTime.

.aiff or .aif

An audio format that can be played using Windows Media Player (supplied with Windows), the free RealPlayer from Real or the free QuickTime player from QuickTime.

Interactive whiteboard (IWB) files are supplied in multiple file formats. The software requirements for each are detailed below.

.flp files

Interactive whiteboard files for use with the Promethean ACTIVboard.

.yar files

Interactive whiteboard files for use with the Hitachi StarBoard family of interactive devices.

.et files

Interactive whiteboard files for use with RM Easiteach.

.notebook files

Interactive whiteboard files for use with SMART Notebook v9.5 and above.

.xbk files

Interactive whiteboard files for use with the SMART Notebook v8.0.

.nbk files

Interactive whiteboard files for use with SMART Notebook v7.0 and earlier.

Note: Newer versions of SMART Notebook are unable to open .nbk files. If a message stating 'Notebook was unable to convert some files. The Legacy Notebook File Converter failed' is encountered, ensure that the latest version of SMART Notebook is installed and then rename the file so it ends with '.notebook' rather than '.nbk'.

.swf files are Flash format animations

The Interactive Teaching Programs (ITPs) are Flash animations. To view Flash files you need to install the free Flash player. Go to www.adobe.com and click on the ‘Get Adobe Flash Player’ button.

.exe files are executable programs that run on Windows PCs

When you have downloaded an .exe file, you need to double-click on it to run it. The .exe files on the website are stand-alone versions of the ITPs and will run on PCs without having the Adobe Flash Player installed.

.hqx files are compressed files for the Apple Mac

These can be uncompressed by Mac OSX by double-clicking the downloaded files. The .hqx files on the website contain stand-alone versions of the ITPs and will run on Macs without the Adobe Flash Player installed.

.ppt files are Microsoft PowerPoint files

They can be viewed with MS PowerPoint.

Free viewer for Microsoft PowerPoint

.xls files are Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files

They will run in all versions of Excel released since Excel 97 and on any spreadsheet software compatible with Excel files.

Free viewer for Microsoft Excel

Download

Resource files can be downloaded to your computer. How you do this will depend on your operating system and the browser you are using. The steps below cover the most common options.

Internet Explorer

1. Right-click on the link
2. Select 'Save target as'.

Mozilla/Firefox

1. Right-click on the link
2. Select 'Save link as'.

Mac (Safari)

1. Hold down the 'Ctrl' key
2. Click on the link
3. Select 'Save target as'.

Launch

Clicking on a file will either launch the file automatically in the correct application or offer you a choice of saving the file to the hard drive, opening the file in an application or cancelling the download. To use the file immediately, select the 'Open' option. To download the file to your hard drive for use later, select the 'Save' option and use the file selector to choose a location for the file.

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a format for sharing and distributing web content, such as news headlines. Using an RSS reader, you can view data feeds from multiple websites and keep up to date on latest changes without actually having to access the sites directly.

We have worked on providing a similar, comprehensive facility in the new Primary Framework area to house the relevant resources. We have added a ‘Resource library’ link within the Primary Framework section. There is also a literacy resource library and mathematics resource library within the relevant sections. Here you can find all documents previously found in the Primary Framework library. Use the terms in ‘Refine your view’ to narrow the results.

The resources have also been attached to any relevant areas, units or blocks, so you can find them in the ‘Attachments and resources’ area on these pages.

Mathematics specific resources:

Within the mathematics resource library particular types of resources, such as interactive teaching programs, spreadsheets and interactive whiteboard files, can be found grouped together.