Code Book CD-ROM

This CD-ROM is based on 'The Code Book' by Simon Singh. There is a vast amount of information on it, so it is well worth exploring before you let your students lose on it.

The CD has been produced as an educational tool, so you do not require special permission or a licence to install it on the school network, or make copies for educational purposes. The CD can be purchased or downloaded for free from Simon Singh's web page. (link to http://www.simonsingh.com/The_CDROM.html.)

Navigation tips:

  1. When you initially load the CD, the menu you are confronted with several circles. Clicking on the 'Junior Codebreakers' circle takes you directly to some of the best interactive tools suitable for KS2/KS3 students.

  2. Clicking on the symbol at any time takes you to the main menu. The main menu is arranged chronologically listing codes used throughout history. Decryption tools are marked with a 'D', encryption tools are marked with an 'E' and video clips from the Channel 4 series, 'The Science of Secrecy' are marked with a 'V'.

Some highlights:

  1. The 'Frequency analysis puzzle' is great. It challenges students to decipher book extracts that have enciphered using mono-alphabetic substitution. Clicking on the 'Choose Ciphertext' square allows you to pick simple ones aimed at children, or more complex ones for a greater challenge. At the bottom of the page, several tools provide information to help with cracking the cipher. Once you have identified swapped letters, entering them into spaces above the alphabet table instantly inserts them into the plaintext version.

    Students need to employ data analysis, problem solving and logical thinking skills to complete the challenge. There is also the ability to enter names into a 'leader board' of the fastest times.

  2. The 'Enigma Emulator' is a computer simulation of an Enigma machine. Clicking on 'Show Enigma Wiring' takes you inside the machine. All the wires are shown in black and you can follow the yellow path of a circuit from the keyboard to the lamp board when a button is pressed. It shows how the rotor movement results in a letter being encoded differently every time. You can also change all of the settings on the machine.

  3. On the start-up menu, the 'Teacher's Sections' contains worksheets and lesson plans. They are well worth a look at, even if just for inspiration and guidance.