Software Evaluation

1
Software Evaluation

• Apple Learning Series

2
Apple Learning Series
The Apple Learning Series is a collection of kits
that contain educator evaluated software and
model student projects that have been correlated
to select state and national standards. And
because teachers are also learners, each kit
comes with an online professional development
course that demonstrates the features of the
software and provides examples of how each can
enhance student learning.
-Apple Computer
3
Apple Learning Series

• This software is intend for all grades K-12.
• Offers many resources, step-by-step guides, and
  related student projects.
• Offers interaction with learning and children by
  including game software that follows curriculum
  guidelines

4
Carmen Sandeigo Word Detective

• This is a program found on the software for
  curriculum levels 3-6.
• Carmen San Diego Word Detective, is one of the
  game oriented educational programs.

• It offers interaction as well as educational
  context.
• With this particular program you have to install
  it.
• There is a step-by-step guide to installation of
  these programs.

5
Overview of Carmen Sandiego from the Professional
Development Guide Unless the students help,
Carmen Sandiego will turn all words into
gibberish! Thus begins the challenge that
students face when exploring Carmen Sandiego Word
Detective. The student becomes an agent in search
of Carmen. By breaking a series of codes,
students get closer to solving the mystery... and
to improving their spelling and vocabulary! To
break the codes, students engage in a series of
phonics games, use an interface called the
CyberCom 2000 to receive messages, navigate to
other parts of the program, store decoded words,
and hide information for future use.
6
Carmen Sandiego Word Detective.

• Carmen Sandiego Word Detective is a challenging,
  interactive program that covers writing skills
  such as parts of speech, sentence structure, and
  punctuation.
• Its graphics and sound effects keep the children
  interested in what is going on rather then the
  fact that they are learning.

7
The Rainforest at Risk

• The Rainforest at Risk is just an example of a
  student project that a teacher came up with from
  using Carmen Sandiego and the Apple Learning
  Series software for curriculum 3-6.
• To check this wonderful project out, click on the
  title at the top.

8
Apple Learning Series

• My suggestion to anyone interested in using this
  software, is to go through the Professional
  Development Guide and learn how you can install
  it as well as use it to your advantage with
  current spelling words, grammar techniques, etc.

9
Apple Learning Series3-6 Curriculum

• Key Features
• Price for software

10
NETS vs. Apple Learning Series

• Basic Operations and concepts is utilized with
  this software due to the amount of research and
  computer time put into the programs.
• With frequent use of this software students will
  develop positive attitudes towards technology as
  well as collaborative working skills.

11
Cont

• Technology productivity tools are utilized with
  many of the student projects as well as the
  programs in this software. Such as Carmen
  Sandiego and The Rain Forest at Risk.
• In some of the programs students are required to
  communicate to other students via email or
  internet. That is using technology communication
  tools.

12
Cont

• In all of the student projects found on this
  software, the students were required to do
  research on the web, organize and plot the data
  on the computer. The technology research tools
  standard is met.
• Technology problem-solving and decision-making
  isnt addressed as much as the other standards in
  this software. Other then critical thinking,
  there is minimal technology problem solving done.

13
Where to find this Software

• If this software interest you, you can find it at
  the Teachers College rooms 211b, or 406 at Ball
  State University.
• I highly recommend adopting it for yourself so
  you can take full advantage of all the programs
  it has to offer.

14
Summary of my Review

• I reviewed this software as being a curriculum
  oriented software tool that aids in all grades
  and covers a vast amount of content at the same
  time as meeting all the NETS requirements. It
  allows the kids to work as a group, individual or
  as a whole class. Its easily installed and you
  can navigate you way through it without any
  problems. A young child should be able to use it
  whenever they want without the help from an
  adult. Its graphics are wonderful and its
  programs are entertaining.