Reading
|
Reading |
|
Program
Title |
Publisher |
Rating |
Instructional
Area |
Computer
Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Assistive
Media Current Features Software |
Assistive
Media |
3.7 |
Reading |
Windows
95, 98, or 2000 |
|
Web-based
|
Bos
& Glazier, PLC |
3.25 |
Reading,
Social Studies |
Windows
98 or MacOS 9.0 or higher, Internet, Adobe
Acrobat 4.0, Java-enabled browser, Macromedia Flash |
|
How
to Read for Everyday Living Software |
Educational
Activities Software |
3.8 |
Reading |
Windows |
|
Software |
Educational
Activities Software |
3.3 |
Reading,
ESL |
Pentium
II, 90 MHz, Windows 95/98 or NT or 2000, ME, EA Manager, Color Monitor, 4x
speed CD-ROM drive, headset or Microphone & speakers, QuickTime v.4.0
included |
|
Web-based |
Education
4 Kids |
3.7 |
English
Vocabulary, Reading |
Windows
95, 98, or 2000 |
|
Program
Title |
Assistive Media Current Features |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
AssistiveMedia
http://www.assistivemedia.org |
|
Subject |
Reading |
|
Level |
GED |
|
Program
features |
Audio
Components E-mail
help |
|
Computer
Requirements |
Internet
connection 56k
modem Realplayer Windows
95, 98, 2000 Internet
Explorer 5 Pentium
II 266 |
|
Price |
Free |
|
Overall
Rating |
3.7 |
Evaluation
Scale (scale
0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)
|
User
Friendly |
3.5 |
|---|---|
|
Interesting
Interface |
3.0 |
|
Ease
of loading software |
0 |
|
Affordability |
4 |
|
Content |
4 |
|
Age
appropriate |
4 |
|
Sound |
0 |
|
|
|
|
Average |
3.7 |
Description
of Content
This
website provides intelligent and stimulating current writing pieces in a clear
audio format. Sources for the writing pieces are given, so instructors can
get the original written form as well as having access to the audio format.
The audio clips run from 10 to 50 minutes and include an excellent range
of materials.
Navigation
and Structure
This
is an easy site to navigate with a very simple structure.
Instructional
Applications
This site is a good resource for instructors who have students who need develop their reading skills. The site could be used in conjunction with the original written pieces to develop speed and fluency in the order and it could be used to develop literal and figurative comprehension with instructor-developed questions. As the site provides the audio for the piece, it could be used with sight-impaired students.
|
Program
Title |
Awesome Stories |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
AwesomeStories.com
Bos & Glazier, PLC http://www.lawbuzz.com
|
|
Subject |
Reading,
Social Studies |
|
Level |
ABE
102 to GED |
|
Program
features |
Vocabulary,
visuals |
|
Computer
Requirements |
Internet
connection 56k
modem Internet
Explorer or Netscape Navigator 6.0+ Java-enabled
browser Windows
98 or higher, or MacOS 9.0 or higher Screen
resolution set at 1024 X 768 266
MHz Pentium or equivalent processor 16-bit
Sound Card Speakers
or Headphones Adobe
Acrobat 4.0 PDF Viewer Macromedia
Flash |
|
Price |
Free |
|
Overall
Rating |
33.25 |
Evaluation
Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 =
excellent)
|
User
Friendly |
2 |
|
Interesting
Interface |
4 |
|
Ease
of loading software |
0 |
|
Affordability |
4 |
|
Content |
4 |
|
Age
appropriate |
2 |
|
Sound |
0 |
|
|
|
|
Average |
3.25 |
Description
of Content
Stories
about famous events, legends, people, heroes and movies are presented with
primary source material. Each story contains links to the source material
used by the author to write the story. The links connect to documents,
photographs or other web sites of interest on the same subject matter.
Navigation
and Structure
Due
to all of the links, this is a site to visit when you have the time to spend
waiting for things to load. I had a difficult time simply getting to a
home page that allowed me to navigate through the system as it kept coming up
blank.
Instructional
Applications
This would be an excellent resource for materials for either reading or social studies courses.
|
Program
Title(s) |
“Math for Everyday Living ” and “How
to Read for Everyday Living” |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
Educational
Activities Software, Inc. http://www.edact.com
|
|
Subject |
Math,
Reading |
|
Level |
Beginner |
|
Program
features |
Instructional
basic math and reading skills |
|
Computer
Requirements |
|
|
Price |
Contact
Dealer: 800-645-3739 |
|
Overall
Rating |
3.8 |
Evaluation
Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 =
excellent)
|
User
Friendly |
4 |
|---|---|
|
Interesting
Interface |
4 |
|
Ease of loading software EA
Manager did not run properly in Windows 2000) |
3
|
|
Affordability |
0 |
|
Content |
4 |
|
Age
appropriate |
4 |
|
Sound |
4 |
|
|
|
|
Average |
3.8 |
Description
of Content
Movie
clips are used to visualize and the audio helps comprehend instructions on basic
skills. The math CD contains practical exercises that must be completed
before moving on.
This
software comes with a manual that contains instructions and sample student
forms.
|
The
reading topics are:
|
The
math topics are:
|
Navigation
and Structure
Personalized
files can be created for each student that is saved to the hard drive.
Instructors can edit student profiles, print rosters and reports from the EA
Manager. Students can go view the different clips in any order. The
math exercises can be accessed in different order by exiting the program and
restarting.
Instructional
Applications
Preparing
adults with basic math and reading skills.
| Program title(s) | “Sound Sentences II ” |
|---|---|
| Publisher |
Educational
Activities Software |
| Subject |
ESL, Reading |
| Level |
Adult
literacy and ESL learners |
| Program
features |
10
lessons with voice-recognition |
| Computer
Requirements |
|
| Price |
$595.00 |
| Overall
Rating |
3.3 |
Evaluation
Scale (scale
0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)
| User
Friendly |
3 |
|---|---|
| Interesting
Interface |
3 |
| Ease
of loading software |
4 |
| Affordability |
2 |
| Content |
3 |
| Age
appropriate |
4 |
| Sound |
4 |
| |
|
| Average |
3.3 |
Description
of Content
The
program is composed of 10 sections. Each
section deals with a slightly different type of situation in which creating and
using structured sentences correctly is necessary for efficient communication:
Directions
Fast
Food
Learning
to Drive
Meet
me in New York
Renting
an Apartment
That
Phone System
The
Bank
The
Dinner Guest
The
Job Interview
The
Library
The
manual that accompanies the software contains vocabulary and worksheets for
instructors to use. Some of the
storage needed for the lessons is for voice recordings of each student.
Navigation
and Structure
Personalized
files created are saved to the hard drive for each student.
They include the voice recordings to be used for the lessons. Each lesson is independent of the others.
Instructional
Applications
Adult
literacy, pre-GED instruction or ESL class curriculum.
| Program
Title |
Vocabulary Drill |
|---|---|
| Publisher |
Education
4 Kids http://www.edu4kids.com/lang1/ |
| Subject |
English Vocabulary,
Reading |
| Level |
Student-
6-10 |
| Program
features |
Immediate
feedback on answers |
| Computer
Requirements |
Internet
connection 56k
modem Windows
95, 98, 2000 Internet
Explorer |
| Price |
Free |
| Overall
Rating |
3.7 |
Evaluation
Scale (scale
0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)
| User
Friendly |
3.5 |
|---|---|
| Interesting
Interface |
3.0 |
| Ease
of loading software |
0 |
| Affordability |
4 |
| Content |
4 |
| Age
appropriate |
4 |
| Sound |
0 |
| |
|
| Average |
3.7 |
Description
of Content
This
website is designed to assist students in developing their vocabulary skills and
currently has 850 words in its database. The
words are presented in a sentence and the student is provided four possible
answer choices with the fourth always being “No Answer” which the students
are told is the wrong answer as there is always an answer.
Example vocabulary words from the site are shrewd, impartial and retort.
Navigation
and Structure
This
is an easy site to navigate with a very simple structure.
Instructional
Applications
This
site is a good resource for instructors who have students who need to develop
their vocabulary. It is a very simple site that students can easily use on
their own outside of class time to develop their skills.