As well as keynotes and networking sessions, there will be introductory sessions on the changing nature of education markets worldwide.e-mail: nelson@HellerReports.comWeb: http:Heller Reports.comTrade98.

A two-day conference featuring an impressive range of top-line speakers and experts on the potential of information and communications technology to enhance children’s learning is due to take place March 30-31 at Homerton College, Cambridge. Called Learning Quality and the Information Age, Professor Jack Sanger will be guest of honour at a dinner seminar on the first day. He will discuss his project, based on a fly-on-the-wall study, on children’s experiences of IT away from schools. Details and booking fees are available from Betty Burling, IT Unit, Homerton College, Cambridge CB2 2PH.

Atlas of the Ancient World, from Maris Multimedia, covers five million years of history on one disc. It uses inter-active excavations and reconstructions to explore the major phases of the civilisations of Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe, from the Stone Age to the fall of the Roman Empire. Aimed at key stages 2 and 3, the disc (pound;29.99) is available from Maris Multimedia, 99 Mansell Street, London E1 8AX. Tel: 0171-488 1566.

e-mail: Maris@maris.com

The Pip’s Picture Maker CD-Rom series will have even the youngest children creating pictures in minutes. Each themed package has changeable background scenes, stickers and music. It is available for IBM-compatible PCs from Ten out of Ten Educational Systems, Troydale Mills, Troydale Lane, Leeds LS28 9LD. Tel: 0113-239 4627. E-mail: sales@tenten.u-net.com The Globetrotter CD-Rom by Eagle Eye Interactive features the countries of the world, using maps and statistical information, games, key statistics and a dates machine to read about important events in each country’s history. Available for pound;19.99 from Barrington Harvey, 33 Market Place, Hitchin, Herts SG5 lDY. Tel: 01462 456780. Eagle Eye Interactive, 7 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2HR. Tel: 0171-581 1371.

Homebeats: Struggles for Racial Justice is the first British CD-Rom on racism. Launched by the Institute of Race Relations, it includes video and audio clips, quizzes and images. It connects slavery and colonialism to contemporary racism. Aimed at schools and youth centres, it describes how black communities were built in Britain. Costing pound;25 per single user licence (pound;35 with study pack), it is available from the IRR at 2-6 Leeke Street, London WClX 9HS. Tel: 0171-837 0041.

Geography, mapping and compass skills all feature on The Map Detectives adventure CD-Rom. Aimed at children aged eight to 13, the software monitors pupils’ progress and introduces them to Ordnance Survey-style maps and symbols, grid references and route planning. It includes support materials and a user guide, and is available in Acorn, Mac and PC formats from Sherston Software, Angel House, Sherston, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0LH. Tel: 01666 840433.e-mail: sales@sherston.co.uk.Web: http:www.sherston.com Join the riotous adventures of Asterix and friends, and learn a language at the same time. Based on the comic book exploits of the Gaulish characters, the Language Learning with Asterix series squeezes interactive study of six European languages into 20 hours. The discs use quizzes, cartoons and speech to take students to A-level standard, and are available from Eurotalk, 315-317 Kings Road, Fulham, London SW6 4RF. Tel: 0171-372 7711.e-mail: eurotalk@compuserve.com

Pupils from Richard Atkins Primary School, Brixton, and The Photographers’ Gallery have seen how the Internet can create dialogue between children across the world in an arts project called A Tale of Four Cities. Through exchanges with partners in Nairobi, Dakar and Cape Town, the London children have learned how Kenyan children make footballs from plastic bags and sisal, and their first Swahili words. In return, students from the DRIK photography project in Bangladesh have learned about a pet spider collection, three cockatoos living in a Brixton tower block and how to make tuna quiche. The children’s work appears online this spring, culminating in an exhibition in January next year at The Photographers’ Gallery. For details, contact Anna Starling on 0171-831 1772.e-mail on: press@photonet.org.uk

Thousands of National Geographic photographs are available on CD-Rom. The National Geographic Photo Gallery for Windows 95 and 3.1 includes a search tool for easy access to photo categories, including polar regions, the natural world and ancient civilisations. Costing pound;29.99, it is available from the National Geographic, Priority House, Charles Avenue, Maltings Park, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9TQ. Tel: 01444 246333.Web: http:www.minscapeuk.com

The National Council for Educational Technology’s reviews of more than 600 CD-Rom titles can be viewed online at http:www.ncet.org.ukcd-rom.html. Details are available from NCET, Milburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry CV4 7JJ. Tel: 01203 416994. The NCET is also at BETT, stands 545 and 560.