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Science |
|
Program Title |
Publisher |
Rating |
Instructional Area |
Operating System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software | ||||
|
Diversfield Comp. Ser. |
1.9 |
Science/Writing/ Reading/ Social Studies and Math |
Windows |
|
|
Cyber Ed. |
3.4 |
Biology/Chemistry |
Window Macintosh |
|
|
Steck-Vaughn |
4 |
Social Studies/Science |
Windows Macintosh |
|
|
Inspiration Software |
4 |
Reading/Science/Social Studies |
Windows |
|
|
New Brunswick Community College |
3.3 |
Math/Reading/Writing/Social Studies/Science/Language |
Windows |
|
|
Internet Sites |
|
|
|
|
|
Steck-Vaughn |
3 |
Science |
Internet |
|
|
Susan Crowles |
4 |
Science /Reading |
Internet |
|
|
4tests.com |
2.6 |
Science |
Internet |
|
|
The Natural Museum |
4 |
Science/Reading |
Internet |
|
|
EBSCO |
3.3 |
Science/Reading/Social Studies |
Internet |
Program
Title
|
|
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
4tests.com
http://www.4tests.com |
|
Subject |
Science |
|
Level |
Intermediate ABE |
|
Program
features |
Provides performance
feedback for students by giving sample questions related to the GED test. |
|
Computer
Requirements |
IE or Netscape Navigator
Browser. |
|
Price |
Free |
|
Overall
Rating |
2.6 Good |
Evaluation Scale (scale
0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)
|
User Friendly |
3 |
|---|---|
|
Interesting Interface |
2 |
|
Ease of loading software |
0 |
|
Affordability |
4 |
|
Content |
1 |
|
Age appropriate |
3 |
|
Sound |
0 |
|
Average |
2.6 |
Description of Content:
Sample test questions based on actual GED test. Test questions seem quite
appropriate and applicable to current GED standards. If students are
unsure of a question, they can mark it for review.
Navigation and Structure:
Navigation is simple.
Negligible computer skills needed for this review.
You must register at this site and although registration is easy, you
will compromise your privacy with a barrage of cookies and disclosure of
personal information.
Instructional Applications: Adult Education/GED
Program
Title
|
|
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
The Natural History
Museum |
|
Subject |
Reading and Science |
|
Level |
Low ABE – GED |
|
Program
features |
The Home Page has the six
different time periods of dinosaur existence and each time period allows
the user investigate the dinosaurs that ruled the world for that period of
time. |
|
Computer
Requirements |
Any
computer with access to the Internet |
|
Price |
Free |
|
Overall
Rating |
4 Excellent |
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 |
0 |
|
Affordability |
0 |
|
Content |
4 |
|
Age appropriate |
4 |
|
Sound |
0 |
|
Average |
4 |
Description of Content: The
Natural History Museum Dino Directory is a link that is a part of the Natural
History Museum. There are a number of links available for a number of
scientific explorations including the Museum Dino Directory. The Education
and Technology links provide materials, and programs that utilize the museum’s
resources to connect people of all ages with “real” science. There is
also a specific link for Adult education. The activities generated for
learners is not free, but there is a snail address for purchasing them.
Navigation and Structure:
Typical web site navigation in a well-structured layout that features several
links to further scientific investigations. Structured very well and is
easy to use.
Instructional Applications: Excellent source for generating student interest in Reading, Science, Geography, and History. The web site can be used for Internet projects and online research, with online activities to support the information.
|
Program Title |
|
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
EBSCO
Publishing Contact
for
Adult
Literacy providers: Kali
Reynolds @
KReynolds@epnet.com |
|
Subject |
Reading
in the Content Areas |
|
Level |
Low ABE - GED |
|
Program features |
Visual: Graphic
illustrations in some of the reading activities Kinesthetic/tactile
and web activities via manipulation of keyboard and mouse |
|
Computer Requirements |
EBSCOhost's browser
requirements:
If
you are using Lynx the minimum browser requirement is Lynx
2.6 and you must use the no
frames version of EBSCOhost. |
|
Price |
Yearly subscription fee
for adult literacy providers = $295 |
|
Overall Rating |
3.3 Good |
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 |
3 |
|
Content |
3 |
|
Age appropriate |
4 |
|
Sound |
0 |
|
Average |
3.3 |
Description of Content: EBSCOlearn is
an online service that students may access via the Internet. The Online
Reader is a reading comprehension program designed to improve students'
standardized test scores. This program uses a variety of magazine
articles, each accompanied by a test, to help students demonstrate literal or
initial understanding, interpret passages, apply critical analysis, and utilize
reading strategies. Teachers assign topics based on grade level and
content area.
The EBSCOlearn package provides
3,600 reading assignments from all curriculum areas. These assignments
come from the Learning Online Package! The
articles are from outstanding resources:
News and World Report, Ranger Rick, Scientific American, Biography, and
National Wildlife. The product is a great way to provide teaching across the
curriculum.
Besides the EBSCOlearn package, the service also offers The
Curriculum Reference Product Line. This
database gives a teacher access to over 38,300 articles in numerous areas:
Civics Collection, 7,500 full text articles; Earth & Space Science
Database, over 7,700 full text articles; Language Arts Collection, over 6,100
full text articles; Physical Science Collection, over 7,000 full text articles;
and World History Database, over 9,200 full text articles.
It appears that these articles are not ones that are assigned via
Internet, but they can be accessed by the teacher, printed, and used in class.
It is a library at your fingertips.
Navigation and Structure:
Teachers access the Internet via a teacher management site. There they may
search the database for articles based on specific grade level or content area.
Students may then, in turn, access these assignments via the Internet at school,
home, the library, or even the South Pole! A step-by-step sheet of
directions needs to be provided to the student for easy access. Tech
support has been good since the service is interested in getting feedback from
adult literacy personnel.
Instructional Applications: Although the lexile range is from 250 to 1300 (grade level 1 to 12), it appears that most articles begin at 520 (level 3) and above. This program is a great way to introduce students to the Internet. Students may work in pairs or individually if they are in the classroom. Many ESL students enjoy the product because the Internet is the way in which they communicate with those in their homeland, so some are quite comfortable with it. Once again the product engages the student in many forms of learning. They become much more active learners.
Program
Title
|
|
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
|
|
Subject |
SCIENCE |
|
Level |
GED |
|
Program
features |
Bookmark |
|
Computer
Requirements |
Internet Explorer 4.0 or
higher OR Netscape Navigator 3.0 |
|
Price |
Free |
|
Overall
Rating |
3 Good |
Evaluation Scale (scale
0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)
|
User Friendly |
2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Interesting Interface |
2.5 |
|
Ease of loading software |
0 |
|
Affordability |
4 |
|
Content |
3 |
|
Age appropriate |
3 |
|
Sound |
0 |
|
Average |
3 |
Description of Content:
This on-line program has between 15 to 18 questions per content area, so the
Science section has the four content areas of biology, physics, chemistry, and
earth science. The questions within the content areas require the thinking
skills of comprehension, application, analysis, and evaluation and are
reflective of a typical pre or post-test.
Navigation and Structure:
Navigation of the site was somewhat frustrating in that you had to answer a
question, check your answer, go to summary and then go back in order to answer
another question. Sometimes you could go to answer a question after simply
checking it, but this was not the norm. The on-screen help of checking the
answers is valuable, and the explanations were at a level appropriate to the
skills level of the student.
Instructional Applications: This site could be used with students who are at the tail end of their studies. It would be good for students who like answering questions that are reflective of GED content and knowledge and who like getting immediate feedback. It could be used to reinforce prior knowledge of a student and to improve self-confidence at the end of their studies if they have mastered a subject.
|
Program Title |
|
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
Diversified Computer
Services |
|
Subject |
GED 2002 training
–Writing, Social, Studies, Science, Reading and |
|
Level |
Student needs to be
computer literate and internet savvy or have access to someone who can
help him/her install the program. |
|
Program
features |
Drill and practice
activities Chat Room Email |
|
Computer
Requirements |
Software: Windows
95, 98, 2000, ME, or NT; Internet Explorer 5.0 or above if using AOL
access; Netscape Navigator 4.0 or above if accessing from other ISP; Web
Player Plug-in Adobe Acrobat Reader Hardware: No specs are
given. I would assume the minimum requirements for usage would be
the following: Pentium I, 133 MHz,64 MB,56k modem
|
|
Price |
Subscription rate:
|
|
Overall
Rating |
1.9 Fair |
Evaluation Scale (scale
0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)
|
User Friendly |
2 |
|---|---|
|
Interesting Interface |
2 |
|
Ease of loading software |
2 |
|
Affordability |
2 |
|
Content |
2 |
|
Age appropriate |
2 |
|
Sound |
1 |
|
Average |
1.9 |
Description of Content: This online product
is designed to give students practice before taking the GED tests. It
provides both an opportunity to practice for the tests and a diagnosis of how
well a student might do on the tests. Practice lessons provide little
instruction and are brief. The only feedback that is given in the language
area if an error is made is, “No, the correct answer is #.” No further
instruction is given. In order to have an essay scored, a student sends it
by snail mail to the company for feedback. The product does link to some
interesting Internet sites in the Social Studies area but there are no
questions. The science area also does provide some visuals although there
are times when one can go to a site and not be able to return by clicking the
back arrow. Comprehension questions range in number from two to ten
depending upon the subject. The reading area is limited in practice while
the math area does appear to provide more instruction during a quiz.
Navigation and Structure:
Once the fee is paid, a student is mailed the GED online CD, username, password,
and a set of Steck-Vaughn official GED practice tests. The student then
“takes” a GED practice test by inputting the answers online. The test
is then scored immediately and recommendations are made. If a student does
not do well, he/she is recommended to go to practice lessons based on the
following categories: comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis.
Navigation is not too difficult as long as a user has had some experience with
Internet.
Instructional Applications: Higher-level students who want a real quick review and practice and who prefer using a computer should use this program. Being comfortable using Internet is a must. Visual effects can be very disconcerting for low-level readers. Although the program says that there is a GED Chat room, this reviewer had difficulty accessing it, but when that was finally done, no one else was using it.
Program Title
|
Long-Term Ecological
Research Project at Palmer Station Antarctic |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
Susan Cowles |
|
Subject |
Science, Reading |
|
Level |
GED |
|
Program features |
Web site is well marked
and features several links |
|
Computer Requirements |
Any
computer with access to the Internet |
|
Price |
Free |
|
Overall Rating |
4 Excellent |
Evaluation
Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 =
excellent)
|
User Friendly |
|---|