Index | previous review | next review |

Critical Reading Software Reviews

Title of Program

Modeling Reading Strategies

Publisher or Producer

Queue

Version and/or Date

1992

Setting (in classroom, small groups, etc.)

Individually in the lab

Potential Users

Not stated (presumably secondary or college students)

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.
 x Content of reading selections is appropriate for college 
       students.
   Tasks involve students in constructing ideas, rather than in 
   answering objective questions.

Reading Strategies

(items present marked by x) x Previewing x Accessing prior knowledge Establishing a purpose for reading x Determining text structure and organization x Asking questions Defining terms as used in context x Monitoring comprehension x Using fix-up strategies when comprehension breaks down x 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

Although this program is grounded in recent research in reading, in actuality it is very similar to traditional skills practice, i.e., main ideas, etc. Prompts about strategy use are inserted into this practice. This program is very frustrating to use: (1) it cannot be exited until the end, and (2) its judgment--re: correct and incorrect answers--is open to question.

Evaluator

Sally Rings

Date of Evaluation

11/93

Title of Program

Read On!

Publisher or Producer

Humanities Software

Version and/or Date

1990

Setting (in classroom, small groups, etc.)

Middle and secondary level students

Potential Users

In classroom in small groups, individually in lab

Computer

Hardware: Macintosh/PC

Checklist

(characteristics present indicated by x)
   Overall design of program is good
 x Reading selections are long (several paragraphs).
   Reading selections are complete works rather than excerpts.
 x 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)
 x Previewing
 x Accessing prior knowledge
 x Establishing a purpose for reading
 x Determining text structure and organization
   Asking questions
 x Defining terms as used in context
 x Monitoring comprehension
   Using fix-up strategies when comprehension breaks down
   Paraphrasing and summarizing author's ideas
 x Relating author's background to reading selection
 x Determining author's purpose and attitude
 x Relating ideas in reading selection to other ideas
   Evaluating the validity of the author's claims
 x Collaborating with other ideas

Comments

Excellent reading colletion re: environmentalism. Although prompts calling for response are inserted periodically into the text to promote strategy use, the presence of the prompts makes it difficult to get a sense of the whole text. The activities in this program do not require a

Computer

; this program is an example of using the

Computer

as an ³electronic page turner.²

Evaluator

Sally Rings

Date of Evaluation

10/93
Critical Reading Software Reviews
©1994, 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