News of the Latest Products and Technology for K-12
TitleWatch
by Kathie Felix, News Editor
TitleWatch lists recently-released
educational software and electronic media products that relate to the K-12
curriculum. This list is primarily but not exclusively comprised of CD-ROM
products; other electronic formats are noted in the text. Suggestions for
entries and press releases should be addressed to Kathie Felix,
5746 Union Mill Rd., PMB 605, Clifton, VA 20124 or kfelix@infotoday.com.
Cross Curriculum
SRA Literacy Launcher, an online literacy and math curriculum
for students in grades preK-2, provides access to more than 100 full-curriculum
language arts and mathematics lessons. The subscription service creates
opportunities for students to become independent readers by using mathematics
in situations that reflect their own personal experiences. A data collection
system provides real-time data on student progress and relates progress
to state standards. Individual student curriculum can be developed, based
on classroom observation or current classroom instruction. SRA/McGraw-Hill,
888/772-4543 or http://www.sra4kids.com/.
School Tycoon for ages 7-10 lets students design,
build, and run their own school. The program combines
simulation strategy and comic entertainment as youngsters
create their own Ultimate 5-Star School Empire. Students
can work with selected scenarios or in open play mode
as they deal with challenges to build structures, hire
teachers, keep students and teachers happy, and maintain
a balance between high grade point averages and athletic
prowess. Windows CD-ROM. $30—single copy. Riverdeep,
888/242-6747 or http://www.riverdeep.net/.
Early Learning
Clifford Phonics for preK-1 brings the big red dog and his friends
to the computer screen to help youngsters build phonics, vocabulary,
and spelling skills. The software covers letter and sound recognition,
word families, blending, initial consonants, and word-object association.
Mac/Win CD-ROM. $39, single copy. Tom Snyder Productions, 800/342-0236
or http://www.tomsnyder.com/.
I SPY Fantasy lets students explore three worlds filled with
characters, games, and I SPY riddles. Students guide their own adventures
as they search for lost treasures beneath the sea, command missions on
an alien planet, and invade a castle to defeat a dragon and rescue a
princess. The program helps youngsters strengthen skills in logic and
reasoning, reading and vocabulary, problem solving, and rhyming. Mac/Win
CD-ROM. $39—single copy. Tom Snyder Productions, 800/342-0236 or
http://www.tomsnyder.com/.
Language Arts
PLATO Intermediate Writing Process and Practice for middle school
students provides instruction in expository, persuasive, and narrative
writing with two courses of study. The Strategies course helps students
write documents to meet the needs of a specific audience and accomplish
an intended purpose. The Grammar and Mechanics course allows students
to practice skills in context by correcting grammar, mechanics and usage
errors, and receiving feedback on their corrections. Available as an
online subscription and a Windows CD-ROM. PLATO Learning, 800/869-2000
or http://www.plato.com/.
Tools for Teachers
mCLASS: DIBELS provides a hand-held version
of the K-3 DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early
Literacy Skills) assessment. Student performance data
can be entered with a hand-held computer and uploaded
to a Web site where it can be aggregated, analyzed,
and shared. Available in English and Spanish. Wireless
Generation, 212/213-8177 or http://www.wirelessgeneration.com/.
mCLASS: Reading for Palm hand-held systems
helps K-3 educators perform observational reading assessments.
The system instantly tabulates errors, calculates fluency,
and generates progress reports for teachers and administrators.
The software works with assessment protocols widely
used in paper-based formats. Licensing fees are based
on district implementation; costs begin at $12 per unit.
Wireless Generation, 212/213-8177 or http://www.wirelessgeneration.com/.
Tools for Everyone
Max's Sandbox, for grades K-4 and special-needs students in other
age groups, provides a colorful interface to Microsoft Office. The Max's
Sandbox Suite is made up of three core products: MaxWrite for Microsoft
Word, MaxCount for Microsoft Excel, and MaxShow for Microsoft PowerPoint.
The program was developed in Australia in a collaboration with the South
Australian Department of Education, Training, and Employment. A 30-day
trial version is available online. Max's Sandbox Suite: $146—five-user
lab pack, $266—10-user lab pack. MaxWrite for Word: $110—five-user
lab pack, $205—10-user lab pack. Site license pricing is available
for both titles. Max's Sandbox Teacher's Manual—$22. eWord Development,
http://www.maxssandbox.com/.
The Skill Navigator series for grades 9-12 provides computer-based
test preparation. Skill Navigator Mathematics and Skill Navigator
Language Arts are the first titles in the series. The products provide
initial skills assessments, customized curriculum and study plans, self-paced
tutorials, test-taking strategies, continuous practice assessments, printable
summary pages, progress reporting, and teacher resource materials. The
Learner mode allows students to check their answers and review explanations
as they go along. A comprehensive Teacher Resource Binder is included.
Win/Mac CD-ROM. Pricing begins at $249. The programs are available as
a single user school edition, five-user lab pack, 50-user network, and
flexible site license. Riverdeep, 888/242-6747 or http://www.riverdeep.net/.
The Education Edition of WordPerfect Office 11 includes the word
processor WordPerfect 11, spreadsheet Quattro Pro 11,
multimedia presentation application Presentations 11,
and the relational database Paradox. Now available at
retail stores, the education edition is priced at $99.
Faculty and staff of any accredited school, registered
and/or state-recognized home educators providing primary
or secondary education, supervisory education organizations,
and others are eligible for the discount price. Eligibility
information is available online. Corel, http://www.corel.com/education/.
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