This CD-ROM-based program lets teachers create several different activity types--multiple choice, free practice, gap fill/cloze, drag and drop, proofreading, and target spotting--with hints, a feedback function that responds to students' errors, an introductory text option, and on-line help. Vocabulary can be added with sound. The program uses a simple type and click system to make it easy to author. Exercises can be linked. Context-sensitive help is available on each screen. A demo can be downloaded from the website.
This is an update on Wida's established authoring range incorporating Storyboard, Gapmaster, Testmaster, Matchmaster, Choicemaster, Pinpoint and Vocab into a single program for Windows. Users pay only for the titles they want. Authors can enhance text activities with graphics, sound, video and rich text. Students can use the notepad to give a comment on the activities and teachers can call up and respond to these messages. Programs can share common glossaries. 'Convert' facility automatically converts files previously authored with Version 2.0. Single user price: £75 per title (5 computers). Other pricing available: £150-£900. Contact Wida for details.
Allows teachers to create lessons incorporating text, graphics, animation, sound and videodisc. Windows versions Win NT, 95, 3.1
HyperCard authoring program for creating dictations from music CDs. Teacher plays a song, marking relevant segments. She then types in (or copies and pastes) the lyrics corresponding to those segments. The student's job is to type in the lyrics (or part of the lyrics) as she is listening to the song on the CD. If she's correct, the song continues playing. Interesting use of hypermedia in a widely available medium, but fairly hardware-intensive and time-consuming to prepare. Teachers are advised to get students to do as much of the preparatory work as possible, e.g. picking music and typing in lyrics for each other. (JM) Our teachers have created a number of these, and students enjoy them a great deal. (DH)
Produces multiple choice tests with feedback for right and wrong answers. Now included in Wida's Authoring Suite. Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT supported.
This program by Martin Holmes enables teachers to create multiple-choice quizzes which students can do on the computer. Hints can be included as feedback to student responses, and quizzes can be done as timed tests or with no time limit. At the end of each quiz, the student receives a percentage score. (This is a sister program for ClozeMaker, with a very similar interface.) Freeware.
This program from Martin Holmes enables teachers to create cloze (gap-fill) exercises which students can do on the computer. Clozes can be created by automatic gapping of every nth word in a text, or by selecting words to be removed. Students can do the exercises as timed tests or with no time limit, and students may choose to see a list of the missing words, or the complete text of the cloze if they wish. At the end of each quiz, the student receives a percentage score. (This is a sister program for Choices, with a very similar interface.) Freeware.
Authoring program for creating interactive computer training programs with sound, graphics and movies, without scripting or programming. Programs can automatically track and save student reports. Course Builder Cross Platform converts Course Builder programs created on the Mac for playback on Windows. Programs cannot be created on Windows, however. More features are available in more expensive versions.
Students can listen to clues or read them onscreen. Comes with 100 puzzles and authoring capability. Can use colors and fonts to differentiate clues and subjects. Puzzles can be solved on-screen or printed out. Requires Windows and a sound card.
Widely-used in foreign languages, this long-time authoring program originally from Conduit hasn't made too much of an impact in ESL. One reason for that is that it has very limited authoring capability: you're limited to 4-5 types of exercises (and no scripting), and student responses are always evaluated letter by letter, word by word; the other is that it uses a rather traditional drill and practice paradigm. Becomes more interesting if the exercises include graphics, sound, or laserdisc access, but this kind of multimedia work can be better done with other programs.
Variant of Storyboard (whole-text deletion program) in which specific word groups can be displayed, e.g., prepositions. Excellent for group work with teacher-useful vehicle for thinking about groups of words and structures in written texts. Windows version available March 1999.
Test generator that works with Pearson Education Content Standards - sold as part of that package.
Former title: Automatic Exercise Generator. This program, created in conjunction with Oxford University Press, generates and prints paper-based text and vocabulary exercises. It is based on a pool of 50 specially-written multicultural texts. Teachers select a text from the list of texts, choose an exercise type, and decide on the length of the exercise. The program generates the exercise. If it looks satisfactory, the teacher can print a student copy and teacher master copy (the license includes unlimited photocopying of all material). Exercise types include gap fill, sentence matching, jumbled words (anagrams), word search, proofreading, sentence gaps, sentence matching, word forms, vocabulary in context, and sentence organiser. A demo can be downloaded from the website at www.clarity.com.hk. CD-ROM. $49 for each individual level, $149 for 5 levels, $298 for use on up to 5 teachers' computers.
For interactive multimedia presentations with graphics, animations, and sound. Can link to a database and display information with hypertext and graphs. Object-oriented language. Presentations can be played from floppy disk, CD-ROM, directly through the internet, or embedded in a Web page or other document. Free program.
Fun with Texts is a flexible text-manipulation package that was originally developed by Graham Davies as an extension of its predecessors, Storyboard and CopyWrite. Version 4 now includes the ability to add graphics, sound, and video. A downloadable demo is available via http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/fwt.htm#demofwt. The Fun with Texts handbook, which contains instructions for teachers and students, can also be downloaded. The web page also includes teacher tips contributed by users.
A completely rewritten version of GapKit 1.0, this incorporates a range of new features for flexible gap-fill/multiple choice authoring program. The teacher can copy and paste texts and clipart into GapKit from any application; create new gapped texts using GapKits's word-processing facilities; create gaps in any text simply by clicking and dragging the mouse; specify a range of up to 30 alternative answers for each gap, create multiple-choice exercises with specified or randomised distractors; specify if incorrect puntuation and letters typed in the wrong case should be penalized; include an optional 'hint line' for each gap; decide whether the hint line is to appear before or after the student attempts an answer; link a sound file with any gap; link a graphic image with any gap; resize the program window to accomodate any screen definition. A demo version can be downloaded from the website at www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/gkdemo.zip. See http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/gapkit.htm for more information.
A cloze generator that can import text from other programs and print out. Now included in Wida's Authoring Suite. Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT supported.
Authoring program (based on HyperCard) for creating vocabulary lessons with sound and graphics. Teachers type in a word, definition, example sentence, and then record what they want their students to hear. Students can record and play back their voices and compare it to the teacher's.
Guided Reading by David Herren is a HyperCard stack whose purpose is to assist in introducing the intermediate language student to the literature in the target language through media-based annotations of texts. It provides an easy means for the instructor to answer questions one time that she knows the students will ask over and again each semester. I am further hopeful that it will simultaneously engage the student in a way they might not otherwise be engaged. With very little practice, the instructor should be able to create annotated editions of text including digital sound, interactive video, graphics and text, designed to provide collaborative support to the intermediate and beginning language student as they investigate short stories, poetry or excerpts in the target language. (JM)
A suite of programs for creating exercises that will run using a web browser, either online or offline. Programs include JQuiz, to make multiple choice and short-answer quizzes; Jcloze, to create gap-filling exercises; JCross, to create crossword puzzles painlessly; JMix, for scrambled sentences; and JMatch, for matching exercises. Graphics and audio can be added easily. Menus (and content) can be in English or any of several other languages. The real power of the program is that it is so easy to create exercises that students can create them for each other. Version 6 includes the option of subscribing to a web-hosting service. A version with all the features, but limited in the number of items in an exercise, can be downloaded from the website. The full version is free of charge for those working for publicly-funded non-profit-making educational institutions, who make their pages available on the web.
For people who have had trouble with HyperCard, this is extremely easy to use and requires only that you be able to point and click. You can produce programs to help your students in vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation (it has voice), lifeskills, reading, and writing.
Full-bodied authoring system to create web-based tutorials and courses. Assists in the integration of Flash animation, video, audio, and Java applets, as well as text. Tests can also be created. The results (text, Word document, PDF, HTML, XML, SCORM) can be exported directly to a number of learning management systems, including WebCT, Moodle, and others. LERSUS does not require experience in programming.
High-end test generation software that offers a variety of scoring and test options and will produce multiple versions from a single test bank. Offers word processor text editing with rulers and tabs. Selects questions individually or randomly by objective or key word category. Scrambles both items and choices. Supports graphics and QuickTime movies. Includes built-in spelling checker. The Professional Edition is $500 and adds question bank password protection, question linking, global data changing, extended selection capabilities, mastery specifications, and various print options. The Scoring Edition for $900 adds an optical mark reader interface for automatic scoring and more detailed item and test analysis options.
MaxAuthor is used by an author to associate multimedia with text to prepare it for use by students using the MAX family of lesson activities: MaxBrowser, Listening Dictation, Pronunciation, Multiple Choice, Vocabulary Completion, and Audio Flashcards. The author records separate audio for both sentences and words and has the option of recording audio in the training language only, but can also record translations or paraphrases in any other language or dialect. The author can either manually define the word and sentence boundaries or let MaxAuthor choose the boundaries automatically. Download from the website at http://cali.arizona.edu/docs/wmaxa/maxadown.htm
Game show format with items from ExamView test banks. Use ExamView to create your own Quiz Show question sets. Simply create a bank or test in ExamView and have your students open the file in Quiz Show. Can be used with Pearson's Classroom Response System wireless pads, as well.
CD-ROM-based multimedia presentation tool that lets users create multimedia productions. MP Express can import and utilize any standard picture, sound, or video including QuickTime VR. It can also record narration. This can be used by students to create presentations. The company also sells resource CDs that contain movies, pictures, backgrounds, music scores and sounds for use with MP Express. Currently shipping Resource CDs include On the Brink: Endangered Species and Living Deserts & Rainforests.
A special version for the primary grades of Teachers Power Pack with Test Creator and Puzzle Power.
Create dictations using QuickTime movies as the basis. This application is for Macintosh only (pre-MacOS X). The program can be downloaded for free, but no support is available.
Assessment management system designed for teachers to author a range of items and organize them into exams, quizzes, tests or surveys. Assessments can be set up to be available on a specific schedule and delivered in a variety of ways. The program provides a number of different report types for the assessments. Assessments can be delivered online, via CD-ROM, on PDAs, or on individual machines.
This powerful piece of software incorporates several of the capabilities of the Wida/Eurocentre series; you can have, within the same file, a gap-filling activity, followed by a matching activity, which goes before a True / False, or a multiple choice activity. You can collate student answers, and analyse student-results, either on a student-by-student basis, or taking the entire class into account. It can be used to make 'catch-up' tests for students who were unable to take a test with the others in the class. There is a Windows version, a Mac version, and one which allows you to create interactive material on the World Wide Web (QM Perception for the Web). Prices vary with the platform, starting at $995(Win), $495(Mac), and $1,995(Web) from Question Mark America and from £999 (Win) £499 (Mac), and £1799 (QM Perception for the Web) from Question Mark UK.
This free authoring tool automates creating Web or CD-ROM content where each word or phrase can contain multiple levels of annotation. Thus, a single text can meet the needs of students with diverse abilities and from diverse backgrounds. Databases may be licensed to automate the addition of definitions and translations if desired. The program can be downloaded from http://www.sentius.com.
Whole-text deletion program. Now included in Wida's Authoring Suite. Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT supported.
Easy-to-use authoring tool that allows teachers to create multiple interactive games and exercises from one set of inputs. See the website for more information, screenshots and free a trial download.
Wide variety of test types available.
The teacher types in a question or cue and the answer is programmed as a complete cloze with clues. You can also program up to around 21 variations for one answer. Now included in Wida's Authoring Suite. Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT supported.
A suite of two authoring programs, WebRhubarb and WebSequitur. The programs are used to create web pages (HTML documents) which contain interactive language-learning exercises. The exercises are based on the Rhubarb and Sequitur programs originally developed by John and Muriel Higgins.
Makes a variety of printed puzzle worksheets from words or text you type or paste - crosswords, wordsearches, scrambled words and text, text mazes and coded text. Download a 15-day free trial from the website: http://www.discoveryeducationalsoftware.co.uk/toolbox_e.htm.
Authoring system for creating computer-based reading lessons. Teachers can enter specialized texts, create explanatory notes connected to parts of the text, and create true/false and fill in the blank comprehension questions. The program automatically can provide the student with reports on reading speed and paced reading practice. With the Macintosh version teachers can also add audio and graphics connected to each reading text and exercise. Version 2.7 is for DOS ($220).
HyperCard based authoring program for creating dictations from videodisc clips. The teacher plays the videodisc, marking the segments to create a dictation, then types in the script for each segment. Easier to do than to describe.
This offers six different word game activities from word lists entered by teachers. Now included in Wida's Authoring Suite. Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT supported.
Multimedia flashcard creator; ready-made translating flashcards are available between English and over 40 other languages. Powerful editor: voice recording, image edition, smart keyboard switch between 2 languages. Free for schools; $15 shareware otherwise. Download from the website at http://www.paul-raedle.de/vtrain/home.htm. Also on the website is a free tool for collecting words and phrases called WordClip.
WebCALIS is an experimental Java version of WinCALIS for PC, Mac, Linux/UNIX platforms. It supports over half the features of WinCALIS, and also includes numerous additional features, support for the World Wide Web as a browser applet; multiple hardware and software platforms; and HTML pages. The current version can be downloaded from http://www.humancomp.org/webcal.htm.
Family of programs for authoring; interfaces with audio, video, and videodisc; Windows version of CALIS (Computer-Assisted Language Instruction System). Full range of multimedia presentation. Differs from other authoring environments by supporting complex string matching with author use of wild cards; automatic "SpellMarking" of student answers; observing Unicode conventions, i.e., all languages of the world (including IPA) uniquely identified and distinctively encoded. Contact the publisher or see the website for detailed price and ordering information.
WordFill is an extended cloze testing engine. It displays a text with some words replaced by dashes and the student must complete the text. The teacher can decide which words are removed, so a Beginners text can have only a few words removed while an Advanced text has all but, say, proper nouns removed. It also has a timed display option so students can see the complete text for several seconds -useful for speed reading practice. (The number and duration of this display can be set by the teacher.) The program has a built-in word processor, on-line interactive tutorial and over 60 pre-loaded texts (half in business English). Texts can be added or edited freely. Very easy to use. Works with all main European languages (including support for accented characters). Runs on Win 3.1 or later (including Win 95). Mouse recommended. A demo of the program can be downloaded or an order placed over the Internet from: http://www.classicweb.com/usr/jseng/sean/ls_home.htm
This is the engine behind the other Herren programs and runs on classic Macs (pre-OSX). It is a free download from this site, but no support is available.
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