SUBJECT AREAS:  Reading,Writing, Mathematics,  Science, Social Studies, Life Skills, Work     Skills/School-to-Work

PUBLISHER: PLATO Learning, Inc.
                        1210 S. E. Maynard Rd
                        Suite 102
                        Cary, NC 27511
                        (800) 569-2232
                       www.plato.com

COST:  $3900 (1 network or stand-alone license for Bundle # 4)
              $3900 (1 network or stand-alone license for Bundle #3)
              $2750 (network or stand-alone license for Bundle #2)
              $2000(1 network or stand-alone license for Bundle #1)
              (Quantity discounts are available.)
              (No maintenance or technical support cost for the first year)
              ( Credit can be applied for converting from a
           stand-alone to a network version.)

USE: Literacy
          Pre-GED and GED
          High School Alternative/At Risk Youth
          VA Standards-of-Learning (SOL) Mastery and Remediation (Middle and High School)*
          Pre-Employment Work Maturity
          *PLATO alignments to the VA SOLs also require the Rediscover Series (Third Party
            Software)

GRADE LEVEL:   Basic (3rd to 8th grade)
                               Intermediate (9th to 12th grade)
                               Advanced (12th - College)

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Pentium 133 MHz or better, Workstation - requires MB32       minimum for WIN 95 & 98, CD-ROM Drive, SVAGA Monitor and video board (must support 800x600 resolution in the Windows setting).
Hard disk: 100 MB of free space for Windows cache
                 100 MB for PLATO Pathways

DESCRIPTION: The PLATO Learning System Courseware is comprised of a diverse and extensive array of subject area programs which cover an in-depth and  broad scope and sequence of skills and content  through comprehensive courses and modules.  The PLATO modules provide assessments, tutorials, drill and practice exercises, applications, problem solving activities, reviews, continued practice, and mastery tests. Since PLATO courseware can be  licensed in a variety of  bundles or packages, I have referenced the names of the specific programs included in each bundle in this review.  The PLATO courseware subject areas, curriculum and courses are as follows:

Communications - Reading I (139 hours, 466 Objectives, Basic ), Reading 2 (40 hours, 134 Objectives, Intermediate), Advanced Reading Strategies (76 hours, 64 Objectives, Intermediate Advanced), Writing Series (122 hours, 455 Objectives, Basic Intermediate), Writing in the Workplace ( 38 hours, 50 Objectives, Intermediate).
Mathematics - Math Fundamentals ( 95 Hours, 671 Objectives, Basic), Math Problem Solving
( 19 Hours, 19 Objectives, Basic-Advanced), Data Skills ( 35 Hours, 84 Objectives, Intermediate), Pre-Algebra
( 23 Hours, 177 Objectives, Intermediate), Begining Algebra ( 36 Hours, 298 Objectives, Intermediate), Intermediate Algebra ( 20 Hours, 136 Objectives, Intermediate), Advanced Algebra ( 27 Hours, 75 Objectives, Advanced), Geometry and Measurement 1 (10 Hours, 78 Objectives, Intermediate), Geometry and
Measurement 2 ( 45 Hours, 150 Objective, Intermediate), Trigonometry (16 Hours, 36 Objectives, Advanced).
Science - Science Fundamentals (42 Hours, 869 Objective, Intermediate), Chemistry 1 ( 48 Hours, 135 Objective, Advanced), Chemistry 2 ( 40 Hours, 38 Objectives, Advanced).
Social Studies - ( 40 Hours, 318 Objectives, Intermediate)
Life Skills - Life and Job Skills ( 30 Hours, 119 Objectives, Intermediate), Parenting Skills ( 15 Hours, 65 Objectives, Intermediate)
Work Skills/School-to-Work - The Employment Partnership ( 5 Hours, 5 Objectives, Intermediate), Reading for Information (74 HOurs, 98 Objective, Intermediate), Communication (27 Hours, 75 Objectives, Intermediate), Writing in the Workplace ( 38 Hours, 50 Objectives, Intermediate).

Plato also offers "third-party" software in their licensing.  The management system generates a
variety of reports which include the following titles:  Individual Student Activity Reports, Class
Reports, FASTRACK Reports, and Detailed Assignment Summaries.

Strengths:  PLATO Courseware provides an eclectic variety of presentation and program formats  to present an instructional curriculum that covers 1st to 12th grade and Literacy through GED in all five academic content areas and job related skills training.  One very positive aspect of PLATO is that administrators and teachers can "customize" their curriculum purchase by choosing the programs that are appropriate to their specific needs.   Many integrated learning systems utilize a uniform presentation across all content and skill levels, but PLATO keeps the students' attention and interest with an extensive diversity of presentations and formats.  Students using the Writing Series at the Basic Level really liked the audio component because they said it made a boring subject much more interesting.  Students also liked the visual feedback  of the "stars" being displayed when they had successfully completed a program and the partially filled square as they worked through a program.  The new Windows programs such as "Advanced Reading Strategies" and "Math Problem Solving" provide an interactive experience for the student with digital audio,  animation, and video features.  Even though the DOS-based programs are not as colorful or exciting to use, the curriculum content is thorough and in-depth in terms of the skill competencies and the alignment with the VA Standards of Learning.  Another positive feature of the program is the grade level correlation that is available so that educational gain in all academic areas can easily be monitored and documented through printed reports.  The curriculum can be assigned to the students with or without the assessment component.  I highly recommend purchasing the Reading Horizons program for adult literacy level students and the Rediscover Science Series for alignment with the VA Standards of Learning.

Weaknesses:  The biggest weakness of the PLATO system is that over one half of the programs are DOS based.  In a majority of the programs students must refer to a keyboard template to understand and reference the function keys.  Most special education students will need assistance from the instructor in accessing these functions.  However, the company plans to upgrade many of the programs in the summer of 1999.  The assessment tests are quite lengthy, so encourage your students to "bookmark" their place when they become tired.
 

Curriculum Content:	Presentation of Skills: (5)
Scope and Sequence of Skills: (5)	Management System:  (5)
Interest Level: High school and adult	Diagnostic or Placement:(5)
Report Options:(4)	Prescriptive Component: (5)

Instructional Strategy:	Types of Questioning:
Drill and Practice - Yes	Multiple Choice - Yes
Tutorial - Yes	Fill-in - Yes
Branching - NO	True/False - Yes
Simulation - NO	Write-in - Yes
Application - Yes	Matching -Yes
	Sequencing - Yes

Positive Reinforcement: (5)	Appropriate Feedback and Explanations:(5)
Student Directions: (5)	Maintains Student Interest: (4)
Optional Review (learner control): (5)	Teacher manuals, documentation, supplementary materials: (4)

Student Worksheets:  N/A	Screen Presentation:
Computer generated:	Ease of readability: (4)
Reproducible:	Color: (4)
Graphic Quality:	Text size: (4)

 

Computer "Tools" for students:
Calculator- Yes	Notebook- Yes
Protractor -No	Hint Option- Yes
Ruler- No	Formulas-Yes
Glossary- Yes	Other:

Multimedia Format: Yes                                        CD-ROM  Yes
 

Technical Support:
Toll-free customer support (4)	Educational consultant:   (4)
On-site visit - Yes (Sales Rep.)	In-state representative- Yes

Mastery Tests or Reviews:
On computer (4)	Off-line  N/A

Level of Thinking Skills:
Literal (4)	Critical (4)

Student Evaluations: (Good to Excellent)

Functional Context of the Content (4)

Enrollment and Reporting of Third Party Software:  N/A

Correlations to Standardized Tests:  Yes