Software Winners By Zach Miners February 2008

Printer-Friendly Page Email This Article

APEX LEARNING SOLUTIONS, Online Course Programs, Pricing varies

Apex Learning Solutions provide comprehensive online courses for programs serving nontraditional students, including alternative schools, credit recovery, remediation, intervention and distance learning programs. Instructional management features such as mastery-based learning, randomized assessments, test question banks, and closedbook tests help to ensure students are mastering course material. Included are individualized pacing calendars, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments, and personalized study plans. www.apexlearning.com

OSX 10.5, Operating System, $129

Apple's Leopard (OSX 10.5) operating system offers significant advancements in how users access files and maintain their system. It boasts 300 new features. For example, Quick Look lets users preview documents visually without opening them-a huge time saver when multiple students submit a file name. Time Machine is an archiving feature that lets users go back to recover a previously saved file or setup. The Spaces feature reduces clutter with easily changed multiple desktops for users who work with different application sets. www.apple.com

DESIGNKIDS,,Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Programs Starts at $1,500/10 lab seats plus 1 for instructor

DesignKids is an exploratory science, technology, engineering and mathematics program for middle school students. Its flexible approach offers them a choice of projects that are fun and personally relevant, increasing their achievement by bridging the gap between theory and practice. Students can make the connection between underlying concepts that link these topics and others in realworld applications. Each module comes with a "getting started" section that covers time allocation, prerequisites, technical overviews and glossary, beginning and advanced level projects, and a list of standards met by each module. www.autodesk.com/school

SpanishTutor, Academy of MATH From $2,000/unlimited license/single product

The SpanishTutor math module was created for native Spanish-speaking English Language Learners in grades K-12. It is an optional instructional component that enables students to jumpstart the development of fl uency in foundational math skills by providing tutorials, assistance and motivational elements in Spanish. The Spanish elements are offered in neutral enunciation with generic accents, and the scope includes 10 skill areas that align to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' standards. www.autoskill.com

PAINTER X, Painting System, Starts at $99/education edition

Corel's painting and illustration software the RealBristle Painting System replicate traditional art media with individual bristles that blend and splay. It offers a Match Palette that enables artists to match the color intensity between two images. The Workspace Manager can back up, share or switch workspaces. The software also has dodge and burn capabilities. Composition tools like Divine Proportion offer guidelines that follow the Golden Ratio, allowing artists to compose their images like the Masters. www.corel.com/painterx

CLICKER 5, Writing and Creativity Software, Starts at $199/single user

Clicker 5 is a K6 writing and creativity tool. It incorporates the latest technology, such as easily integrated digital photos, MP3 files and QuickTime movies. Users can create their own talking books and record their own sounds with help from a new speech engine that produces natural-sounding speech. Educators can also access free curriculum materials on the product's LearningGrids Web site. www.cricksoft.com/us

DimensionM,Math Software, Starts at $2,500/multiplayer package

Part of the DimensionM series of video games, Evolver Prealgebra and Dimenxian Algebra offer three-dimensional learning environments where students master algebra concepts based on standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Students face numerous mathematical obstacles, develop team-based strategies, and navigate through a series of mazes to score the most points. The highlight is the multiplayer capability, which enables students to compete individually or in teams with students from the same classroom or across the country. www.dimensionm.com

THINKLINK, Assessment Tools, $7-$10 per student

ThinkLink's formative assessments are offered up to three times a year, allowing teachers to periodically measure student progress. Started by Vanderbilt University, they are aligned to each state's curriculum and provide teachers with crucial information about a student's academic skill and knowledge so they can make data-based instructional decisions multiple times before the state's high stakes tests. Their color-coded reports provide educators with accurate student profi ciency and mastery predictions. www.thinklinklearning.com

   1   2   3   4       Next>>