Kidspiration

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link) Kidspiration by Inspiration

http://www.inspiration.com/videos/Kidspiration 

Price: individual or volume licensing information $69.00 for single use, $310 for 5 users, $895 for 20 users. For educational purchases you must contact the dealer.

Note the type of software. Word Processors & Desktop Publishing, Multimedia and Presentation and Mathematical Devices

Note the target content area. Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies

Note any learning standards alignment. The standards alignment can be found on their web page at the following address: http://www.inspiration.com/Standards-Matches/Kidspiration 

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience? There are numerous tutorials available online.  They have videos and webinars.  The software is very user friendly for the targeted area. It has step-by-step instructions and has many features that can assist a variety of learners.

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility.

Windows^®
Pentium II 266 MHz or faster

Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP (including Tablet PC Edition), Vista or Windows 7

128 MB minimum RAM

800x600 (minimum); 1024 X 768 (recommended)

16-bit color or higher

75 MB minimum install

250 MB full install CD-ROM drive (for installation only)

Optional:

• Windows compatible printer
• Internet browser*
• Sound card and speakers
• Microphone
• Interactive electronic whiteboard

Macintosh^®
Macintosh G3 300 MHz or faster

OS X, version 10.2.8 or newer (Snow Leopard compatible)

192 MB minimum RAM 800x600 (minimum)

1024 X 768 (recommended)

Thousands of colors or higher

75 MB minimum install

250 MB full install CD-ROM drive (for installation only)

Optional:

• Macintosh compatible printer
• Internet browser*
• Microphone
• Interactive electronic whiteboard

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available? It does come with lesson plans and online resources are available. There are examples of lesson plans and when you purchase the software you have access to all the lesson plans. They have technical support and a learning community available online.

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application? There are many uses for this software in the classroom but some uses are; "strengthen word recognition, vocabulary and comprehension; visual math tools to build problem-solving and reasoning skills by developing a conceptual understanding of mathematical procedures; explore relationships between concepts and illustrate basic scientific processes; visually explore and understand history, geography, civics and economics."

Timez Attack

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link) Timez Attack from www.bigbrainz.com

http://www.bigbrainz.com/index.php?PARTNER=pkg

Price: individual or volume licensing information You can download a free version with limited levels or buy the deluxe version for $249-$795.

Note the type of software. Mathematical Devices

Note the target content area. Math

Note any learning standards alignment. Math Standard 3:Students will understnad the concepts of and become proficient with the skills of mathematics.
NETS 1-Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience? There are online tutorials to help with setup and overview of the game.  I have used this game with kids in 4th and 5th grade and they love it.  They liked that it was an adventure game and could defeat the monster with the use of answering multiplication problems.

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility.

1. MINIMUM System Requirements for Timez Attack

Operating System	Vista, XP, Windows 7, OS X 10.4.11+
Processor	1.0 Ghz
Memory	256 MB
DirectX	9.0c--click to download
Graphics Card	32+ MB with latest driver:

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available? I did not find any additional resources from the site that would supplement this software.  It does not come packaged with lesson ideas or other resources.  There is a progress chart that can be used for the class and/or individual.

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application? This software can be used to help reinforce multiplication facts.  It is a fun and interactive way for kids to learn.  I would use this to accompany the main lesson on multipilcation or use it as a stand alone activity to review the facts.

Expert Space

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link) Expert Space from Scholastic

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/digital_curriculum/expertspace/index.htm 

Price: individual or volume licensing information There is a free trial available for download.  There was no price listed for the software but there was information to obtain the program through Title 1, IDEA and Enhancing Education Through Technology

Note the type of software. Simulation

Note the target content area. Science and Social Studies grade 4-12

Note any learning standards alignment. The standards are aligned and included in the lessons.

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience?

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility.

Recommended for PC

Processor: Pentium II with 128 MB of RAM;

OS: Windows® 2000 or Windows XP operating system;

Browsers: Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher or Firefox® 2.0 and higher;

Monitor: 15-inch minimum; 1024 x 768 resolution set at for best viewing;high 16-bit colors or higher.

Recommended for Macintosh®:

Computer: PowerMac or higher;

OS: 9.x, 10.x, or better;

Browser: Safari® 3.0 or higher, or Firefox 2.0 or higher;

Monitor: 15-inch minimum; 1024 x 768 resolution with thousands of colors selected.

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available? The software does come packaged with lesson ideas that are aligned with state standards.  Online resources are available for teachers.  The software is also designed to accommodate the different reading levels of the students.

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application? This program would be great to integrate into the classroom because there are so many different ways to use it.  The software could be used during a unit on space.  It also helps students plan, manage, and complete projects and assignments.

The Oregon Trail

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link) The Oregon Trail, The Learning Company http://oregontrail.com/hmh/site/oregontrail/home;jsessionid=94D169E957EC81F42239957346D3A17B.ProdNode2

http://support.riverdeep.net/faq_list.asp?id=1294820237

Price: individual or volume licensing information $19.99 for software. No information on volume prince.

Note the type of software.  Simulation

Note the target content area. Social Studies/History

Note any learning standards alignment.  No learning standards were noted but it would align with the NYS Social Studies Standard 3 and Technology Standard 5

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience? The software is user friendly for the target audience. The graphics are superb and grabs the user's attention There is a whole page on software support with step-by-step instructions. 

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility. 

Server

• Windows NT® 4.0 with SP 5, Novell® NetWare® 4.11, 5.0 or Windows® 2000 Server Appleshare® 6.3  
• Free hard disk space: 646 MB (Windows®); 606 MB (Macintosh®)

Client Workstation: Windows®

• Windows® 95/98/Me/2000 and Windows NT®
•  Pentium® 166 MHz (or faster)
•  32 MB RAM
•  8x CD-ROM drive (or faster)
•  640 x 480 resolution with 16-bit high color
•  1 MB free hard drive space

Client Workstation: Macintosh®

• OS 8.6–OS X
• PowerPC® 180 MHz (or faster)
• 32 MB RAM
• 8x CD-ROM drive (or faster)
• 640 x 480 resolution with Thousands of Colors
• 1 MB free hard drive space

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available? Even though this is a great game and has been around since I was in school, I could not find any lesson ideas or online resources.

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application? You could integrate the software application into the classroom by using it as a supplement to the unit on the Oregon Trail. Students could keep their own journals as if they are travelers on the trail. They could imagine the best and worst experiences on the trail and write about them, or mention their hopes and fears, their reasons for leaving, who they are traveling with, etc.

Fraction Nation

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link) Fraction Nation by Scholastic

http://www.tomsnyder.com/FractionNation/program-overview-scope-sequence.html

Price: individual or volume licensing information It cost $9,000 for unlimited use/licenses.  However, there are a lot of grants available to help with the cost.  The grants are:

Title I, Part A—Improving Basic Programs

Title I, Part A—Supplemental Educational Services

Title V, Part A—Innovative Programs

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Enhancing Education Through Technology

Special Education/Response to Intervention (IDEA)

Note the type of software. This is a mathematical device software application.

Note the target content area. Math, grades 4-8

Note any learning standards alignment.  Fractions is one of the content strands for the Math learning standards so it is aligned with the NYS standards for Math.

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience? There are tutorials and support help available on the scholastic website.  This program is very user friendly.  I took a virtual tour of the program and it is really age/grade specific.  The program targets different areas of fractions.

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility.

Recommended requirements for a server to run the software most efficiently

Operating System Windows 2003

® Server

Macintosh

® OSX 10.4 (or later)

Server

SUSE Linux Server

Processor/

Processor Speed

3.2 GHz Dual-Core Xeon

Memory 2GB

Free Hard Drive Space 5GB

CD/DVD-ROM Yes (for installation only)

Client Workstation Technical Requirements

Recommended requirements for a client workstation to run the software most

efficiently:

Operating System Windows XP or Vista or later;

Macintosh OSX 10.4 or later

Processor/ Processor Speed P4 HT Processor

Intel Mac Dual-Core

Memory 1GB

Free Hard Drive Space 5GB

CD/DVD-ROM Yes (for installation only)

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available?

Fraction Nation is organized around 9 comprehensive topics which focus on the key areas of fractions and decimals: quantity, equivalence, and addition & subtraction. The content spans across 64 lessons which are carefully designed to build students’ fraction fluency in 15 minutes day. This program also comes equipped with a teacher's guide, interactive whiteboard capabilities, and a progress monitoring chart.
I tried to search for lesson plans on the scholastic website that accompanied this program but I had no luck finding any (but that might be due to the fact that the program comes with 64 lessons).

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application?

This software could be used at the beginning of a lesson as an introduction to the concept on fractions.  The software could be used by the student during free-time and the teacher wouldn't have to worry about not being able to assess it right away because it has progress monitoring. 

Clifford Software

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link): Clifford:Phonics

http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/product.asp?SKU=CLIPHO

Price: individual or volume licensing information: The individual price is $39.  Each additional is at discount. Volume cost is $28 for 100-249 copies but you get the whole series which includes: 

Clifford Series*, Community Construction Kit, Diorama Designer, The Graph Club+, I Spy Series, Math Missions*, Neighborhood MapMachine+, Rainforest Designer, Reading for Meaning, Timeliner XE.

Note the type of software: Virtual Learning

Note the target content area: Phonics (Reading)

Note any learning standards alignment: None mentioned, but it aligns with NETS 1-Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience?  I did not find any online help.  The software is very user friendly for the targeted audience.  I have seen kids use this program and they love it.  However, I think the targets age is a little off.  This program was used in a Pre-K classroom and Kindergarten.  If it were used in 1st grade I believe the child would have to have significant delays in phonics.  The game has rewards and students love playing so they can try to get the rewards.

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility:

PC: Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Pentium II 266 MHz or faster CPU, 80 MB hard drive space, 64 MB RAM, 16-bit color display, 8X or faster CD-ROM, Windows-compatible sound card, .

Mac: System 8.6 or later, OS X, iMac/G3 233 MHz or faster CPU, 80 MB hard drive space, 64 MB RAM, 16-bit color display, 24X or faster CD-ROM, .

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available?  They have a fun pack that goes with the CD but it cost $9.99.  This fun pack includes books and "adventures" for students to go. There is a lesson plan on phonics which includes Clifford books but you have to search it on the scholastic site.   There are also interactive games online but they are not as in-depth as the software.

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application? I would use this software to build on phonetic awareness with students.  I would purchase the extra fun pack to use in the classroom so when the students had computer time they would know what to do.  The fun pack is a way to reinforce what they are learning with the software.  I would first use the fun pack and integrate the software once I thought the students understood what the lesson was asking for.

Blogging in School

Blogging is new to me but I think this will be a great adventure for me.  I did a search on education blogging sites and one that I came across was www.schoolrack.com.  On this site teachers, students and parents can sign up.  They offer a smaller package for teachers for free.  Teacherlingo.com is another great site.  It has a teacher resource section along with a blog and message section.