Software+Upgrades

=Below is a list of the latest software upgrades for the 2008/2009 school year as of 9/08.=

** Assistive Technology Software Upgrades **

v Intellitools Classroom Suite v. 4 – PreK-5 software for building Reading, Writing, and Math skills ([|www.intellitools.com]) o Reading instruction aligned with national standards (phonemic awareness, phonics, rhyming, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension) o Expanded math instruction targeting number sense and automaticity (early math concepts, fractions, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, place value, decimals) o Writing templates expanded to cover different genres o Expanded creativity tools for whole class instruction and student presentations o Easier programming/customization framework o Use of instruction, guided practice, and challenge (I do, we do, you do model) to teach concepts o Pricing: single copy - $345, 5 copies - $295/ea, 20-49 copies - $275/ea, network copies - $40 more per copy than stand-alone version, web licensing (reporting not available, does not save user profile) – pricing same as network o Contact: Jim Howell, 1-800-899-6687 Ext. 631

v Kidspiration v. 3 – graphic organizer software ([|www.inspiration.com]) o New visual math tools o Addition of a Word Guide (a combination of a dictionary and a thesaurus) o Expanded symbol library to support concepts taught in K-5 curriculum o 150 new classroom-ready cross-curricular activities and lesson plans o Enhanced audio capabilities o Pricing: single copy - $69, 3-5 copies - $310, upgrade - $39.95 o Contact: 1-800-877-4292

v Type to Learn v.4 – typing instruction software ([|www.sunburst.com]) o Framework newly designed to meet typing needs from K-12 (Incorporates skill sets from Type to Learn Jr., Type to Learn Jr.: New Keys for Kids, and Type to Learn 3 programs) o Enlarged scope of program to include numeric keypad, arrows, more symbols, and keyboard shortcuts vs. instruction in basic letters, numbers, and symbols o Addition of real-world typing connections to promote skill transfer o Use of diagnostic pre-test, development of appropriate lesson placement and goals, formative assessments, automatic remediation when necessary, and usage and parent reports o Option for closed captioning, text-to-speech output, Spanish ESL content, and adjusted size, contrast, and color for visually impaired learners o Pricing: single copy - $79.95, 5 copies - $199.95 o Contact: 1-888-800-3028

v Boardmaker v.6 – graphics symbol program ([|www.mayer-johnson.com]) o Addition of a symbolate button – similar features as Writing with Symbols (write with text and pictures) o Easier to move, swap, shuffle, align and center, and drag and drop images to a symbol button o Access to a freeform tool to greater customize symbols to meet student’s needs o Pricing: single copy w/o addendum - $329, 5 copies - $280/copy, over 10 copies - $263/copy, upgrade from any Boardmaker to Boardmaker Plus v. 6 (no longer upgrade to just Boardmaker v. 6) - $129; encouraging to move from just Boardmaker to Boardmaker Plus o Contact: 1-800-588-4548

v Boardmaker Plus Player – Boardmaker classroom access program ([|www.mayer-johnson.com]) o Allows more students to access Boardmaker Plus without buying multiple copies of Boardmaker Plus o Uses all student adaptations and access methods available in Boardmaker Plus o Allows students to access Boardmaker Plus activities from home o $125 for single copy, $499 for 5 pack, $799 for 5 pack and Boardmaker Plus o Pricing: until 10/31/08 buy a Player for $79 o Contact: 1-800-588-4548

v Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 – speech recognition program ([|www.nuance.com]) o 20% more accurate that v. 9 software o Improved recognition and processing speed – i.e., words appear on the screen after they have been spoken faster than in previous versions o Addition of customized voice command shortcuts (e.g., quickly search the web and your desktop) o Quick voice formatting/proofing o Easier to see and navigate through Help systems and Tutorials o Pricing: single copy professional - $899.99, upgrade professional - $299.99, single copy preferred - $199.99, single copy standard $99.99, upgrade (standard/preferred) - $99.99 o Contact: 781-565-5000

v Meville to Weville with Literacy Starters Program – curriculum ([|www.donjohnston.com] and [|www.ablenetinc.com]) o Research-proven, multi-year curriculum with age-appropriate content for K-5 students with significant cognitive disabilities o Integration of related and generalizable reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities into Meville to Weville curriculum o Word study, comprehension, and writing lesson plans included for the curriculum o Three sets of literacy starters created for integration into each year of the Meville to Weville curriculum o Pricing: full bundle - $875 (3 curriculum units, 3 literacy starters sets, and extending lesson plan book), 3 literacy starter sets - $139, extending Meville to Weville lesson books - $200 o Contact: Don Johnston – Dave Butler, 1-800-999-4660 Ext. 568 o Contact: Ablenet – 1-800-322-0956

v Write Online – supportive writing tool ([|www.cricksoft.com]) o Online word processor with speech, word prediction, word banks, and writing frame supports o Easy to personalize for a variety of students o Works on-line and off-line with the ability for students to save their work on-line or directly to their computer o Access to analytic teaching tools to see final and rough drafts and supports used by students o Appropriate for individuals fourth grade and up o Pricing: elementary school - $1000, middle school - $1500, high school - $1950, single user - $200, support service subscription (10 facilitators and 25 student log-ins) - $950 o Contact: 1-866-332-7425

v Kurzweil 3000 v.11 – text-to-speech & supportive reading/writing tool ([|www.kurzweiledu.com]) o New integrated writing supports, including: § graphic organizers § outline views that can be linked with graphic organizers § column notes (two or three columns for differentiated note-taking while reading, with the option of using highlighters to extract information into the columns) § draft-writing support tools § reference tools § writing templates (can be created/edited by teachers) § word lists for transition words, summary verbs, conclusion words, etc. § proofreading checklists o Option of web licensing, allowing student access at home and access to software through the Internet with a user name and password (some restrictions noted) o New high-quality Spanish text-to-speech voices o Pricing: single professional black/white - $1095, single professional color - $1495, single learner station - $395, upgrade – 20% of list price for specific version, call for tiered pricing system o Contact: Jim Howell, 1-800-899-6687 Ext. 631