Download Educational Resources

Name:
June 16, 2005
(1) General Software Review. In this activity you will be reviewing software that you
would find useful in your roll as a teacher. Note: this is a review of software, not
websites. Websites can be used only if they have a high level of interactivity and
animation such as those at ExploreLearning.com. Although we have software on our local
servers, much of it is antiquated, and students are best served by downloading freeware
and shareware.
Review five or more pieces of educational software. You are free to choose any
piece of software that is of value either for instructional, administrative, or
professional purposes. You must have hands-on experience with the software...
watching someone's software review is not sufficient.

Write a paragraph describing each program and your professional opinion of
its usefulness in education.

At least one of your titles should be freeware or shareware that you have
downloaded from the Internet.

Include a screen capture from the software.

Choose the best one from among these 5 for the formal software
review/presentation.
Title

Review
Screen Capture
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1
According to the description of the software, it is a
collection of animated, 3-D songs and math
lessons, which will help the student to build on his
emergent math skills. Also, the teacher can
implement parts of the lesson into the math lesson.
This software also contains classroom materials,
which the teacher access through the software. It is
not free and costs $14.95. The software allows the
children to use their imagination, which will also
enhance their imagination skills/cognitive skills.
The speaker creates a math world for the students
where the software becomes an interactive video
with songs and other games. For students with
special needs, the game and lesson will also be a
great example for them to visualize the way to say
a number, to see familiarize themselves with the
numbers, and to stimulate hearing through the
sounds. This game would be recommended for
ages 4 and up.
In this freeware, the student (as a frog) will be able
to collect all the gifts that have been left behind
during Christmas. In this game, the student will be
able to practice fine motor skills through the use of
the mouse or keyboard buttons. The student will
be able to practice writing skills through the use of
muscles in his hand by clicking and pushing down
the keys. The student will also be able to work on
his eye muscles skills for the students who have
Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, and others.
The students can also enhance their cognitive skills
by locating where the gifts are, which can improve
their cognitive planning skills. This game would
be recommended for ages five and up. This game is
a freeware download for MAC computers.
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2
Freeware
Chr
istmas frog
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Software: The Number Crew: Songs
Name:
June 16, 2005
1
Discovery Education. 2007. The Number Crew: Songs.
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/. accessed May 14, 2008.
2 CNET Networks Inc. 2008. Christmas Frog. http://www.download.com/ChristmasSuper-Frog/3000-2278_4-10140294.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10840612. accessed May 14,
2008.
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Name:
June 16, 2005
Freeware
3
3
4
5
Freeware software
Shareware
Software
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In the Spinnn 1.1.8 game, the student tries to spin,
move, and rotate different falling block pieces to
align them into a horizontal line. As an educator, a
student with special needs can increase his fine
motor skills, ocular skills, and cognitive skills
(math, scheming). Through pushing keys and
clicking the mouth, the muscles build in his hand,
which will increase his fine motor skills. Through
the moving objects, the child’s ocular skills
increase because the child’s eyes are following the
blocks up and down, spinning, and other motions.
This game is a freeware download for MAC
computers.
In “Can You Find it 1.51,” the player is trying to
find the 5 differences between both pictures, which
are side by side. This game is excellent for
students with special needs and students without
special needs because the student will increase
ocular skills, fine motor skills, and cognitive skills.
By locating each difference, the student is
increasing his eye muscles and his cognitive
activity. Also, through the use of pushing the keys
and clicking on the mouse, the student will increase
fine motor skills in the wrist, the index finger, and
the thumb finger, which will later enhance a better
grasp on a writing utensils or eating utensils. This
game is a shareware download for MAC
computers.
In the “Breakfast Babies” game, the student will
have to find as many matching pictures in as few
tries as possible. This game is great for students
with special needs and students without special
needs. The pictures are very animated, which will
stimulate the students and keep the students
engaged. All students are able to use cognitive
skills, ocular skills, and fine motor skills. The
students will enhance all of these skills through
playing the game. Also, for the students with peer
interaction issues, the game can be played with a
friend, which will allow the child to use his peer
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5
CNET Networks Inc. 2008. Spin.1.1.8. http://www.download.com/3004-2292_410827409.html. accessed May 14, 2008.
4 Tucows Inc. 2006-2008. Can You Find It 1.51.
http://www.tucows.com/preview/227489#MoreInfo. accessed May 14, 2008.
5 Tucows Inc. 2006-2008. Breakfast Babies Memory 1.0.
http://www.tucows.com/preview/207553. accessed May 14, 2008.
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Name:
June 16, 2005
interaction skills in engaging and initiating in peer
conversation and peer play. This game is used on
MAC computers.
(2) Formal Software Review. In this activity you will be reviewing software that you
would find useful in your roll as a teacher. Note: this is a review of software, not
websites. Websites can be used only if they have a high level of interactivity and
animation such as those at ExploreLearning.com. Although we have software on our local
servers, much of it is antiquated, and students are best served by downloading freeware
and shareware.

Select one software product for formal review and presentation to the class. Write
reviews for each according to the format guidelines provided on the following
page. Post you selection.
Title: “The Number Crew”
(1) Description of Program - According to the description of the software, it is a
collection of animated, 3-D songs and math lessons, which will help the student to build
on his emergent math skills and other various cognitive skills.
(2) Basic Information - This software also contains classroom materials, which the
teacher access through the software. It is not free and costs $14.95.
(3) Target Population - This game would be recommended for ages 4 and up. Children
with special needs between the ages 4-6 may need adult assistance.
(4) Content Goals - The teacher can implement parts of the lesson into the math lesson.
This software also contains classroom materials, which the teacher access through the
software. The software allows the children to use their imagination, which will also
enhance their imagination skills/cognitive skills. The speaker creates a math world for
the students where the software becomes an interactive video with songs and other
games. For students with special needs, the game and lesson will also be a great example
for them to visualize the way to say a number, to visually familiarize themselves with the
numbers, and to stimulate hearing through the sounds. For those with vision needs, the
children can learn through the auditory system.
(5) Process Goals – First, through the sound and animation, the child can learn through
hearing and watching, which will be cognitively stimulating. Second, using the keyboard
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Name:
June 16, 2005
and the mouse will increase the child’s fine motor skills. Third, through the narrator’s
cues throughout the game, the game/lesson becomes an interactive event.
(6) Lesson Plan – The teacher will allow one to two children to interact with the game
during center time. The child can choose among the different centers to developmentally
play. The teacher introduces the game as an exploration tool. For example, the teacher
says, “Boys and Girls! Today, you’ll get to be an explorer and help the sea man find what
he needs.” Once the child is engaged, the teacher will slowly fade out to allow the child
independent work time either alone or with a peer (which will enhance his peer
interaction and problem solving skills).
(7) Summary – Through this software, the child can increase his cognitive, fine motor,
emergent math, problem solving, and social abilities. The software is inexpensive, and
for those on a budget, the preschool may possibly reimburse the teacher. This game is a
great tool for children with and without special needs. The game is motivating,
encouraging, interactive, and most of all, fun for a developmentally appropriate preschool
lesson.
Title: “Christmas Super Frog 1.1.8”
(1) Description of Program - The student (as a frog) will be able to collect all the
gifts that have been left behind during Christmas.
(2) Basic Information - The game is a freeware, which can be downloaded to MAC
computers and has no limitations. One can download from www.cnet.com.
(3) Target Population – The game is geared toward children ages five and up with or
without special needs.
(4) Content Goals – While trying to collect gifts in the game, the student will
practice fine motor skills through using the mouse or keyboard buttons. The
student will practice writing skills through using muscles in his hand by clicking
and pushing down the keys. The student will also be working on his eye muscle
skills for the students who have Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, and other
similar disabilities. The students can also enhance their cognitive skills by
locating where the gifts are, which can improve their cognitive planning skills,
problem-solving skills, and emergent math skills.
(5) Process Goals – During the beginning of the game, the child will be enhancing
computer knowledge while improving fine motor skills with using the mouse and
the keyboard. Throughout the game, the child increases cognitive abilities while
searching for the gifts, collecting them, and placing them in the appropriate areas.
With a playmate, the child can increase peer interaction and problem-solving
skills.
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Name:
June 16, 2005
(6) Lesson Plan – The teacher begins by introducing the game with a story (be
creative). Next, the teacher says, “Today, we’ll be using the computer for our
activity.” The teacher can show the students how to turn on the computer. The
teacher will log in and install the game. Next, the teacher will demonstrate how
the game is played. Then, through trial and error, the children will learn to place
the gifts in certain areas in the game, which is improving their cognitive skills.
The child can also play the game with a peer by turn taking, which will improve
social interaction and problem-solving skills.
(7) Summary – The game is wonderful for children with and without special needs.
The game will improve the children’s cognitive skills, social skills, problemsolving skills, and fine motor skills, which will all lead to advancing future
developmental skills. While playing the game, the child will also increase
knowledge of simple functions of a computer, will learn to respect peers, and will
learn to respect the environment around them.
Title: “Spinnn 1.1.8”
(1) Description of Program - The student spins, moves, and rotates different falling
block pieces to align them into a horizontal line.
(2) Basic Information – This game is freeware and can be downloaded onto the
MAC computer from http://www.download.com/3004-2292_4-10827409.html or
www.cnet.com.
(3) Target Population – The game is geared toward children ages four and up (with
or without special needs).
(4) Content Goals - As an educator, a student with special needs can increase his fine
motor skills, ocular skills, and cognitive skills (math, scheming). Through
pushing keys and clicking the mouse, the muscles build in his hand, which will
increase his fine motor skills. Through the moving objects, the child’s ocular
skills increase because the child’s eyes are following the blocks up and down,
spinning, and other motions. The child increases cognitive activity by trying to
solve which pieces fit best to make a horizontal line.
(5) Process Goals – The child will first understand the meaning of a horizontal line.
Next, the child will use problem-solving skills to create that horizontal line.
Through trial and error, the child will increase developmental abilities through
technology rather than the “building blocks” center.
(6) Lesson Plan – The teacher will first introduce the game to the children. Second,
the teacher will explain what “horizontal” means, will demonstrate how to play
the game, and will fade out as the child becomes more involved with the game.
Third, the teacher could have two computer monitors set up next to one another to
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Name:
June 16, 2005
allow another child to play at the same time, which will increase the children’s
interaction and improve their social skills.
(7) Summary – The game is similar to “Tetris” except for trying to create a
“horizontal” line. Through playing the game, the child increases cognitive, social,
and fine motor abilities. The game is excellent for children with special needs
because the game is stimulating for the eyes and the mind, while trying to create a
horizontal line through assorted computer squares.
Title: “Can You Find It 1.51?”
(1) Description of Program – The player tries to find the 5 differences between both
pictures, which are side by side.
(2) Basic Information – The game is shareware software, which means that the game
is usually free to be downloaded and used; but sometimes, the game is for a free,
limited trial. The download is for MAC computers and can be located at
www.tucows.com.
(3) Target Population – The game is geared toward children with and without
special needs ages four and up.
(4) Content Goals - By locating each difference, the student is increasing his eye
muscles and his cognitive activity. Also, through the use of pushing the keys and
clicking on the mouse, the student will increase fine motor skills in the wrist, the
index finger, and the thumb finger, which will later enhance a better grasp on a
writing utensils or eating utensils.
(5) Process Goals – After the child is introduced to the game, the child will first
search for items that are not similar, which will increase cognitive activity to
further emergent skills development. Second, the child will also be increasing fine
motor skills by clicking on the mouse or pushing on the keyboard keys. Last, the
child can increase peer interaction by working with a peer on problem solving.
(6) Lesson Plan – The teacher will introduce the game to the child by saying
enthusiastically, “Boys and Girls! Today you’ll be finding the differences between
the two pictures!” After introducing the activity to the child, the child will begin
playing independently or with a peer. The children will be increasing various
developmental areas as mentioned above in four and five.
(7) Summary – The child will learn to use fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and
social skills through today’s technology. The child will advance not only in
knowledge about the uses of computers but also several developmental areas,
which will lead to emergent math, problem solving, interacting skills.
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Name:
June 16, 2005
Title: “Breakfast Babies”
(1) Description of Program - In the “Breakfast Babies” game, the student will have
to find as many matching pictures in as few tries as possible.
(2) Basic Information – The freeware game can be downloaded from
www.tucows.com. The game’s title is “Breakfast Babies Memory 1.0 and is
usable as a MAC download.
(3) Target Population – The target population is children with and without special
needs, ages 3 and up.
(4) Content Goals – The goals of this freeware program is mainly to enhance the
child’s acuity skills, problem solving skills, and mathematical skills. This game
can also improve cognitive skills and fine motor skills. The pictures are very
animated, which will stimulate the students and keep the students engaged. All
students are able to use cognitive skills, ocular skills, and fine motor skills. The
students will enhance all of these skills through playing the game. Also, for the
students with peer interaction issues, the game can be played with a friend, which
will allow the child to use his peer interaction skills in engaging and initiating in
peer conversation and peer play.
(5) Process Goals – First, the child will begin by using fine motor skills to answer the
questions. Then, the child will engage in the game by using the child’s eye
muscles, cognitive skills, and problem-solving skills, which will further the
child’s emergent math skills.
(6) Lesson Plan - The teacher will allow one to two children to interact with the
game during center time, which will improve the child’s ability to interact as a
team. Here, the child will learn sharing skills. The child can choose among the
different centers to developmentally play. Next, the teacher will introduce the
game to the child(ren) as a matching game. The teacher will then fade out as the
child(ren) learns through play with the computer game and with a peer.
(7) Summary – This game is great for children with and without special needs,
especially in an inclusion classroom. The children further develop their cognitive
skills, emergent math skills, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, social skills,
and ocular abilities, while having fun and interacting with a peer (with little adult
assistance).
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