TitleWatch, November/December 2001


	November/December 2001 Copyright © Information Today, Inc.
by Kathie Felix, News/Reviews Editor
TitleWatch lists recently released educational software products that relate to the K-12 curriculum. This list is primarily but not exclusively comprised of CD-ROM products; other formats (diskettes, videodiscs) are noted in the text. Suggestions for entries and press releases should be addressed to Kathie Felix at 5746 Union Mill Rd., PMB 605, Clifton, VA 20124 or to kfelix@infotoday.com. (All titles are CD-ROM unless otherwise noted.)

Early Learning

The Adiboo series focuses on science, critical thinking, music, and more with three titles for youngsters ages 4-6: Adiboo: Discover Mazes, Numbers & Puzzles; Adiboo: Discover Music, Melody & Rhyme; and Adiboo: Discover Nature, Animals & Planets. Each is available as a hybrid Mac/Win CD-ROM. $20 each. Knowledge Adventure, 800/542-4240 or http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/.

Language Arts

Cosmic Reading Journey for grades 2-3 provides summary and writing activities for the 100 books most important to early readers and their teachers. The program is organized around a space travel adventure that allows students to read for meaning, answer reader response questions, write short essays, and work on vocabulary/word attack activities. Mac/Win hybrid CD-ROM. $90—single user or lab pack of 10. $700—network or school pack of 80. Sunburst Technology, 800/321-7511 or http://www.sunburst.com/.

The Edmark Reading Program, Level 2, now available on CD-ROM, presents 100 multi-page stories, introduces 200 words, and continues to reinforce the vocabulary taught in Level 1. The program can be used independently or as a companion to the original Edmark Reading Program print curriculum. The software is fully compatible with the Edmark TouchWindow for direct selection and single switch devices, including the Edmark TouchFree Switch for no-touch selection. Levels 1 and 2 are available on a hybrid Mac/Win CD-ROM and in the original print version. Teacher's materials are included. $450—per level, software versions. $850—both levels, software versions. $475—Level 1, print version. $399—Level 2, print version. $830—both levels, print version. $825—Level 1, print and software bundle. $750—Level 2, print and software bundle. Riverdeep, 800/362-2890 or http://www.riverdeep.net/.

Mathematics

Math Blaster: Cross Terrain Challenge for ages 9-12 allows students to apply strategy, speed, and skill in a beat-the-clock competition stressing logic and critical-thinking skills. The series of five extreme outdoor obstacle courses focus on problem solving and math, with content supported by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Hybrid PowerMac/Win 95/98 CD-ROM. $20, single copy. Knowledge Adventure, 800/542-4240 or http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/.

Stickybear Math I Deluxe helps students in grades K-4 learn addition and subtraction, beginning with the most elementary addition problems and continuing through more complex addition and subtraction with regrouping. The animated program is divided into eight levels and covers 44 individual math skills. The program can be customized for an entire class or each individual student. Student progress is tracked and can be printed or displayed on the screen. A resource binder of extension materials is provided with all school, lab pack, and site license versions. Hybrid Mac/Win 95/98 CD-ROM. $60—home version, single copy. $100—school version, two CDs and one resource binder. $270—lab pack, six CDs and one resource binder. $700—site license, 30 CDs and one resource binder. Optimum Resource, Inc., 843/689-8000 or http://www.stickybear.com/.

Science

Learn About Physical Science: Matter, Measurement, and Mixtures allows students in grades K-2 to examine the mechanical world and learn about the ways that simple machines make our work easier. Animated demonstrations of the lever, pulley, wheel, screw, wedge, and inclined plane are combined with student activities. A global management feature allows teachers to monitor student progress and review student notebooks. A teacher's guide is included. Hybrid Mac/Win CD-ROM. $90—single user or lab pack of 10. $700—network version or unlimited school license. Sunburst Technology, 800/321-7511 or http://www.sunburst.com/.

The Science Court CD-ROM series is now available in a network version. The animated series for grades 4-6 combines courtroom drama, scientific experiments, and humor to teach fundamental science concepts. Titles include Electric Current, Fossils, Gravity, Inertia, Living Things, Particles in Motion, Seasons, Soil, Sound, Statistics, Water Cycle, and Work & Simple Machines. The network version sells for $500 per title. Tom Snyder Productions, 800/342-0236 or http://www.tomsnyder.com/.

Tools

The Palm Mobile Mentor Software offers organization, productivity, learning, and teaching applications in separate CD-ROM formats designed for educators, high school students, and college students. The CD includes ImagiMath 1.02, a calculator and math tool; powerOne, a general calculator with statistics and trigonometry functions; Documents To Go, a tool that allows the creation and editing of Word and Excel documents and the viewing of PowerPoint slides; MobileDB, a database; ThoughtManager, a note and list organizer; Four.Zero, an administrative database organizer; a thesaurus/spellcheck; eBook reader; a variety of eBooks, including The Wizard of Oz, A Tale of Two Cities, The Tragedy of King Richard the Second, and literature study guides; DropBook, a tool that creates eBooks; PDA Restrictor 1.0, a program that allows educators to limit the applications students have access to during class time or at other times; and more. $40—single user. Palm, Inc., 800/881-7256 or http://store.palmone.com/ or http://www.palmone.com/us/.

The Solution One: Internet Integration CD-ROM offers teachers a self-paced course on integrating technology into the curriculum. The program is based on the WebQuest model developed by Bernie Dodge that uses the Internet to teach subjects such as math, science, language arts, and social studies. At the completion of the training, teachers have implemented an Internet-assisted lesson in the classroom. Each teacher receives a CD and binder of supporting documents. Also available: an Implementation Guide for technology coordinators and a training workshop. $249—each CD-ROM, one to 25 copies. $199—each CD-ROM, 26-50 copies. $179—each CD-ROM, 51-99 copies. $149—each CD-ROM, 100 or more copies. School and district pricing is available. Technology Learning Solutions, 800/434-8572 or http://www.tlstraining.com/.

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