home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Trial Program Guide
-
- ACCU-READING
- Skill levels 3 - 8
-
- Trial version: VOCABULARY (Level 1)
-
- Complete Program: 3 sets, 2 levels per set
- Set A: MAIN IDEA, VOCABULARY (Levels 1 and 2)
- Set B: SEQUENCE, FACTUAL RECALL (Levels 3 and 4)
- Set C: INFERENCE, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS (Levels 5 and 6)
-
- Windows or MS-DOS (VGA display)
-
- Accu-Reading improves the comprehension skills of students in reading
- levels 3 - 8. Each lesson focuses on one skill within six ranges of
- difficulty. In addition, a crossword puzzle encourages the student to
- think about word and idea relationships. The presentation of the material
- also makes the program effective for ESL students and older students who
- need remedial help.
-
- Each lesson is self-directing and self-correcting. The computer gives an
- explanation specifically for each incorrect answer. The program evaluates
- performance after each round. The student who does poorly is directed to a
- lower range for remediation. The student who does well is directed to a
- higher range for further skill development. Students are rewarded by graphics
- in each round.
-
- OVERVIEW
-
- The program contains the following reading skill categories:
-
- Main Idea Factual Recall
- Vocabulary Inference
- Sequence Drawing Conclusions
-
- Each category contains 72 selections and provides practice on one skill
- at each of reading levels 3 to 8. There are 12 questions in each level,
- or range, from which selections are randomly chosen for each round.
-
- When students first use the program, they enter their name. The teacher
- may ask students to enter a class code; this is optional. If the students
- have passed a level in the main program, at a subsequent session they are
- directed to the appropriate skill level.
-
- DIAGNOSTIC TEST
-
- A one-time diagnostic (placement) test for each category determines the
- range at which the student enters the level. Each diagnostic test consists
- of multiple-choice questions that gradually get harder as the student gets
- more and more correct answers. The program is configured so that the
- student is placed at the range at which s/he gets one answer wrong. This
- may be changed with the ASCII file, config.dat on each level. The first
- line indicates the number of questions the student needs to get correct,
- and the second line indicates the maximum number of questions per level the
- student will receive.
-
- MAIN PRACTICE PROGRAM
-
- A round consists of randomly chosen selections. The format used in this
- program allows the selection, the question, and multiple-choice answers to
- remain on screen at the same time so the student can refer to the text
- when choosing an answer. Whenever a student answers incorrectly, s/he is
- given an explanation of the reason that answer is incorrect and is asked
- to try again.
-
- If the student does well, s/he is given four words or phrases
- and is asked to choose the two that best describe what the text is about.
- The student must get both choices correct. If one is correct, s/he is told
- one choice is correct and is asked to try again. This exercise is designed
- to help the student identify the main idea and see the difference between a
- main idea and a supporting detail. Many students may be unfamiliar with this
- type of comprehension question. It may take a couple of rounds before they
- master the technique.
-
- For the sudent who successully completes the round, there is a crossword
- puzzle to sharpen vocabulary and thinking skills.
-
- At the end of each round, the computer gives the percentage of right
- answers. The number of questions in a round varies from a minimum of four
- to a maximum of eight. The student who does well needs less help and
- therefore gets fewer selections.
-
- If the student gets 70 percent or more correct, s/he has the option of
- repeating the range or going on to the next range. If the student scores
- less than 70 percent, s/he may choose to repeat the range or go to a lower
- range. If the student gets the first four answers correct, the computer
- immediately advances him/her to the next range. The round will end when
- the student can no longer achieve a passing score of 70 percent because of
- the number of wrong answers already accumulated.
-
- PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
-
- Set A, MAIN IDEA: Students read a variety of selections and answer
- questions that test such reading skills as identifying the main idea,
- recognizing irrelevant sentences, and locating the topic sentence.
-
- Example: Student reads, "People have always thought that owls were very
- wise. This is probably because of the serious look on the owl's face and
- in its stern eyes. Actually, for a bird its size, the owl has a tiny
- brain. What is the main idea of this paragraph?" Student chooses the main
- idea from: "Owls are not as wise as many people think," "Owls have a
- serious look on their faces," and "Owls have small brains."
-
- Set A, VOCABULARY: Students are given words and asked to select the
- correct meaning from among several choices. Words appear in context, and
- incorrect response messages show students how they may have mistaken the
- meaning of a word.
-
- Example: Student reads, "Prairie dogs live in the grassy REGIONS of the
- Great Plains. REGIONS are:" Student chooses from: "areas," "climates,"
- and "seasons."
-
- Set B, SEQUENCE: Students are given selections based on time order (e.g.,
- for events) or order of steps (e.g., in directions). Questions require
- that students decide what would come first, second, third, or last, or ask
- students to find the proper place for a particular step in directions for
- doing or making something.
-
- Example: Student reads, "After the heavy rain, water ran down the
- mountainside into a stream. The stream flowed into a river, which emptied
- into the ocean. Where was the water RIGHT BEFORE it flowed into the river?"
- Student chooses from: "in a stream," "in the ocean," and "running down the
- mountainside."
-
- Set B, FACTUAL RECALL: Students read a variety of selections and answer
- questions based on the details provided.
-
- Example: Student reads, "Among the earliest dinosaurs were the relatively
- small coelurosaurs. These dinosaurs had long delicate limb bones, many of
- which were hollow, birdlike feet, and long slender necks. Coelurosaurs
- walked on their hind legs and ran on their toes; they used their long tails
- to balance their bodies. What physical feature of the coelurosaur resembled
- a bird's?" Student chooses from: "feet," "tail," or "neck."
-
- Set C, INFERENCE: Students are given a variety of selections. From the
- content they must draw inferences about situations, events, people, objects,
- feelings, etc.
-
- Example: Student reads, "A fly landed on some thin and sticky threads. It
- tried to move but it was stuck. Then it saw a spider crawling toward it.
- Where was the fly?" Student chooses from: "in the spider's web," "on
- flypaper," or "in a sewing kit."
-
- Set C, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS: Students read and analyze a variety of passages
- and make a reasoned deduction based on information given.
-
- Example: Student reads, "Texas is home to many wildflowers. The bluebonnet
- is the state flower. Wildflowers provide a show of color from spring to
- fall. They do not have to be planted. They do not have to be watered. Some
- grow in the very poorest of soils. Other wildflowers grow where there is
- little rainfall. Wildflowers are an American treasure. This story suggests
- that wildflowers" "add beauty to our country," "are weeds," "serve no
- purpose," or "are harmful."
-
-
- RECORD MANAGEMENT
-
- To see student records, run RECORD from the directory, or press [CONTROL]T
- while at the title screen.
-
- The default directory for the windows trial version is:
- c:\MAVDEMO\ACCU-WD\RECORD.EXE
-
- The trial version saves records for only two students. A third name will
- automatically replace the first name entered. (The single user School
- version saves records for as many students as disk space allows. The
- Network version saves records for 1,000 students.)
-
- The records can go to the screen or the printer. You may see the records
- of the entire class, or choose an individual student's scores. If you
- choose to look at the scores of the entire class, you may have them
- displayed in alphabetical order or from highest to lowest.
-
- Use the following keys to make your selections:
-
- ALT: Allows you to choose items in the Top Menu: (1) Order (2) View
- (3) Select (4) Print (5) Delete (6) Exit. In each of the first three
- options, you will have the choice of selecting records from the Pull
- Down Menu by name, date, skills mastered, or class code.
-
- TAB: Changes the category of information that is displayed in a fixed
- cycle, e.g., from students' names to last dates played, to highest
- mastered skill levels, to class codes, to a student's entire record
- and then back again to the students' names.
-
- ENTER: Selects or deselects any piece of information on which the cursor
- is placed. Selected items can be viewed, printed, or deleted as a group.
- They appear on the screen highlighted in red.
-
- Screen Layout: Instructions are placed in color boxes at the bottom of
- the screen. The number appearing at the end of the last line of
- instructions on the screen indicates the position of the cursor in the
- total number of records. Just before this number is a description of what
- information is being displayed, e.g., name, date, etc.
-
- Moving the Cursor: To move the cursor use the arrow keys. To see preceding
- screens, use the Page Up key. To go to following screens, use the Page
- Down key. To go to the beginning of a list, press the Home key. To get to
- the end of a list, press the End key.
-
- To See Records: All information may be viewed on the screen or printed
- out. To clear previously selected records, choose Select from the Top
- Menu and Deselect from the Pull Down Menu. Note that your viewing
- selections are cleared each time the program is restarted or the computer
- is turned off.
-
- Examples
-
- 1. To print out the records of one class, follow these directions:
-
- Top Menu Pull Down Menu Other Keys Remarks/Actions
-
- ALT Select Class Cursor keys Find the beginning of
- the class
-
- ENTER Mark the beginning of
- the class
-
- Cursor keys Find the end of the
- class
-
- ENTER Mark the end of the
- class
-
- ALT View Selected Now only that class is
- displayed. (Repeating
- this step would restore
- screen as it was.)
-
- ALT Order Name Class now alphabetized
-
- ALT Print Selected Printing is optional.
- Information can be
- viewed on the screen.
-
- 2. To print the highest (or lowest) skill level, follow the steps
- above, replacing Class, from the Pull Down Menu, with Mastered.
-
- 3. To see the records of all students in a range on the screen, choose
- View from the Top Menu and choose Entire from the Pull Down Menu.
-
- 4. To see the records of an individual student on the screen, place
- the cursor on the name of the student whose records you want to view,
- and press TAB to change the information displayed.
-
- Record Management Error Fix: If the program runs but does not keep
- student records properly, access the RECORD program and delete all
- records.
-
- copyright 1994-1997 Merit Audio Visual
- all rights reserved GTDR
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- We hope you enjoy previewing ACCU-READING. The complete six-level School
- version of the program contains the following:
-
- 1. Six diagnostic tests and 36 developmental reading lessons for (1) Main
- Idea, (2) Vocabulary, (3) Sequence, (4) Factual Recall, (5) Inference,
- (6) Drawing Conclusions
-
- 2. Record management for as many students as disk space allows
-
- 3. A program guide that contains teaching suggestions
-
- Merit offers a full range of educational software for writing, reading,
- grammar, vocabulary, ESL, and math. Merit also offers networking for
- Novell and other LAN, and licensing. School or Institutional Purchase
- Orders accepted.
-
- We will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
-
- MERIT AUDIO VISUAL
-
- (800) 753-6488 (212) 675-8567 FAX: (212) 675-8607
-
- Call us Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern
- Time. Or write MERIT AUDIO VISUAL, 132 W. 21 Street, New York, NY 10011
- for free software catalog.
-
- This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
- Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle
- works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem
- with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to
- help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with
- an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members'
- products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon,
- MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a Compuserve message via
- CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
-
-
-
-
-
-