Home PublicationsL&LIssuesVolume 26 (1998-1999) May (No. 8)

Programs mentioned in this column have not been reviewed by the International Society for Technology in Education; their appearance here does not constitute an endorsement by Learning & Leading with Technology or ISTE.

By Judi Mathis Johnson

Pablo

Pablo is a computer drawing tablet that comes with Art Goo, a software CD-ROM containing Art Dabbler and Kai’s Power GOO Special Edition. Yes, I loved the old Koala Pad—mine still works—so I’m excited about Pablo. The active drawing area is 8 inches by 6 inches. The resolution is 1,280 lines per inch. The pad has 128 levels of pressure sensitivity, and it helps develop fine motor control, hand–eye coordination, visual discrimination, and creativity. Find a use in science. For example, have students trace the fractals on leaf veins. Journalism students can trace the school logo and add original art to each publication. Modify a photograph of the principal with Kai’s Power GOO and find out just how much of a sense of humor the principal truly has. Okay, maybe you shouldn’t try that last idea, but you should definitely try Pablo. The package from kidBoard costs $99 for PCs and $119 for Macintoshes. kidBoard, inc., 7416 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie, MN 55344; 612.941.1905.

Madeline Classroom Companion:
1st & 2nd Grade Reading

Produced by Creative Wonders, Madeline Classroom Companion: 1st & 2nd Grade Reading uses the little girl of children’s literature fame. As expected, this Madeline has a decidedly French accent and intersperses her instructions and comments with French phrases, which means students must listen carefully. Each hybrid CD-ROM contains a full grade’s curriculum for language skills. Through games and drills, students learn and practice phonics, letter sounds, spelling, and vocabulary. Madeline’s Scrapbook contains additional French and Spanish exposure; after selecting French, English, or Spanish, students match written and spoken words with their images. Sound is crucial because all of the instructions are given auditorily. The activities require exploration to understand whatever is needed in each game. The scoring system is visual, and students are awarded parts of bronze, silver, or gold stars by providing correct answers. After each star is completed, students can print their certificates of achievement. The card creation component, however, is how I would use the printer; it’s one of the simplest and most positive young children’s print options I’ve ever seen. Creative Wonders, The Learning Company, 6493 Kaiser Dr., Fremont, CA 94555.

Grammar for the Real World

Ever notice how students worry more about using grammar correctly when their audience changes? Grammar for the Real World opens up the world of a Hollywood studio, and students in Grades 5 and up work on a variety of creative writing assignments to gain practice with needed writing skills. The skills include subject–verb agreement, punctuation, capitalization, plurals, possessives, parts of speech, proofreading, editing, and sequencing. This hybrid Macintosh–Windows CD-ROM was developed by Kaplan and is distributed by Knowledge Adventure, Inc., 19840 Pioneer Ave., Torrance, CA 90503; 800.542.4240; fax 310.793.4307.

Inside the GRE, GMAT, & LSAT

This product is not aimed at K–12 education, so I’ll keep this announcement brief. The Princeton Review now combines three of its popular products to create Inside the GRE, GMAT, & LSAT. This package contains three hybrid Macintosh–PC CD-ROMs and is available from The Learning Company for a whopping $29.95 from your favorite software distributor. It may be useful to students who need to increase their test scores, build their confidence, or reduce anxiety; the product guarantees improved exam scores or your money back. The Learning Company, One Athenaeum St., Cambridge, MA 02142; 617.494.1200.