SUBJECT AREAS: Reading, Writing, Math, Science,
Social Studies, and
Literature & the Arts
PUBLISHER:
Contemporary Books
4255 West Touby Ave.
Lincoln-Wood, IL 60646-1975
(800) 621-1918 or 998-3103
FAX: (800) 998-3103
http://www.contemporarybooks.com
James Kirkland (Sales Rep)
(703) 824-9374
FAX: (703) 824-9375
e-mail: kirkjm@erols.com
COST:
$597.50 (Single Station Version - Disks and User Manual)
$1197.00 (Hard Drive Version with Site License)
$1797.00 (Site License and Network Price)
USE:
GED
High School Alternative
At-Risk Youth
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: WIN/CD-ROM
(8MB RAM, 486/66 MHz)
MAC/CD-ROM (8MB RAM, 7.0 or later)
DOS (386/486 , 640K RAM)
DESCRIPTION: GED Interactive is a comprehensive
computer
software program that
provides all the instructional components necessary to prepare students
to take the GED test. It
was designed to supplement the GED Satellite series of books, but it
can also be utilized as an
independent GED prep course of study with diagnostic, prescriptive,
instructional, and assessment features. GED Interactive includes
a Reading Pretest, Lessons, and Post-Test that should be
used first as a placement or screening, to determine if a students
is ready for the GED-level of instruction and study. The program continues
with pre-tests in the five GED subject areas that are shorter (one-half)
than the actual GED test. All tests can be taken in the timed or the study
mode, which provides access to hints. The program then uses the results
to provide a converted standard GED score and to provide a prescription
which references units in GED Interactive and off-line pages
in a variety of Contemporary's books. The instructional units provide unit
reviews and the following tutorial lessons: 16 reading; 27 writing; 18
social studies; 18 science; 16 literature; and 29 mathematics. Full length
Post-tests cover six subject areas. The management system tracks the student
individually and includes class status information. All test results and
prescriptions can be printed.
Strengths: Students really enjoy using this program to prepare
for the GED test instead of using
only text material. Taking the pre/post tests in the study mode is
very beneficial in terms of the
content learned, the practice in the GED question format, and the immediate
feedback and
explanation of correct answers. Two excellent features are the "tip
boxes" and "checkpoints" that are found throughout the lessons. Tip
boxes point out strategies to the students at the end of the
skill introductions, while the checkpoints summarize the important
lesson skills and concepts.
Another strongpoint of this program is the emphasis on review of the
content. Two types of
review are provided to the student with lesson and unit reviews in
all subject areas. One unique
advantage of GED interactive is the "extra" reading subject which can
be used for screening
students to determine their readiness for the GED level. We also found
GED
Reading Interactive to be beneficial to students when used as a
transitional stage of tutorial practice and instruction. Another advantage
to this program is that each subject is on a separate program, so those
with limited budgets could load one or more subjects on several computers.
The installation process is very quick and easy. Many teachers commented
positively about the off-line prescriptions that are correlated to various
GED texts from Contemporary.
Weaknesses: Teachers and students commented negatively about
the inadequacy of some of the
explanations in the math pre/post tests. The complete process of math
steps is not explained for every question, so many times the student did
not understand how the answer was obtained. There also needs to be a better
explanation of the specific computer lesson units and book titles that
are referenced in the student prescription section.
Rating Evaluation Scale: 1(Poor), 2 (Fair), 3 (Good), 4 (Excellent),
N/A (Not Available)
| Curriculum Content: (5 ) | Management System: (4.5) |
| Scope and Sequence of Skills: (4) | Report Options: (5) |
| Presentation of Skills: (5) | Diagnostic or Placement: (4) |
| Grade Level or Readability Range: (8.0 - 12.0 grade level) | Prescriptive Component: (4) |
| Interest Level: Adult and high school students |
| Instructional Strategy: | Types of Questioning: |
| Drill and Practice (4) | Multiple Choice Yes |
| Tutorial (4) | Fill-in Yes |
| Branching N/A | True/False Yes |
| Simulation N/A | Write-in No |
| Application (4) | Matching Yes |
| Sequencing Yes |
| Positive Reinforcement: (4) | Appropriate Feedback and Explanations: (4) |
| Student Directions: (4) | Maintains Student Interest: (5) |
| Optional Review (learner control): (5) | Teacher manuals, documentation, supplementary materials: (4) |
| Student Worksheets: | Screen Presentation: |
| Computer generated: N/A | Ease of readability: (5) |
| Reproducible: N/A | Color: (5) |
| Text size: (5) | |
| Graphic Quality: (4.5) |
| Computer "Tools" for students: | Multimedia Format: Yes |
| Calculator- Yes | CD-ROM Yes |
| Protractor -No | |
| Ruler- No | Technical Support: |
| Glossary- Yes | Toll-free customer support (4) |
| Notebook- Yes | On-site visit - Yes (Sales Rep.) |
| Hint Option- Yes | Educational consultant: (4) |
| Formulas-Yes | In-state representative- Yes |
| Other: Close Up (expands text or graphics) |
| Mastery Tests or Reviews: | Level of Thinking Skills: |
| On computer (5) | Literal (5) |
| Off-line N/A | Critical (5) |
Student Evaluations: (Good-4.0 to Excellent 5.0)
Functional Context of the Content (4)
Enrollment and Reporting of Third Party Software: N/A
Correlations to Standardized Tests: Yes
APPENDIX
APPENDIX 1: SUBJECT-AREA LESSON OUTLINES
GED INTERACTIVE: READING
UNIT: READING FOR MEANING 1
Lesson 1 What's the Main Idea?
1. Titles and Headlines
2. Reading Paragraphs
3. Practice
4. Reading Strategy 1: Pace
5. Reading Strategy 2: Details
6. Practice
Lesson 2 Using the Mind's Eye
1. Visualization
2. Reading Strategy
3. Using Imagery
4. Practice
Lesson 3 Restating Information
1. Main Idea and Details
2. Visualizing
3. Practice
4. Using Synonyms
5. Practice
6. Using Information
7. Practice
Lesson 4 Summarizing Information
1. Main Idea
2. Key Points
3. Practice
Unit 1 Review
UNIT 2: READING FOR MEANING 2
Lesson 1 Order and Sequence
1. Instructions and Directions
2. Reading Science Material
3. Reading About Social Studies
4. Practice
Lesson 2 Classifying Data
1. Using Categories
2. Practice
Lesson 3 Punctuation and Meaning
1. Reading Fiction
2. Reading Literature
3. Practice
4. Reading Science and Social Studies
5. Practice
Lesson 4 Evaluating What You Read
1. Facts and Opinions
2. Generalizations
3. Practice
Unit 2 Review
UNIT 3: BUILDING YOUR
VOCABULARY
Lesson 1 Words and Usage
1. The Dictionary
2. Changes in Meaning
3. How New Words Are Added
4. Practice
Lesson 2 Word Parts
1. Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes
2. Word Families
3. Word Endings and Parts of Speech
4. Practice
Lesson 3 Words in Context
1. Main Idea and Details
2. Examples and Definitions
3. Practice
Lesson 4 Expanding Your Vocabulary
1. Synonyms
2. Shades of Meaning
3. Antonyms
4. Practice
Unit 3 review
UNIT 4: UNDERSTANDING
GRAPHIC AIDS
Lesson 1 Reading Tables
1. Titles
2. Categories of Information
3. Reading Strategy
4. Practice
Lesson 2 Reading Graphs
1. Bar Graphs
2. Line Graphs
3. Circle Graphs
4. Double Bar Graphs
5. Practice
Lesson 3 Reading Maps
1. Parts of a Map
2. Types of Maps
3. Practice
Lesson 4 Reading Diagrams and
Illustrations
1. Comprehension
2. Analysis
3. Practice
Unit 4 Review
GED INTERACTIVE: WRITING SKILLS
UNIT 1: SENTENCE BASICS
Lesson
1. Simple Sentence Basics
2. Simple Subjects and Verbs
3. Word Order
4. Compounding
5. Nouns
Unit 1 Review
UNIT 2: VERB TENSE AND FORM
Lesson
1. Using Verbs
2. Perfect Tenses
3. Tenses and Voice
4. Regular Verbs
5. Irregular Verbs
Unit 2 Review
UNIT 3: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Lesson
1. Basic Subject-Verb Agreement
2. Either...Or and Neither...Nor
3. Special Subject-Verb Agreement Problems
4. Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite-Pronoun
Subjects
Unit 3 Review
UNIT 4: PRONOUNS/PRONOUN
REFERENCE
Lesson
1. Pronoun Basics
2. Special Pronoun Problems
3. Pronoun Reference I
4. Pronoun Reference II
Unit 4 Review
UNIT 5: CLAUSES, TENSE SEQUENCE,
AND SENTENCE COMBINING
Lesson
1. Compound Sentences
2. Connectors for Independent Clauses
3. Dependent Clauses
4. Dependent Clause Fragments
5. Sentence Combining and Rewriting
6. Tense Sequence
Unit 5 Review
UNIT 6: MODIFIERS AND PARALLELISM
Lesson
1. Introduction to Modifiers
2. Use of Modifiers
3. Parallel Structure
Unit 6 Review
GED INTERACTIVE: SOCIAL
STUDIES
UNIT 1: UNDERSTANDING IDEAS
IN SOCIAL STUDIES
Lesson
1. Summarizing the Main Idea in Passages
and Maps
2. Summarizing the Main Idea in Charts
and Graphs
3. Restating Information in Passages and
Maps
4. Restating Information in Charts and
Graphs
5. Identifying Implications
Init 1 Review
UNIT 2: APPLYING IDEAS IN
SOCIAL STUDIES
Lesson
1. Applying Ideas in U.S. History
2. Applying Ideas in Political Science
3. Applying Ideas in Behavioral Sciences
4. Applying Ideas in Geography
5. Applying Ideas in Economics
Unit 2 Review
UNIT 3: ANALYZING IDEAS IN
SOCIAL STUDIES
Lesson
1. Identifying Cause-and-Effect
Relationships
2. Distinguishing Fact from Opinion
3. Understanding Unstated Assumptions
4. Drawing Conclusions
Unit 3 Review
UNIT 4: EVALUATING IDEAS IN
SOCIAL STUDIES
Lesson
1. Judging the Value of Information
2. Recognizing Values
3. Judging the Accuracy of Facts
4. Identifying Faulty Reasoning
Unit 4 Review
GED INTERACTIVE: SCIENCE
UNIT 1: UNDERSTANDING IDEAS
IN SCIENCE
Lesson
1. Summarizing the Main Idea in Passages
and Charts
2. Summarizing the Main Idea in Graphs
3. Restating Information
4. Identifying Implications
Unit 1 Review
Unit 2: APPLYING IDEAS IN
SCIENCE
Lesson
1. Applying Ideas in Human Biology
2. Applying Ideas in Plant and Animal
Biology
3. Applying Ideas in Earth Science
4. Applying Ideas in Chemistry
5. Applying Ideas in Physics
Unit 2 Review
UNIT 3: ANALYZING IDEAS IN SCIENCE
Lesson
1. Distinguishing Fact from Opinion
2. Identifying Cause-and-Effect Relationships
3. Drawing Conclusions
4. Developing Hypotheses
5. Following the Scientific Method
Unit 3 Review
UNIT 4: EVALUATING IDEAS IN SCIENCE
Lesson
1. Recognizing Values
2. Judging the Value of Information
3. Judging the Adequacy of Information
4. Judging the Accuracy of Information
Unit 4 Review
GED INTERACTIVE: LITERATURE AND
THE ARTS
UNIT 1: BASIC THINKING SKILLS
Lesson
1. Literal Comprehension of Nonfiction Prose
2. Understanding the Meanings of Words
3. Inferential Comprehension of Nonfiction Prose
Unit 1 Review
UNIT 2: ADVANCED THINKING SKILLS
Lesson
1. Analyzing Style and Tone in Nonfiction Prose
2. Analyzing the Structure of Nonfiction Prose
3. Applying Ideas Found in Nonfiction Prose
Unit 2 Review
UNIT 3: UNDERSTANDING FICTION
Lesson
1. Narrative Point of View
2. Characterization
3. Setting, Plot, and Theme
Unit 3 Review
UNIT 4: UNDERSTANDING POETRY
Lesson
1. Structure
2. Figurative Language
3. Musical Elements
Unit 4 Review
UNIT 5: UNDERSTANDING DRAMA
Lesson
1. The Format of Drama
2. Characterization and Plot
Unit 5 Review
UNIT 6: UNDERSTANDING
COMMENTARIES ON THE ARTS
Lesson
1. The Purpose and Structure of Commentaries
2. Facts and Opinions in Commentaries
Unit 6 Review
GED INTERACTIVE:
MATHEMATICS
UNIT 1: PROBLEM SOLVING FOR
THE GED
Lesson
1. The Order of Operations
2. Set-up Problems
3. A Five-Step Approach to Solving
Problems
Unit 1 Review
UNIT 2: FRACTIONS
Lesson
1. Using Fractions
2. Adding Fractions
3. Subtracting Fractions
4. Adding and Subtracting Mixed
Numbers
5. Multiplying Fractions
6. Dividing Fractions
Unit 2 Review
UNIT 3: DECIMALS
Lesson
1. Using Decimals
2. Adding Decimals
3. Subtracting Decimals
4. Multiplying Decimals
5. Dividing Decimals
Unit 3 Review
UNIT 4: PERCENT
Lesson
1. Describing Percents
2. Changing Between Percents and
Decimals
3. Changing Between Percents and
Fractions
4. Using Part/Whole Ratios with Percents
Unit 4 Review
UNIT 5: RATIO, PROPORTION,
AND PROBABILITY
Lesson
1. Ratio
2. Proportion
3. Probability
Unit 5 Review
UNIT 6: ALGEBRA
Lesson
1. Writing and Evaluating Expressions
2. Solving One-Step Equations
3. Solving Two-Step Equations
4. Using Formulas
5. Using Coordinates
Unit 6 Review
UNIT 7: GEOMETRY
Lesson
1. Angles and Lines
2. Triangles
3. Formulas for Geometry
Unit 7 Review