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Are you confused by terms that educators use? The Lexicon of Learning might be just what you need.
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Math Software Titles
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PassKey [Computer software]. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 8787 Orion Place, Columbus, OH 43240. http://www.passkeylearning.com Accessed July 7, 2007. Correlations: PassKey has built-in correlations to over 50 state and national proficiency tests, including Ohio's graduation exit exam. Tel: 1-800-598-4077 Grades: elementary-adult Description: From the website: PassKey is a modular diagnostic and prescriptive learning system for self-paced instruction in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies that is suitable for use with elementary grades through adult education. There are five skill levels. It has a management system to customize and track learner progress. Note: T.H.E. Journal (2002, February) reported in "Ohio Students Discover the Key to Passing Exams" (pp. 52-53) that PassKey has been successfully used at all four technical centers of Great Oaks in Southwestern Ohio. One teacher at Laurel Oaks Career Development Center indicated that the program has been instrumental in helping students pass Ohio's ninth-grade proficiency test, particularly for those trying to eliminate deficiencies in math.
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Path to Mastery (new name for OPT for Success) [Computer software]. (2002). KAMICO® Instructional Media, Inc., 4413 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78759. http://www.kamico.com Accessed July 7, 2007. Email: info@kamico.com Correlations: NCTM standards Tel: 512-343-0801 Note: Demo software is available. Kamico has test preparation materials for individual states. Description: See details at http://www.kamico.com/software/pathtomastery Path to Mastery is an interactive software program that combines student instruction and data disaggregation. The Student Instructional Program presents mathematics problem solving created to develop state education standards. Educational content is presented in real-world contexts along with engaging graphics and animation. Grade-level themes include such scenarios as the Old West, Middle Ages, historical figures, and great structures of the world. Available in English and Spanish, Path to Mastery provides pre- and post assessments, practices and tutorials, and isolated skill instruction. The Data Disaggregation Program disaggregates student academic data to assist educators in determining instructional focus; monitoring individual student, class, grade level, and demographic group progress; and maximizing effectiveness of classroom instruction. The software itself is unchanged from OPT for Success. OPT for Success materials are still available for Ohio.
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Paws and Pyramids [Computer software]. (1999). Gamco Educational Software, Siboney Learning Group, Sales & Marketing, 325 North Kirkwood Road, Suite 200, Saint Louis, MO 63122 http://www.gamco.com Accessed July 7, 2007. Email: sales@gamco.com Tel: 1-888-726-8100 Grades: 4-8 Description: From the Gamco website http://www.gamco.com/index.php?cPath=21_25_47 : Paws and Pyramids is a perimeter, area, and volume learning game for students in grades 4-8, but can be used for remediation in higher grades. All the cats have turned blue thanks to the evil queen. Students enter the Queen's pyramid and find a secret formula that will cure the cats. To find the secret formula, students must solve a variety of problems testing their mastery in perimeter, area, volume, and surface area. There are twenty skill levels.
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Pearson PASeries Mathematics and Algebra I. [Formative Assessment Software].(2006). Pearson Education, Inc. http://www.pearsonpaseries.com/ Accessed July 7, 2007. Email: PASeries@pearson.com Correlations: NCTM standardsTel: 1-888-281-8443 Description: From the web site: Pearson PASeries (Progress Assessment Series) Mathematics for grades 3-8 is a formative assessment product (screening, progress, diagnostic and item analysis) designed to help educators monitor student progress in meeting state performance goals and grade level expectations. Pearson Education indicates that the product is "built from the ground up to be scientifically valid, reliable, and research based." The screening test is for placement. There are six progress tests for each grade to measure growth and forecast performance on statewide tests or toward grade level expectations. Diagnostic tests are by strand for targeting instruction. At the student level, the item analysis will shed light on probable errors. Pearson PASeries Algebra I for grades 6-12 contains six progress tests and five diagnostic tests--one for each of the five content strands per grade. Assessments can be delivered online and/or via paper and can be completed during one class period. Reports can be generated by student, classroom, school, district and state, including sub-groups. |
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PLATO Learning and Straight Curve Math Series [Instructional software]. PLATO Learning, Inc., 10801 Nesbitt Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55437. www.plato.com Accessed February 27, 2008. Email: info@plato.com Correlations: PLATO Learning: over 250 local, state and national standards; Straight Curve aligns with NCTM K-6 Focal PointsTel: 1-800-447-5286 Description: From the PLATO Learning Web site: PLATO courseware integrates the latest technology and brain-based research. PLATO courseware modules contain tutorials, drills, applications, problem solving activities, reviews, practice, and mastery tests. Products for K-6 elementary math include Straight Curve (Series 1 and 2) and PLATO Achieve Now and Math Expeditions. Straight Curve offers game-style practice, individual assessments, compatibility with interactive whiteboards and can be used with whole class direct instruction (e.g., manipulatives are included) or small group instruction. It supplements classroom instruction on the most difficult topics to teach in each major math strand. PLATO Learning's secondary math collection is comprehensive with Foundational Mathematics, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry 1 and 2, Math Problem Solving, and Math Expeditions. Applied Math contains content typically taught in grades 6-9 and can be used with middle school, high school, and adult learners. Academic Systems® Algebra provides full-course instruction that actively engages college students in learning and applying mathematics. It provides comprehensive, self-paced instruction in prealgebra, elementary algebra, and intermediate algebra aimed at helping students entering college under-prepared for college-level math courses. |
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PracticePlanet [Test prep software]. (2007). Orchard Software, 325 North Kirkwood Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63122. http://www.practiceplanet.com/index.php Accessed November 7, 2007. Correlations: state standards Tel: Sales and Marketing: 1-800-610-7095 Grades: K-12 Description: PracticePlanet is an online high-stakes test preparation program for K-12 students. Test and practice items are aligned with the testing standards for the grade levels assessed in each state and mimic the items found on actual state tests. Pretests identify areas of strength and weakness; students practice the assigned concepts, posttests show his or her level of growth. The reporting feature gives real time student data to pinpoint areas needing additional work. Games are included for motivation and are used for rewards for completing practice modules.
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Pre-Algebra Pathways [Online software]. (2008). Let's Go Learn, product distributed by Curriculum Associates Inc., P.O. Box 2001, North Billerica, MA 01862-0901. http://www.letsgolearn.com/ Accessed June 19, 2008. E-mail: info@cainc.com Correlations: NCTM and state standards Tel: 1-800-225-0248 (to place an order with Curriculum Associates). Grades: middle and high school Description: From Let's Go Learn website: "Pre-Algebra Pathways brings together comprehensive adaptive pre-algebra skills assessment with differentiated instruction, all administered in an interactive, online learning environment. Let's Go Learn's Diagnostic Online Math Assessment (DOMA) Pre-Algebra first performs a detailed assessment of each student's pre-algebra abilities across 14 different mathematical constructs aligned with NCTM and state standards. After the initial assessment, the program transitions the student into interactive tutorials and activities that improve math skills identified by teachers as essential for success in Algebra I." Let's Go Learn also produces a series of diagnostic online math assessments for basic skills, pre-algebra, and algebra 1. Their product Unique Math offers a similar format as Pre-Algebra Pathways, but offers assessment with differentiated instruction in basic math skills suitable for grades K-5.
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Pre-Algebra World [Computer software]. (1997). MathRealm, 5 Sotweed Ct., Potomac, MD 20854. http://www.mathrealm.com/CD_ROMS/PreAlgebraWorld.php Accessed July 7, 2007. E-mail: sales@mathrealm.com Correlations: NCTM standards Tel: 1-800-335-0781 Note: This product is part of the MathRealm series. Grades: 3-8 Description: Pre-Algebra World, Number Sense for grades 3-8, is entirely 3D rendered in a cartoonish/realistic style. A colorful guide helps students through the program and provides hints and instructions. The program covers place value, number systems, rounding, estimating, factoring, and fractions. The theme of this title is exploring places that are subject lessons. Themes include: building a rainbow over a lake as students learn to factor; shop to learn about place value; visit an observatory to learn about powers of 10 and scientific notation; visit an archaeological dig to learn about prime numbers with Eratosthenes' sieve; play basketball for rounding and estimating; and enter a factory for factoring lessons. Learn about fractions and fraction operations in a pizza shop, art gallery, stock market, and more. The product contains extensive animations, interactivity, voice, fun music, sound effects, and videos. There are an unlimited number of practice problems. Number Sense builds bridges from math to science, history, and real world phenomena. School versions of the program come with a teacher manual that includes additional problems that teachers may copy for students. It provides helpful teacher tips to students on what to look for as they navigate through the program. Other CD-ROM products in the series include algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The following recommendation from the website is of interest: "The software does an outstanding job of introducing basic algebra concepts. Students loved the illustrations and sound effects, and they enjoyed interacting with the computer-generated manipulatives. ... The program was intrinsically motivational." - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, February 1999 issue of Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School.
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Prentice Hall Middle Grades Mathematics: Courses 1, 2, and 3. [Text and computer software]. (2004). Prentice Hall. http://www.phschool.com/math/index.html Accessed July 7, 2007. Tel: 1-800-848-9500. Grades: 6-8 Description: From the website http://www.phschool.com/successnet/math.html#middle: Mathematics for Middle School, Courses 1, 2, and 3 interactive textbook is the same trusted content as your print textbook. The interactive textbook, available online and on CD-ROM, provides powerful class reports for teachers to address NCLB requirements and motivates all learners with:
Note: Prentice Hall also has Connected Math 2 for grades 6-8, which was developed with National Science Foundation funds and provides an investigative approach to learning math. Their Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, and Geometry texts include online editions. Pre-calculus and calculus are available.
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PrimeTime Math-Series [Computer software]. Tom Snyder Productions, 80 Coolidge Hill Road, Watertown MA 02472-5003. http://www.tomsnyder.com/ Accessed May 1, 2008. Email: ask@tomsnyder.com Correlations: Meets state and national standards Tel: 1-800-342-0236 Grades: 4-9 Description: See full description at http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/product.asp?SKU=PTMPTM Award-winning PrimeTime Math engages students in grades 4-9 in real-world stories about professional people using math in situations such as wilderness search and rescue, medical emergencies, crimes, and fires. Titles include Adrift, Cliffbound, Fire, Lost, Emergency, and Stakeout. Instructional content focuses on problem solving and communicating, real world connections, numbers and operations, data analysis and graphing, measurement, geometry and spatial reasoning, and algebra. The product includes video dramas, reproducible worksheets and answer keys, and in-class assessment.
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Prime Time Math [Computer software]. (1998). Sheppard Software, Suite 623, Pavilion, Jenkintown, PA 19046. http://www.sheppardsoftware.com Accessed July 7, 2007. Email: Brad@sheppardsoftware.com Developer: Brad Sheppard, President of Sheppard Software Grades: 7-12 Description: This program can be downloaded from the website: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/pmath1_cat.htm Prime Time Math is a multimedia educational game that will help students in grades 7-12 improve their word problem solving skills and boost their SAT scores. Problems in the game cover prime numbers, factoring, squares, cubes, remainders, fractions, percentages, algebra and logic. Prime Time Math features over 1000 problems in nine skill levels with three options of play that include the ten problem game, time trial and two-player combat. The problems in the game are descriptions of the numbers 1 - 99. From these descriptions, the player must identify the correct number. Hints and help files are provided. Students can toggle sound on or off and view information on scoring, benchmark numbers, tips and strategies and more. Note: Sheppard Software has other math products, such as Algebra: One on One, Brain Builder: Math Edition, and Math Function Mania (http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/softwar1.htm#math).
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Pro-Ohio [Test prep software]. (2007). Computers in Education, Ben Hemingway, 3504 Tarpis Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208. http://www.pro-ohio.com/index.html Accessed July 7, 2007. Email: Hemingway@current.net Correlations: Ohio state standards Tel: 1-800-232-7118 or 513-766-3899 Grades: 2-12 Description: From the Pro-Ohio website:
PRO-Ohio is a diagnostic tool to help
teachers prepare students in grades 2—10 for success on the Ohio
Achievement and the Ohio Graduation Tests.
It features:
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Quarter Mile Math [Computer software]. (2005). Barnum Software, 1910 Lyon Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002. http://www.thequartermile.com/ Accessed July 7, 2007. Email: mail@TheQuarterMile.com Correlations: The Quarter Mile Math topics correlate to the math standards of all 50 states. Tel: 1-800-553-9155 Grades: 3-9 Description: From the website: The award-winning Quarter Mile Math programs include three levels of K-9 content and problems selected at random: K-3 (174 topics and 22, 000 problems), 4-6 (214 topics and 33,000 problems), and 6-9 (with pre-algebra and 29,000 problems). Programs can be used by the broadest range of students: on grade level, gifted, review/remediation (including for high school and adults), Title 1, special education/special needs, and at risk students. Problems appear one at a time. The goal is to answer quickly. Each time the student enters the answer correctly, his/her dragster or riderless horse will go faster. Students race against their five previous best races which are replayed on screen (six lanes with six dragsters (or six riderless horses) in all.) Their score is the "elapsed time" for the race, based on how quickly they answer the problems AND how many they answer. Topic areas include keyboarding, learning the alphabet, number, whole numbers, rounding, fractions, decimals, percents, estimation, integers, equations, and math strategies. Design integrates all major learning modalities-visual, auditory, and tactile-simultaneously in a meaningful, educational way. The program detects even the smallest improvements that wouldn't be detectable in any other software format. Student improvement is rewarded with a better score. According to the Texas educator who recommended this product, "Students especially like the ability to choose between competing against themselves, or change to multiple players" (Email communication, February 5, 2004).
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Last revised 06/20/08
Author: Dr. Patricia Deubel
