POPtalk

We think there are 4 different types of BrainPOP users.

1. “I know exactly what I’m looking for and I know how to get there”
2. “I’ll just browse until I see something interesting”
3. “What’s new, Moby?”
4. “I’m really interested in this, I wonder if they’ve got anything on it?”

If you fall into the last category we’ve got some news for you! We’ve totally overhauled our Search tool. Yay!

1. Explore and discover topics and resources

• Can’t quite remember what your Maths teacher was saying about Fractions today? The search tool should get you there and help you discover related topics too. A quick search for fractions and you’ll master fractions (or at least get 2/3 of the way there) in no time.
• You’ll also find Spotlight suggestions appear when you search. For example, a search for “Stars” reveals our star-related topics AND our “Starship BrainPOP” space-themed spotlight.

2. Predictive search

The new auto-complete feature means you don’t have to be a spelling whiz. If spelling isn’t your strong point, have a play with the search – you’ll see a number of options appear in the auto-complete without having to type many letters at all. As a teacher this will really boost support for any low level literacy students.

3. Search everything

The search doesn’t only return topics and spotlights – you can now search across the whole site.

• Want to embed a POPbox? Instructions will come up in the search.
• Need a quick introduction to BrainPOP? The story starts with a search.
• Want to know what teachers/parents/kids think of BrainPOP? Search for it!

We hope the improved search function makes life just that little bit easier for you and your kids.

So what are you waiting for? We’ve got what you’re looking for, just search.

Related Posts:

• Use Tim & Moby to promote class discussion
• A great “hook” into learning
• Quick! I’ve only got 10 mins
• The best laid (lesson) plans of mice and men

Teachers use BrainPOP UK in lots of different ways – but almost all find BrainPOP UK an invaluable resource to deliver their plans for teaching and learning.

Most of our teachers find the movies they need by starting with the 6 topics shown on our lovely home page and exploring from there.

But some teachers want a more targeted search or browse, perhaps to compliment a lesson plan or react to a world event.

We are looking for Primary and Secondary teachers in the UK to help us build version 2 of our planning support tool for later this year.

You can find version 1 right here: http://www.brainpop.co.uk/support/standards_correlations.weml

We’re still very new and our first attempt is just about OK. And just OK isn’t OK for us. We think it can be much better. We have some ideas, but…

We are looking for a handful of teachers who are already BrainPOP UK subscribers or on the free trial to tell us how they’d improve this important bit of the site.  If you don’t have current access to BrainPOP UK then you can sign up for a 30 day trial here .

We’re not big fans of focus groups (they tend to tell you what you want to hear). We essentially want to hear honest feedback that starts with: “As a teacher using BrainPOP UK I would love to be able to…“.

It’s the … that’s the important bit.

These points may help spark your feedback neurons:

• Is it easy to find what you need? Or do you ever fail to find something of use?
• Is the tagging clear and appropriate? What words do you use?
• Is the user experience a good one? How would you like it to work?
• Are working to a curriculum we haven’t tagged against? Would you like us to?
• Can you link us to another planning tool that you use, or describe elements of other tools that you particularly liked? Who does it best in your opinion?
• Is there any functionality that you WISH it did and you tear your hair out because it doesn’t? Examples might be “Let me build a playlist of movies” or “Print out the whole Science list” button. Perhaps you want to filter by movie length?
• Is “Curriculum planning tool” even the right name – what would you call it?

We don’t promise to implement every idea but every idea is hugely valuable.

You can feedback or simply let us know you’d be up for helping when the time comes in a number of ways:

info@brainpop.co.uk

0800 141 2404

Or simply comment below!

Which ever way you do it we need to know who you are. Because if you do manage to get round to helping we will treat you to something nice 

Related Posts:

• Search me – 3 reasons to try our new keyword search
• Spotlight on…Ideas that Changed the World
• POPing ahead to the new term
• Fitter, happier, more productive – BrainPOP UK is being updated