CD Resources for Parents and Teachers
Rick Metheny, MD TAP Assitive Technology Specialist
Apple Education Resource CD for Educators
The Apple Education Resource CD is, perhaps, the most
comprehensive reference available on education solutions
from Apple and third-party developers. Apple's Education
Resource CD makes it easy to find what you need, whether for
the classroom or school office. The CD ROM includes: a
software guide with exciting demonstrations, many educator
success stories with QuickTime' movies, technology
solutions, and the Apple product List.
The feature I've found most helpful is the software guide. A
search of the software guide can list all 427 products, or
be narrowed to Preschool, Elementary or Secondary grades.
Searches can be further defined to list only software by
curriculum area or specific grade. Software descriptions
available during the search include:
- An overview of what the software does, how it's used and an
idea of who might benefit from it
- System requirements, including what computers it will run on
and how much memory you'll need to run it
- Purchasing information, including how much it costs, where
you can order it and whether you can order lab packs or site
licenses as well as single copies
- Demonstrations - many titles include Quick Time movies
giving you a narrated tour of the software.
This Resource CD is a valuable tool available free to
educators and education administrators and is available for
use at MD TAP's Western Maryland Resource Center. To speak
with an Apple Representative about this and other Apple
Education products call 1-800-800-APPL.
KidSoft: Software Club for Kids on CD
For families with a CD attached to their computer, Club
KidSoft may be worth looking into. At $4.95 for a trial
issue, the price can't be beat. The interactive 'clubroom'
features include an art gallery of club members computer
generated art and a separate section for stories submitted
by members. For families with children with disabilities who
are computer users, this 'levels the playing field, ' by
allowing all members to create at their own pace and with
their own access method.
A feature my kids found attractive is the demonstration
section. Over 60 software titles from Amazon Trail and
Oregon Trail to Storybook Weaver and Zurk's Learning Safari,
are on the disk. Many have demos ranging from fully
interactive to guided tours. A unique marketing twist is
that full versions of the software are on the CD waiting to
be unlocked. Once you try the demo version and decide it
belongs in your families software library, just call an 800
number with your major credit card and purchase the software
over the phone. You'll be given a 'secret code' which
unlocks your new software and you can copy it to your
computer.
For additional information, or to order your first copy,
call 800/354-6150.
