SoftwareReview


 * Software Review Project Instructions**

For this project, you will choose a topic and in a group will investigate/review one of the categories of software listed below. Based on the category of software, you will answer pertinent questions listed below. Your group work is to be conducted on your group's |antiochteachers.wikispaces.com Web page. In the menu section, there are a couple of software evaluation metrics that you may find useful when you start your review.

Your group will be assembling its Wiki page in preparation for you to present your findings in a different group presentation. It will be your individual job to demonstrate and explain to others the results of your group's software review. For the presentation portion, we will be utilizing a cooperative learning group arrangement called "jigsaw". A jigsaw group is made up of one person from each of the different review groups who will share with one another the results of their specific investigation. A jigsaw group will consist of one person from each of the different software review groups. For more on the jigsaw process, go to [|jigsaw.org].

The software review Wiki page should be a synthesis of your group's experience and should answer the following questions. Provide examples where necessary and where they are particularly helpful. The following links are meant as suggestions and are not all-inclusive. If you wish to include other products that you have discovered during your research, by all means, add them to your Wiki! >> Some suggestions for places to start are ComputED "Eddie" Awards; SuperKids; Schrock's Sites of the Schools Days; Shodor Foundation. There are many others as well.
 * 1) Provide a description of your software category so someone who is new to classroom technology would be able to understand how your category differs from the other categories. From a user's perspective, what are some of the characteristics of the software? What are the purposes for which this software was developed or its use envisioned in the classroom? What can a student or teacher expect to gain from interacting with software?
 * 2) Will the maintenance of this software be the responsibility of the teacher or will it be the responsibility of a school/district tech support person?
 * 3) How does your group see the use of this software in support of student learning? How will this software help teachers meet Washington’s learning standards for your grade level?
 * 4) Does training comes with the software? How is a teacher (or student) supposed to know how to use the software? This is the most important question you should ask when previewing your software. Without training, you'll be hard-pressed to find the time to optimize your software program.
 * 5) Try to answer the question: "What other questions should I ask about the software?" Ask yourself what you want to know or what you would like to find out about your choice of software to investigate. For example, what special features does the software have that make it particularly interesting to you? Are you able to visualize how you can use the software with your future students? If you can, what do you want to know about using the software in your imagined classroom context?
 * 6) While testing the software, comment on the positive and negative experiences that affected your opinion about using this class of software. What are the particular strengths and weaknesses of the software? Overall, on a 5-star rating system where five stars equal "Outstanding" and one star equals "Disappointing", rate your experience with using the software for this review.
 * Software Categories**
 * 1) **Integrated learning systems:** These products offer computer-based instruction and other resources to support instruction, along with summary reports of student progress through the instruction; all are provided through networked or online sources. While there are no downloadable demos, there are plenty of examples to get a feel for the variety of interactions students will experience. ILSs are often referred to as "software solutions" or "technology solutions." The larger software solutions or ILS companies are:
 * [|Compass Learning Systems]. See assessment system features they offer to help teachers diagnose and remedy student deficits.
 * [|Pearson Digital Learning]. //SuccessMaker Enterprise// uses more directed strategies, while //KnowledgeBox// takes a more constructivist approach. Look for links to these two programs.
 * [|PLATO Learning]. Their software falls into the assessment solutions and accountability product areas.
 * [|Renaissance Learning]. They offer professional development options to help teachers use their products more effectively. //Accelerated Reader// and //Accelerated Math// are both Renaissance products.
 * [|Sunburst]. Has both ILSs and has some individual demo software programs available for free.
 * 1) **Concept Mapping Software:** The following software products allow students (and teachers!) to conveniently structure ideas and concepts in order to create a graphical organizer that makes sense to the students.
 * [|Inspiration and Kidspiration]. These products are standard installations in many school districts. They provide students with opportunities to make their thinking explicit. Full demo versions are available for free and can be downloaded from the Web site.
 * [|c-Map]. Another mapping tool that can be downloaded for free. While it lacks some of the graphics that students may find interesting, it does offer other features that the Inspiration group does not.
 * [|SmartDraw]. I'm not familiar with this product. If you'd like to find out about other products like these, Google "concept mapping software".
 * MindMeister A quick Google search will turn up a number of Web 2.0 tools like this one.
 * 1) **Grading Software:** Grading software of some kind is almost indispensable. Even if you are not providing traditional "A" and "B" marks, you will want some kind of software that can manage the marks you do use to monitor your students' academic progress. In addition to simply recording grades, some of the products provide you with the option to examine graphs of group and individual progress as well as make the marks available online to parents and families. Easy Grade Pro includes this option in its demo version.
 * [|Easy Grade Pro]. Demo versions are free and can be downloaded.
 * [|Gradebook Pro]. Demo versions are free and can be downloaded.
 * [|PowerSchool]. No downloadable versions available. Online "Guided Tour of PowerSchool" is available.
 * Thinkwave. A Web-based app. Free trial. Again, a Google search will turn up a number of other online products. See what you can find.
 * 1) **"Classroom needs" software**: Many of these products were stand-alone CDs, DVDs, and video games. Now Websites have replaced many of these standards (see, for example, Oregon Trail). You get to choose the products you want to review __that do not fall under the other categories__ . Usually these products function to meet at least one of the following classroom needs:
 * **Drill and practice** — Supplementing or replacing worksheets and homework exercises, preparation for tests.
 * **Tutorial** — Self-paced reviews of instruction, alternative learning strategies, and instruction when teachers are unavailable.
 * **Simulation** — In place of or as supplements to lab experiments, in place of as supplements to role-playing, in place of or as supplements to field trips, to introduce or clarify a new topic, to foster exploration and problem solving, and to encourage cooperation and group work.
 * **Instructional games** — Use in place of worksheets and exercises, to teach cooperative group working skills, and as a reward.
 * **Problem solving** — To teach component skills in problem solving strategies, provide practice in solving problems, and to encourage group problem solving.
 * 1) **Productivity software**: If you use Microsoft Office, you know what this set of tools is: Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. There are other packages available as well.
 * Microsoft Education--Microsoft has a number of initiatives and programs designed to help teachers use MS Office in the classroom. [|Microsoft Office for Education] provides resources, demos, and tutorials. The [|Microsoft At School] Web site has similar offerings.
 * [|OpenOffice.org] OpenOffice is an open source office suite that works with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Here is information about [|OpenOffice for teachers].
 * [|Apple's iWork] Thirty-day free trial available. If you are wondering what Board Certified teachers do with productivity tools (including MS Office), you can get an idea by going to a different Apple site called Apple Learning Interchange and seach for NBCT (National Board Certified Teacher).
 * [|Google Docs] Google is stepping up its entry into the world of education and Web 2.0. It has a site targeted at educators who want to use Google tools in the classroom: @http://www.google.com/educators