Software Review – Part I

Title: U.S. History & Government Essential Name: Melissa Borgen

Review
Publisher: Kaplan 6/23/10
Grade Levels: 11 Subject Matter: U.S. History

California Content Standards and Frameworks – http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci

Include specific subject matter content standard (number and text description).

Subject Matter: U.S. History

Grade Level: 11

Standards Addressed: 11.2 Students analyze the relationship among the rise of
industrialization, large scale rural-to-urban migration, and massive immigration from
Southern and Eastern Europe.

Lesson Objectives: Students will reinforce classroom study by using a CD, completing
diagnostic testing, and review.

Makes an Makes Makes a Comments: This drill, practice,

Instructional Design excellent
For Learners
Creative teaching and
learning
Critical thinking
Information literacy
Perspective
English learners
a good minimal and tutor software will help to
case case case
reinforce classroom learning.
x
However, it is not a good
example of creative learning.
x The idea generator for essay
x topics is a great resource for
x topic exploration,
x
Challenged learners
x brainstorming, and bibliography
creation. Both English learners
and challenged learners will
find the drill and practice
helpful for increased
understanding. The
comprehensive glossary of
terms included in each chapter
is a very helpful resource.

Makes an Makes Makes a Comments: This software is

excellent a good minimal designed to help students master
Program Design case case case
the most important theories and
Objectives and x
facts in U.S. History. The drill,
pedagogy
practice, and test of knowledge
Effectiveness x are effective. The idea generator
Interactive strategies x of essay topics is a helpful
Motivation x interactive strategy. Motivation
Customizing features x comes from progress reports,
Online access x and score tabulation. The skill-
Skill-building programs x building program contains
quality information, factual
data, and well-organized
material.

Makes an Makes a Makes a Comments: Classroom

excellent good minimal management is achieved with
Assessment case case case
all students utilizing this
Assessment/classroom x
software in the computer lab.
management
Assessment is achieved from
Assessment strategies x progress reports, score
tabulation, and diagnostic
testing.

Makes an Makes Makes a Comments: As a tutorial, drill,

Instructional Support excellent a good minimal and practice software, the
Materials case case case
presentation and organization is
Presentation and x
straightforward. The program is
organization
Support materials x organized by chapter and
follows the content standards
for grade eleven U.S. History.
Student support materials
include chapter glossary, topic
search, games, idea generator,
bibliography creator, and clip
art. I found no support material
for the instructor on the
company’s web site. This could
be due to the fact that this
software is from 2001.

Legal Compliance and Sensitive Content

Indicate any concerns in the following areas in your review.
Sensitive Content: Legal Compliance:

o Nudity o Male/Female Roles

o Excessive Violence o Ethnic and Cultural Groups
o Explicit Sex Material o Older Persons and the Aging Process
o Glamorization of Drugs or o Disabled Persons
Dangerous o Entrepreneur and Labor
o Substances o Religion
o Profanity o Ecology and Environment
o Dangerous Substances
o Thrift, Fire Prevention, and Humane
Treatment
o Declaration of Independence/US
Constitution
o Brand Names and Corporate Logos
o Diet and Exercise

Recommendation: This Excellent case Good case Minimal case

software is a great (Exemplary) (Desirable) (Not selected)
compliment to classroom x
lecture and text reading.
Students at every skill level
will benefit from the
reinforcement of material.
Diagnostic testing allows
students to concentrate on
areas that need further review.
This software contains well-
organized, quality
information. Software meets
ALL of the California Content
Standards for grade eleven,
U.S History and could be
continually used throughout
the academic term.

SOFTWARE LESSON PLAN BUILDER – Part II

Step 1A: Enter Basic Information about the Lesson

Name of Lesson: Rise of Industrialization Review

Lesson Grade Level: 11

Software Title: U.S. History & Government Essential Review

Step 1B: Specify the Instructional Setting

Instructional Setting: Single Student Small Group X Whole Class

Step 1C: Enter Lesson Description and Objective(s)

General Description of Students will use the computer lab and software to drill, practice, and
Lesson: review the U.S. History topic concerning the rise of industrialization,
its effects on migration from rural to urban areas, and the influence of
immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Objective(s) of Lesson: Students will reinforce learning of course material by using the
computer lab and U.S. History software for diagnostic testing,
practice, and review.
Step 2A: Select the Subject and Strand(s)/Domain(s)
Subject Area: U.S. History
Strand(s)/Domain(s)
History Grade 11

Additional Subjects:
Cross Curricular
Connections:

Step 2B: Select the Standard(s) Addressed by your Lesson Plan

Standard(s): 11.2.3 Students analyze the relationship among the rise of
industrialization, large-scale rural-to-urban migration, and massive
immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. Trace the effect of
the Americanization movement.

Step 3A: Specify the types of assessments that will be used

Assessment type(s) Writing Samples Projects
Demonstrations Rubrics
Observations Journals
Portfolios Teacher-made test
Surveys Other Pre and post diagnostic
X testing generated by
computer software.
Interviews

Step 3B: Specify how student learning will be assessed

Describe the assessment Student performance will be evaluated through the completion and
plan: comparison of pre and post diagnostic testing and computer generated
topic specific quizzes.
Step 4: Specify how the lesson will be implemented
Teacher Procedure: After completion of classroom instruction on the rise of
industrialization in the U.S., provide students with additional
reinforcement of material by incorporating the use of drill, practice,
and review software. Provide students with two class periods of
computer lab time. Instruct students to take the pre-diagnostic testing
for chapter 2, identify areas for further study, and continue reviewing
material. Have students take post-diagnostic test during the last 30
minutes of day 2 lab; compare results.

Student Tasks: Computer lab day 1: Using computer software, take Chapter 2 pre-
diagnostic testing using computer lab and provided software. Review
test score and identify further areas of study from software generated
progress report. Continue to drill, practice, and review chapter 2 using
software.

Computer lab day 2: Continue to review topics presented in chapter 2

using U.S. History software. During last 30 minutes of class, take
post-diagnostic test, print and compare score from day 1. Use printed
progress report to determine topics needing further review before class
exam.
Time Required: # of class periods: 2 # of minutes per class period: 60
Notes, tips, suggestions,
and/or extension
activities: