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Critical Reading Software Reviews

Title of Program

Reading Non-Fiction Critically

Publisher or Producer

Mertit, P.O. Box 392, NY, NY, 10024, (212) 675-8567

Version and/or Date

1992-3

Setting (in classroom, small groups, etc.)

Individually in the lab

Potential Users

Upper elementary and junior high

Computer

Hardware: PC Operating System: DOS

Checklist

(characteristics present indicated by x)

   Overall design of program is good
   Reading selections are long (several paragraphs).
   Reading selections are complete works rather than excerpts.
   Content of reading selections is appropriate for college 
       students.
 x Tasks involve students in constructing ideas, rather than in 
   answering objective questions.

Reading Strategies

(items present marked by x)

   Previewing
   Accessing prior knowledge
   Establishing a purpose for reading
   Determining text structure and organization
   Asking questions
   Defining terms as used in context
   Monitoring comprehension
   Using fix-up strategies when comprehension breaks down
   Paraphrasing and summarizing author's ideas
   Relating author's background to reading selection
   Determining author's purpose and attitude
   Relating ideas in reading selection to other ideas
   Evaluating the validity of the author's claims
   Collaborating with other ideas

Comments

The Computer judges the correctness or incorrectness of student-generated answers by whether the answer contains key words, but the Computer cannot judge whether the answer actually makes sense. Fragments written as sentences are considered correct by the Computer even though complete sentences are requested. Correct answers for questions can be written in a few words; in other words, the questions are not sufficiently complex to require answers of complete sentences.

Evaluator

Sally Rings

Date of Evaluation

12/93

Critical Reading Software Reviews
Š1994, Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (MCLI)
Maricopa County Community College District, Arizona

The Internet Connection at MCLI is Alan Levine --}
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