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Critical Reading Software Reviews

Title of Program

Critical Thinking I

Publisher or Producer

Compris, Inc.

Version and/or Date

6.10

Setting (in classroom, small groups, etc.)

Potential Users

Individually in the lab

Computer

Hardware: PC Operating System: DOS

Checklist

(characteristics present indicated by x)

 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

Good introduction to how to use the Computer. Program is highly interactive, asking questions and responding to users' answers. User chooses between answering in multiple-choice or open-ended format. The ideas about thinking are based in behaviorism. This program operates as a dialogue between Computer and user that teachers about the nature of thinking. It doesn't have reading selections.

Evaluator

Sally Rings

Date of Evaluation

2/93

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 --}
Comments to alan.levine@domail.maricopa.edu