Christina+Lochow

Here are my five reviews of educational applications. I look forward to your feedback. Christina

**Title: ** //WordChamp: The Language Learning Network (//[|http://www.wordchamp.com]//)// Pentium class PC or PowerPC Mac Recent web browser, a standard sound card to access the audio files and the Macromedia Flash player Entire system is web-based, so installation is not required  **Content and Structure: ** // WordChamp is // a foreign language vocabulary learning system based on flashcards and web readings. The website serves two purposes: it helps students to learn a second language and it offers teachers a program to teach a foreign language. The website also serves as a network for teachers, students and educators worldwide. According to WordChamp’s information on the homepage//,// over 43,000 language teachers have joined from 194 countries have joined the network. Language learners and teachers have access to currently 62,921,184   words practiced as well as to over  2  million foreign websites. The site supports many languages including English, French and German, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin as well as other languages such as Hebrew, Hindi and Swedish. // WordChamp // is divided into basically four sections: Flashcards, Absolute Recall, Web Reader and Course Management. The software offers thousands of ready made flashcards and vocabulary exercises, and teachers can also create their own lists of words and flashcards. The Absolute Recall feature allows users to keep track of every word they ever used. Teachers who create classrooms for second language learning first need to specify the students’ main language and the language they want to learn. They can then add students to his class. An instruction sheet specifies how students log into the system. Vocabulary exercises include dictation, translations, listening comprehensions, reading practice and pronunciation. These can then be used for homework. The program also allows teachers to include deadlines as to when certain homework needs to be completed. //WordChamp// uses audio so students can hear how a particular word is pronounced in different languages. It also provides an option to download audio flashcards on an MP3 player. The Web Reader lets students visit a website published in his or her second language. The program provides links for several major newspapers, or users can select a website of their choice. Moving the mouse over the text, the software provides a translation of the word and pop-up definitions show up for all the words the system recognizes. Moreover, audio files are provided to hear the pronunciation of the word. I came across this software when I was searching for second language learning programs to use with my children a few months ago. I find this product to be truly amazing. I have used the software for printing out flashcards and easy vocabulary exercises for my 5 year old daughter as well as for downloading audio on an MP3 player. I have also created a “classroom” with my son as a student and he uses the software regularly to practice his English language skills. In this regard, I have found the Web Reader to be of great value. I also love the fact that I can switch between primary and secondary language, thus putting emphasis on either German or English. As a future teacher, I could very well imagine to use this product in my classroom.
 * Publisher: **GlobaLinguist
 * Cost: ** Free registration; up-date to premium membership offers access to additional features
 * System requirements: **
 * Intended audience: **Language learners of any age (must be able to read), teachers and educators
 * Comments: **

[|WorldChamp1.JPG]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Title: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> //Note Taker// Plug-in Component Architecture requires Panther and Java 1.4.2 <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">On its website, AquaMinds describes //Note Taker// at its most basic level as a “personal note and idea organizer”. At a higher level the software enables users to create visually rich journals with many sections and pages, embedded sound and visuals, personal search and index reports as well as customized notebook covers. //<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Note Taker //<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> presents itself as a multi-page spiral notebook (actually, just like this Wiki) with cover, table of contents and section dividers. A graphical toolbar is provided and users can just start typing and add sections – new sections are presented as tab dividers. These tab dividers and drawers can be moved around to drag information to other pages. The software features multilevel outlines, so user can create outline pages of pages that actually contain outlines. In addition, users can add photos, links, presentations, PDF files and video. The software also supports voice and user can record audio notes. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The teacher at my son’s school who kindly demonstrated the software to me has been using //Note Taker// in her language arts classroom for several years. All her 7th grade students have laptops with //Note Taker// installed. Recently, the students created a journal about famous British writers in the 19th century using the software. First, the students worked individually on the biographies, which included sound, images and recorded messages. The biographies were then put together into a “master journal”. According to the teacher, the students made good use of //Note Takers’// convenient drag and drop format: every line can be easily dragged and dropped to anywhere on the page so outlining ideas and taking notes is easily done. The fact that //Note Taker// lets users divide content with tabs, sections and subsections and the multi-level feature was also positively mentioned by the teacher. In addition, //Note Taker// allows for convenient location of single words because it automatically creates an index for the notebook. Words on pages can also be easily linked to counterparts elsewhere in the journal which allows convenient navigation through the individual sections. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">I really liked the idea of keeping an electronic journal and to-do lists in a class-room setting as well as at home. This would certainly help me stay more organized. However, I did not find //Note Taker// to be very intuitive at first sight. In my opinion, it is a very powerful and flexible application, but I believe a certain amount of training and experience is required in order to effectively use this software. Personally, I would be interested in exploring this software further.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publisher: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Aqua Minds ([|http://www.aquaminds.com])
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Version: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">1.9 (newer version is out, trial can be downloaded from publisher’s website)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Cost: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> $69.95 (found at Apple Store [|http://store.apple.com] )
 * System requirements:** Max OS X v10.3.9 or later
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Intended audience: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Private consumers, students, professional in various areas
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Type of Software: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Download from website or CD-ROM; a trail version can be downloaded from the publisher’s website
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Content: **
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Structure: **<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">//Note Taker// in the Classroom: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Comments: **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Title: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> F//ragenbaer// – Correct Math: Save the lucky ones ( [|http://www.fragenbaer.de] ) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Multimedia PC: Pentium II, 400 MHz more higher 32 MB RAM, 24-speed CD-ROM Monitor resolution 800x 600 Windows: From 98 / 2000 / MX / XP 32 bit / Vista 32 Bit Mac + MacBook**:** Mac OSX 10.2 Students are engaged in an exciting story – they have to free the “lucky ones” who have been kidnapped by the bad “pitch eaters”. With the help of “Fit”, “Resourceful” and “Fragenbaer” the students go on an exciting adventure to help the “lucky ones” – of course, with the help of arithmetic. Their adventure leads them over swaying suspension bridges, past dangerous crocodiles and through treacherous mazes. The “lucky ones” are trying everything to escape – they jump off bridges with parachutes, hide in barrels going down dangerous currents and take fast rides in cable cars. In their efforts to escape, they depend on the help of the player. Once a player correctly solves a math problem, he is rewarded with a “lucky one”, if he makes a mistake, he needs to take a “pitch eater” along on the ride. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Various difficulty levels are offered and students can improve their skills on their own pace. Students also have the choice to either follow the exciting story or repeat individual games in practice mode as often as desired. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Learning objective: ** The mathematical tasks are based on current learning standards for 1st grade students in German schools. Important concepts such as sorting and grouping, counting money and telling time, basic geometry and spatial relations, subtraction, addition, sequences and patterns measurement are introduced. Having completed all levels, students should be familiar with numbers up to 20 and decimal number s up to 100. They should be able to work with patterns and pattern sequences, recognize shapes, and work with addition and subtractions up to 20 and be able to distinguish between less than, greater than and equal to and they should be able to subtract and add money. The program enhances higher thinking level skills by challenging students to solve problems as well as collaborative skills through team playing. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The structure of the program is simple, intuitive and very user-friendly. Players are offered three options and the beginning: //I play alone//, //We play as a group of 2-5 people// and //I want to practice individual games//. The software includes 15 tasks to be completed by the student and descriptions of the tasks are also available as audio. The program also offers statistics which are divided into a //Score// and a //Bug List//. Here, teachers and parents can get details on the status of the students’ achievements. The CD-ROM can be used immediately and is easy to install. A brochure detailing the 15 tasks is also included.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publisher: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Spielend Lernen Verlag
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publication Year: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">2005
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Cost: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> $12.50 (discount available if purchased in bulk or together with other products)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">System requirements: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Intended audience: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">1st grade students
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Language: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> German
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Type of Software: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">CD-ROM; a trail version can be downloaded from the publisher’s website
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Content: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Structure: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">I am using this software with my children at home and they simply love it. The mixture of different tasks and levels combined with the funny characters, beautiful and colorful illustrations makes this a fun learning experience. My children and their friends get so involved in their important task to rescue the “lucky ones” that they completely forget that they are actually learning math skills. I also like the fact that the software allows for team playing. The CD-ROM is part of a series of learning software for Pre-K to 2nd grade students published by //Spielend Lernen//. Other programs include content areas such as reading, writing and concentration. The software is very popular in Germany and has won numerous education awards. The program is in German, however, students learning the language could very well use these products to enhance their language skills as well as their knowledge in the mentioned content areas.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Comments: **

[|Fit,_Resourcesful_and_Fragenbaer.JPG] [|Fragenbaer1.jpg]

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Title: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Type to Learn 3 // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Windows Win 98/Win ME/Win 2000/Win XP, Vista Macintosh Mac 8.6/Mac 9.1/Mac OSX/Mac Panther OSX 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, Mac Intel //Type to Learn// is a keyboarding program in which students embark on time-travel missions. It reinforces spelling, grammar, composition, and punctuation skills. //Type to Learn// engages students in 25 lessons that are followed by a set of skills-based practice games and speed building exercises. The lessons include everything from proper posture and hand position to the correct finger selection for every key on the keyboard. //Type to Learn// introduces letters two at a time. There are plenty of direct keyboarding exercises and students need to pass a test after each lesson to pass to the next level. Animated 3D hands introduce new keystrokes on a color coded keyboard. The program provides audio instructions correcting mistakes and repeating directions. //Type to Learn// also includes access to Notepad to introduce children to a simple word processor and allow them to practice their keyboarding skills. The four games engage students in different keyboarding activities. In the Typeline game, for example, they use numbers and the shift keys to fix a broken timeline. In the Dictation Station students type what they hear, and Warp Speed practices speed and accuracy skills by typing progressively longer passages. Students are also introduced to 50 historic figures in the Key Figures game. //Type to Learn// keeps records and progress charts and allows the teacher or parent to customize the program for each child. // Type to Learn // is an awards-winning program, and one of many educational software published by Sunburst Technology. My son’s school has used the //Type to Learn// program for several years now and my son just started working with it in 3rd grade. According to my son’s teacher, the most of his students like the software and they really learn proper keyboarding skills while being introduced to historical facts and social studies as well. I personally like the graphics and illustrations and I enjoyed the fact that a keyboarding program includes information on historical figures. I understand that the software can be challenging at the beginning for the younger students. However, once students get a feel for the program, it is very intuitive and fun to use. My son tells me, that time is flying when he uses the program and that we should get the CD-ROM to use at home as well. Now that I was able to look at the software at my son’s school I will follow his suggestion. Sources: SmartKids Software ( [|http://www.smartkidssoftware.com] ), SuperKids Educational Software Review ( [|http://www.superkids.com] ), California Learning Resource Network ( [|http://www.crln.org] )
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publisher: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Sunburst Technology
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publication Year: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">2006
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Cost: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> $29.95 (Home Version; found at K12 software, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">[|http://www.k12software.com] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">); prices are different for lab packs, site licenses or network licenses
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">System requirements: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Intended audience: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">3rd grade students and up – the CD-ROM specifies year 8+
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Type of Software: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">CD-ROM; a trail version can be downloaded from the publisher’s website
 * Content and Structure: **
 * Comments: **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Title: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Earth Album // <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Pentium class PC or PowerPC Mac <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Website Earth Album is a website that enables the audience to discover the world by combining Google Earth maps and Flickr photos. Users can enter the name of a location or address and the software will zoom on the satellite map. In addition, photos taken at this location are provided in a stripe at the top of the map. Users can then narrow their search further by adding keywords of the type of image they want to see at the selected location. Clicking on the photos provides further information about the photographer and sometimes deatails about photo content. The screenshot below shows a map of Germany (keyword: Berlin) with an enlarged photo of the Brandenburger Tor. ** Comments: ** This is an amazing resource to discover the world from your home or classroom! I am often “visiting” different places with Earth Album, and the added photo database provides for wonderful impressions of the selected locations. We even found a close-up photo of the pedestrian mall in my parent’s small town in Germany! The photos change every few weeks, so it is worthwhile to visit this site on an ongoing basis. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">[|berlin.JPG]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publisher: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Google Earth ( [|http://www.googleearth.com] ) and Flickr ( [|http://www.flickr.com] )
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Intended Audience: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Everybody who enjoys maps, wonderful photos and traveling
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">System requirements: **
 * Type of Software:**
 * Content and Structure: **

**Comment by Amy Torres:** I really liked your software reviews. My favorite one was "Earth Album." I have used Google Earth, but I did not know that it could be used with Flickr. That really makes it exciting. I teach in a lower-income school, so none of my students have ever been to France. Using this kind of software, I really feel like I can bring France to them. I am excited to try this out with my students next week. Thanks for the review!

Comment by Korey McKenney Christina the Fragenbaer sounds like a great way to get students interacted with math. I'm sure that would have helped me what I was growing up. I think that is something math teacher should consider because math is becomming such a hard subject for students these days. Great review. Thanks.