Reading

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Evaluation Scale

 (scale 0 = not applicable, 1 = not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good  and 4 = excellent) 

Description of Content:    ACE Reader calls itself, "a productivity and self-improvement reading tool."  It is a multi-level speed reading computer program that can also help ESL students, dyslexic learners and the visually impaired.  This is accomplished with diagnostic tests, comprehension tests, eye games, adjustable speed, various colors of text and adjustable size of text.  The Deluxe Network package is designed for reading labs where students do not need to sit in front of the same computer for each session.

Navigation and Structure:  ACE Reader encourages a spirit of "play" and "adventure."  Therefore, the navigation is easy and fun.  A student can exit at any point of the program.  Feedback is immediate and useful.

Instructional Applications:  Use ACE Reader as an entire Speed Reading Course (1 credit hour) for college students.  Use ACE Reader as a supplement for ESL students and/or non-native college students in a non-native reading class.  It could be interesting to use ACE Reader with students who are diagnosed with dyslexia and/or visual impairments.  ACE Reader could also be used to help GED students with comprehension.  

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 Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent) 

Description of Content:    This program is designed to improve vocabulary skills and help students on standardized exams with vocabulary components.  It offers analogies, homonyms, antonyms, and synonyms.  The program reviews over 1,000 words and offers lessons on the fifty most frequently encountered prefixes and suffixes.  It also has a section on spelling. 

Navigation and Structure:    This is an older program so it is slow but fairly easy to navigate from one menu to the next.   There is a report menu that students can access at any time to see how many correct they have and how much time they’ve spent on the program; however, there is no records management system on which to save scores.  There is a help menu available at all times and students can exit at any time.  Since this is an older program it does not have sound or graphics, so word pronunciation is not available. 

Instructional Applications:    This program is suitable for students studying for NLN, ACT, SAT, or other tests which have a vocabulary component.  Though it has instructional parts, the level of reading is high school level so it would not be suitable for low-level readers.  Its most suitable application would be as a supplementary drill and practice for those needing a review of vocabulary skills for a standardized test.  The spelling component could be a supplement for a variety of students needing spelling rules review.  Because this program does not offer the graphic and sound extras, it may not appeal to students use to this type of presentation. 

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale score 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   This program is designed the same as the Plato stand-alone and network systems, except you access the program through the Internet.  The software is designed to improve the knowledge and grade levels of students from K – Adult.  It covers a wide variety of subjects from ESL, Language, Math and Reading, to Social Studies, Science, Calculus, and Life and Career skills.  The program is knowledgeable and easy to read and use for the student.  There are tutorial sections that explain and apply basic concepts in addition to mastery tests.  If mastery tests are not passed, a new set of tutorial and mastery test questions are provided.

Navigation and Structure: The structure is fairly easy for the learner to navigate.  Assignments are chosen by the instructor and can be assigned as a class or individually.  Students would go through programs as they would regular Plato tutorial applications and mastery tests.  There is a status legend that lets students know if they have completed a section or if they have been locked out of a mastery test until they take the tutorial again.  The status legend also lets a student know if they have started a program or mastered it.  The status is located next to the assignments and is represented by an empty circle (not started), a half filled circle (in progress), a full circle (completed), a gold star (mastered), and a red lock (locked).

    The management system is the same as for regular Plato. It is quite entailed and requires some study to implement. The reports show current use, time on task, grades, and mastery levels. Programs can be designed based on TABE (and other) conversion scores to provide individualized study.

Instructional Applications:   This program can be used as a supplement for class instruction and is ideal for main study in a lab situation.  A program can be designed for each individual based on needs.  This is especially useful to an instructor with students at varying levels of proficiency.  This program is very conducive with students who prefer to use the computer.  This courseware will align with several standardized tests (i.e. TABE & others) so individual plans can be developed.

Notes of concern:

The beginning English curriculum has some assignments that are bothersome to students because the talking section is slow and they cannot move easily to the next screen.

The Trigonometry curriculum is not ideal for self – instruction, but would be good combined with class instruction. 

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:    Course designed to help students pass standardized tests.  Course offerings include curriculum geared to ABE/GED students.  I found the course hard to navigate and have suspicion that our students would also need a lot of assistance in taking these courses. 

Navigation and Structure:    Navigation is much more difficult than it should be.  Students will need computing skills prior to using this application.

Instructional Applications:   Adult Education/self-paced

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   This program is designed to improve vocabulary skills and help students on standardized exams with vocabulary components.  It offers analogies, homonyms, antonyms, and synonyms.  The program reviews over 1,000 words and offers lessons on the fifty most frequently encountered prefixes and suffixes.  It also has a section on spelling.

Navigation and Structure:    This is an older program so it is slow but fairly easy to navigate from one menu to the next.   There is a report menu that students can access at any time to see how many correct they have and how much time they’ve spent on the program; however, there is no records management system on which to save scores.  There is a help menu available at all times and students can exit at any time.  Since this is an older program it does not have sound or graphics, so word pronunciation is not available.

Instructional Applications:    This program is suitable for students studying for NLN, ACT, SAT, or other tests which have a vocabulary component.  Though it has instructional parts, the level of reading is high school level so it would not be suitable for low-level readers.  Its most suitable application would be as a supplementary drill and practice for those needing a review of vocabulary skills for a standardized test.  The spelling component could be a supplement for a variety of students needing spelling rules review.  Because this program does not offer the graphic and sound extras, it may not appeal to students use to this type of presentation.  

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale score 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   Steck-Vaughn has created this 16-hour online course to provide GED educators with key information, resources and teaching strategies to help them teach and prepare their students for the GED 2002 series of tests.  It includes an overview of the GED Tests, an explanation of the reason for changes, the history of the GED, and the changes made for the GED 2002.  The course then elaborates on all five tests specifically.  Finally, a section on “Teaching Across Content Areas” concludes the course.
 

Navigation and Structure:    Steck-Vaughn provides a very user friendly, professional product that may be ordered online.  Once the fee is paid, a teacher is emailed a registration notification with a user name and password.  The teacher works through a series of clearly explained activities, which involve excellent samples, video clips, and printable worksheets.  At the end of each unit, the teacher takes an online test to assess understanding.  Links are accessible to explanations for those who may need review.  Scheduled chats are also available plus the ability to email questions and share ideas.  Sections exist for note-taking and scheduling assignments.  Finally, the program provides a list of sites for more information, materials, new ideas for lesson plans, and GED test preparation.  The Help Desk offers a live person answering the telephone or email 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Questions answered by the Help Desk include technical questions about the software or about computers in general.

Instructional Applications:    This program is an excellent way to get ready to teach the GED 2002 whether one is a veteran GED teacher or a novice.  Teachers will find it a quick method for the following: Interpreting Visual Information; Decoding Edited American English; Demystifying Graphic Information; Teaching Higher Order Thinking Skills; Using the new 4-Point Essay Scoring Rubric.

Even though it is good if the teacher is comfortable with the Internet, the course is so professionally done that there is little room for confusion. The GED 2002 Teaching Strategies Online Course is a great way to review and assess one’s knowledge.

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:    This software allows you to easily create and administer tests as well as assignments for your vocabulary class in conjunction with the book The World of Words by Rickek.

Navigation and Structure:    This software is relatively easy to navigate as it has a simplified screen design and an object-oriented approach. There is a test administrator that allows you to quickly tailor tests to your students’ individual needs, and there is a class administrator that allows you to organize your information into a spreadsheet.  It automatically tracks and saves each test, as well as user-created assignments.

Instructional Applications:    This site could be used with students who need to improve their overall vocabulary skills.   It would be good for to use in conjunction with the textbook and could be used to help students achieve mastery of necessary vocabulary. 

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Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   This is a thorough 300-word program that requires students to apply etymology and higher order reasoning skills to develop an understanding of a word’s meaning.  Features the WATS (Words and Their Stories) System by studying the word in various ways:  derivation, application of prior knowledge, context clues, analogies, completion of a sentence with the word, and, finally, the definition.  There are three proficiency levels under 5 lesson categories:  Roots & Prefixes, Mythical & Historical Allusions, Words Commonly Confused, Foreign Words, and Strange & Unusual Words.  The student gets immediate feedback after each word in an eye-catching way with graphics and words describing their effort.  They may click on the word and have it pronounced at any time.  Though this program is advertised for grades 5-8 it is appropriate for adults, though some of the words seem above a 5^th to 8^th grade level.  The analogy section could be especially difficult for some students.

Navigation and Structure:    This program is fairly easy to load, access, and manage.  Students sign in and have a password and can get a performance report when any word is done or before starting up again.  Buttons show up on each screen to help navigate around the program.  There is a pre-diagnostic test that can be taken to place students at the correct level or they can just start at any level or category by selecting it.  There is also a post-mastery test when all words are completed.

Instructional Applications:   A teacher can assign words by category and level for a daily/weekly assignment and print off quizzes as mastery tests.  (Quizzes are available on the CD as supplementary PDF files.)  A student could also work independently in a self-paced study program and then be given mastery tests when ready.  This is a good vocabulary component for any classroom curriculum and is especially appealing to those learners who like graphics and sound.  For a GED student this would work not only on vocabulary, but also on the higher order thinking skills which are needed for the new GED test.

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   Provides optical character recognition (OCR), the ability to scan a printed page and convert it into electronic text. Speech synthesis enables this scanned text to be read aloud. A special correction feature provides automatic correction of misrecognized word. WYNN Wizard permits two views of material: Exact View shows material exactly as scanned; Text View displays the text only to enable visual tailoring for individual use. The two views are linked and users may switch back and forth from one view to the other. WYNN Wizard can scan and read word processing, text files, and the Internet.

Ostensibly, a person could scan in any book or text, and have it read to them (via synthesized speech), but it requires pretty advanced technical savvy for someone who cannot read! 

Navigation and Structure:   Simple word processor – type interface.  Allows direct access to web.

Instructional Applications:   Reading, spelling, ESL (perhaps)

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale score 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:    This software is designed to improve the knowledge and grade levels of students form K-Adult.  It covers a wide variety of subjects from ESL, Language, Math and Reading, to Social Studies, Science, Calculus, and Life and Career skills.  The program is knowledgeable and easy to read and use for the student.  There are tutorial sections that explain and apply basic concepts in addition to mastery tests.  If mastery tests are not passed, a new set of tutorial and mastery test questions are provided.

Navigation and Structure:    The structure is fairly easy for the learner to navigate.  The programs provide encouragement and “kudos” for success by literally placing gold stars by assignments successfully completed.  Both half and full shaded boxes are placed next to assignments to help students keep track of completed assignments.  Feedback and hints are provided immediately after each question in the assignment.

The management system is quite entailed and requires some study to implement.  Assignments can be as classes or individual and can be a whole curriculum or set-up as bits and pieces. The reports show current use, time on task, grades, and mastery levels. Programs can be designed based on TABE (and other) conversion scores to provide individualized study.

Instructional Applications:    This program can be used as a supplement for class instruction and is ideal for main study in a lab situation.  A program can be designed for each individual based on needs.  This is especially useful to an instructor with students at varying levels of proficiency.  This program is very conducive with students who prefer to use the computer.  This courseware will align with several standardized tests (i.e. TABE & others) so individual plans can be developed.

Notes of concern:

The beginning English curriculum has some assignments that are bothersome to students because the talking section is slow and they cannot move easily to the next screen.

The Trigonometry curriculum is not ideal for self-instruction, but would be good combined with class instruction.

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Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   This interactive computer product is based on the "Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself" reading system.  This system employs the use of explicit, sequential phonics.  Students learn to blend and build from a single letter to a word and effectively learn to read and spell at their own pace.  “The program provides students with the tools necessary to continue learning on their own. Upon completion, most students can decode multi-syllable words at an eighth grade level or beyond.” info@intensivephonics.com

This reviewer believes that students should not just be placed in front of the computer but should also be actively taught.  Therefore, in order to be a more effective tool, the HEC program needs to be combined with the Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself teacher toolkits.  Teachers will find the system to be very valuable because they can teach both individually and in small groups.

Navigation and Structure:   The HEC program consists of 30 lessons based on the 42 sounds of the alphabet, five phonetic skills, and two decoding skills.  Students listen to a human voice soundtrack as they interact with the software by manipulating the keyboard in order to break down words for reading and spelling.  The Windows version of the courseware provides a Mastery, Drill, and Practice component.  “It includes decoding, vocabulary development, and reading practice.  Students can hear over 2400 words pronounced, see and hear the definition for each word, including a graphic illustration where applicable, see and hear the words used in context sentences, decode the words and read them within sentences and paragraphs.”  info@intensivephonics.com

Instructional Applications:    This program can be used by a variety of levels.  Nonreaders can use it to learn basic sound units for decoding purposes.  ESL students truly appreciate the systematic and logical approach.  The auditory component is the key.  Students with learning difficulties that affect their spelling and reading will find this tool to be a great way to build a strong foundation for both.  Upon completion of the program, all students will have the ability to decode higher level words which will increase their reading comprehension level because there will be the chance for less guessing.  

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1 = not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   

• This course is designed to consecutively build a student’s phonetic skills.  Each lesson builds upon skills learned in a previous lesson.  Once a student has completed a lesson it can be re-run as many times as the student and/or the administrator feel it necessary. 

• Pre- and Post-tests are given to determine the reading grade level of the student prior to and following the course.  Following a lesson an Interim-Test is automatically administered by the Management system this gives the student a guiding post to determine how they are doing prior to progressing to the next concept.
• The Mastery Drill and Practices activity provides 2400 words with printed and audio pronunciation, definition and context sentences.  A student is able to decode these words and record their own voice digitally so the can replay and listen to the accuracy of their pronunciation of the words. 
• An additional attribute that you receive is the ESL Say program.  This allows the student to click the mouse pointer on the letter combination to review the sound.  It also offers the option of viewing the full motion video of a person saying the sound.

Navigation and Structure:

• The installation and the administrator setup for this program is very straight forward.  Any questions that might help the administrator can be found in the README.TXT.   When you install the HEC Reading Horizons:  Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself the ELS Say and HEC Import programs are also install. 

• This program is extremely user-friendly.  A student can exit the program and the program will automatically bookmark where they left off.  When they return they have the choice to continue from where they left off or restart the lesson.  If they need additional pronunciation help they can polish their skills by using the ELS Say program.

·         HEC Reading Horizons:  Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself offers student evaluation reports for the administrator that may be printed and a detailed manual for the administrator.  

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:     Content includes providing visual aid for students to Brainstorm, Plan, Organize, Outline, Pre-write, Diagram, Concept Mapping and Webbing.  The Content Covers many areas for students however helps give structure and organization for projects.

Navigation and Structure:    Inspiration has made navigation simple.  The student can either start with an idea and diagram it down to focus on key points or the program will help the student brainstorm ideas starting simple with a subject such as vacation.  It can also show relations to other ideas.  The program makes the concepts visual to the student helping them put their thoughts together and produce essays and book reports with ease.  This is a great program.

Instructional Applications:    This program would be great at providing instructional help for students.  I think that many times good ideas and concepts get lost in the process.  This is one of the best learning and organizing pieces of software.

Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:    This site helps the teacher make the most of Newsweek in the classroom.  All resources are free to teachers with classroom orders of 15 copies or more.  Teachers have access to teaching tools such as maps, graphics, and of course worksheets.  Each week the teacher receives lessons, a guide, and quiz for the current week of Newsweek.  The lessons are patterned to curriculum standards with activities generated to graphic interpretation, linking the past with the present, and understanding how the media networks with sources of information.

Ordering Newsweek can be done online for 57¢ per issue with a minimum order of 15 copies or more. 

Navigation and Structure:  Typical website navigation in a well-structured layout that features several links to lesson plans, worksheets, maps, and electronic field trips.

Instructional applications:   Excellent source for generating student interest in Reading, Political Science, Economics, Geography, and History.  The web site can be used for internet projects and online research, with online activities to support the information.

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:    Reading comprehension including sentence structure and Grammar

Navigation and Structure:  Combination windows based and DOS based software

Instructional Applications:    ESOL, GED and ABE

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Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1 = not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good

and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   Reading Plus is a guided program designed to assist lower level readers to read more fluently and comprehend more completely.  It provides a student with twenty-five comprehension skills and records each student's progress.  It even documents how many minutes a student spends on each assignment.

Navigation and Structure:   The navigation and structure of Reading Plus is somewhat confusing due to its complexity.

Instructional Applications:   Reading Plus would be an excellent supplement to a developmental reading curriculum.  It should not be used exclusively in a reading class because books should be a part of a reading program.

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:     This course gives an overview of the GED tests, some test-taking strategies, and the chance for students to evaluate their skills. Based on results of the Official GED Practice tests (which are sent out by mail), students discover approximately how they would score on the real tests and what things they need to study. This is only a preparation course. The course consists of 4 online lessons that introduce the various tests, online practice items, and the Official GED Practice tests.

Navigation and Structure:    It is easy to navigate and the feedback is appropriate.  The reading level of the directions is easily comprehended and assistance is available.

Instructional Applications:   This course is ideal for the self-motivated student who prefers to study and prepare at home in front of a computer rather than in a classroom setting.

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Evaluation scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1 = not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:   Students use this program to create their own accessible books with text, and the use of several different voice sounds.  The software allows you to scan documents from hard copy and convert the scan to text; it actually "reads" pages you scan.

This program would probably be applicable for various grade levels from k-9.  This program would be useful for repeated readings.  The only weakness is that from the selection of voices quite a few of them are hard to distinguish due to the “computer like” sound.     

Navigation and Structure:   Navigation is clearly labeled by the large icons located on the command bar.  The student uses the mouse to click the “mouth” icon and the program immediately begins reading what is on the screen.  The rate of reading can be adjusted.  Short stories or complete books can be scanned and input into one document.  The student can start and stop at any place.  The program will begin where the student last stopped.

Instructional applications:    The program can be used for listening to a story as the learner follows along with the book.  Would be good for low-level readers, as they will hear the words as they follow with the reading source.

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Evaluation Scale 

(scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content:    Text Aloud is a program utility that allows everything selected and copied to simply be read to you upon access.  You can also choose between different voices embedded in the program.

Navigation and Structure:    The program is simple and reasonable priced.  This is a great utility for those who have reading disabilities.  The program has a user-friendly interface.  As you select the text that you would like to have read it is highlighted as it is read back helping the user keep track of what is being read.   The program sits in the task tray and shows up when coping text.  There is a smaller window that just has sound controls such as play, pause and stop. 

Instructional Applications:    This is a good utility that is inexp