A simple but effective introduction to the concept of algorithms. Students are shown a series of random numbers one at a time, and have to tell the teacher which is the largest number. They don't know the range, and they don't know the quantity of numbers. However, all students can do it, by quickly creating a set of simple rules to follow in their head - an algorithm. Without realising it they create a set of instructions to follow, they create a variable, and they carry out comparison tests. They use input, and output, and effectively demonstrate all of the attributes of a simple algorithm. This demonstration can then be used to introduce these ideas, and the whole concept of computational thinking.

I use this simple tool as a way of spicing up class quizzes. The class is divided into two teams - red and blue. One representative from each team comes up to the board. A third, independent student can be the quizmaster, or the teacher can fill this role. Each team is asked a question. If they get the question right then they can add one of their team's coloured tokens to the board by simply clicking where they would like to put it. No gravity with this version of Connect 4 - they simply need to make a row of four coloured counters in any direction. (Make it easier by limiting it to three, or make it much more interesting by making them try to make a row of 5 or even 6 counters.) The quizmaster simply needs to click the button in the top right corner to select which colour team is able to add a token to the board. Click a coloured token twice to reset its colour to white, or use the reset button at the top left to reset the whole board. Any questions, comments or suggestions welcome.

A selection of real logos, compared with re-created logos made entirely in PowerPoint using the Shapes tool. This was to demonstrate to classes how dynamic and versatile the shapes tool can be for creating logos and images.

Can be used either as a demonstration of an interactive number grid that show how number patterns can be represented by colours, or as a demonstration of how conditional formatting rules can be applied to a grid of cells. Change the two numbers on the left to see the grid update immediately, creating waves of colour.

This is an excellent little resource for getting students to make connections between topics and ideas which might not naturally occur to them, improving fluency and mastery within any subject. The idea of the game is simple: the teacher simply clicks the orange 'Go' button and the computer randomly selects two different words from a word list set by the teacher. The students are then challenged to devise a sentence which uses both of the two words in it, creating a connection between them. In some cases this may be easy ('input', 'mouse', but at other times they will have to extend their thinking to reach across apparently distinct topic areas to identify a connection or relationship ('binary', 'wireless'.) The game is very easy to customise. It consists of two files - a PowerPoint file, and a plain text file called 'words'. The plain text file called 'words' can easily be edited to contain any word list you choose, and is therefore both subject and topic independent. You could have several word lists prepared for different topics or classes, and just swap the 'words' file over when you need it. As long as the 'words' text file and the PowerPoint file are kept in the same folder, the game will work. The example provided contains a GCSE Computing keyword list, but this can easily be changed or adapted to suit your needs.