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Program Description Who Is This Program For
Why We Selected This Program
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Language Trek is a software program that covers all the specific learning stands in grade 5 and 6 language curriculum expectations, in a format that students would find appealing and interesting. It is a reading, writing, media literacy and language usage multi-media program that is based upon both North American and the province of Ontario language curriculum expectations. It meets the demanding curriculum expectations through tutorials and activities that makes connections to the language interests of students and would appeal to the instructional needs of teachers.
The forms and conventions of the English language are found within four learning centres . As an example, within the "Publishing Company", students are presented with various writing forms. It is here that a student can learn the structure and meaning of various writing forms (Click here for an example), and have the opportunity to apply what they have learned by writing something. The software program has three other locations that include The Library, Production Studio and Communication Museum.
From the opening screen, a guide appears to help direct the users’ experience within the program. The user may enter the program as a student, guest or teacher. A feature of the student login is to allow a user to experience an activity and then save the results in a portfolio. An effective feature of the teacher login is to track the results of student activities. Once a user has selected the appropriate login, they are presented with a screen that describes each of the locations. It is at this point that a user may select one of the four language locations.
After selecting a location, a user is presented with a set of topics (Click here for an example) from which to make a further selection in each location. To appeal to the various interests of students there is a range of topics available within each location. After selecting a topic, a user is directed through a tutorial that explains the form and meaning of a topic (Click here for an example), and then allows a user to demonstrate their understanding of the topic through a directed task (Click here for an example). The information is presented both visually and aurally using clear voice and written visual communication and an uncluttered layout. At any point, a user may return to a prior screen or the main menu.
An example of a topic is the “You are a Poet and You Know it” found within the Writing Room sub-section of the Publishing Company. Poetry is one of many topics that may be chosen from in the Writing Room; others include fairy tales, mysteries, writing for real life, and writing for me. Within the poetry section, a user can choose from one of six options that focus on different poetic forms. Each option presents a user with a set of guided screens that explain the purpose of a poetic form, and required elements of that poetic form (Click here for an example). As well, examples of each particular written form are presented. A user is then prompted to compose their own piece of poetry based on their newly acquired knowledge of the form and their own ideas. Lastly, a checklist appears as the last guided screen that asks the user if they have fulfilled each of the requirements of the chosen poetic form. An appealing feature is the visual style of the poetry section. As an example, when writing a limerick, the user is writing on a visual representation of a printed page complete with blue lines and three ring binder holes.
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Click Images To Enlarge
Topic Areas In the Writing Room
Tutorial detail on letter writing
Tutorial on strategies in writing poetry
Strategies for developing spelling skills
Tutorial element in History of Language coupled with spelling tests
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The following are some comments from teachers and students who used Language Trek in the pilot studies that helped develop the program
Comments by Teachers
"The program is wonderful! My class thoroughly enjoyed piloting the program. It is a very useful tool to expand on the Grade 5 language expectations. I liked the Communication Museum as a way to build skills. I found it very useful to supplement grammar instruction."
Students were fully engaged in the material presented. There are many different parts of the curriculum where Language Trek could be incorporated.
I found the student feedback to the program very positive. There is enough support provided by the program that weaker students achieve success and yet the program is challenging enough that stronger students also benefit. The students who wrote their poetry using the program found the process more enjoyable than those who didn’t use the program to create their poems. I also found the Library reading was very helpful for the weaker readers in the class.
Comments by Students
"It was enjoyable – fun to learn from this program. Learning the material and then taking a quiz made us listen. It was great that the computer talked to you."
I really enjoyed the Library and all the different stories. It’s fun to see a story on the computer screen rather than in a book.
The graphics were really nice and bold. I particularly liked the Library because there were really interesting stories to read.
I think the Production Studio was the best one because you get to make commercials like adults do.
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This program is intended for students within the grades of 5 and 6. Other students could also use the program for remediation and enrichment.
The program has a high degree of application for any grade 5 or 6 language arts teacher. The content meets the curriculum expectations with respect to any language strand. Therefore, a teacher could use it as a central basis for a lesson or as a complement to their lesson in order to appeal to specific students. The program is structured so that a teacher could leave a student or set of students to work independently.
Parents may want to use this program for their children for the purposes of enrichment or to work collaboratively with their child.
There are a number of reasons as to why this program is effective for all users.
Teachers will find it appealing because it fulfills curriculum expectations and offers instructional opportunities. At any point during the experience of a topic, a teacher can view the curriculum expectations that the topic is addressing. As well, the design of the program would allow a teacher to use the program for whole class instruction or for an independent activity. The opportunity for a student to save their results in a portfolio also allows a teacher to have a means to assess the development of a student with respect to a specific language expectation or topic.
Within each topic of a language location, the program provides adequate information to develop the student’s level of knowledge. As well, the student is also capable of applying this knowledge in a performance task for each topic. The performance task is effective as the user is guided through the activity with small steps that build on the user’s knowledge. Then the user is presented with an opportunity to apply this knowledge in a short activity that the user may accomplish with confidence. It is apparent that the goal is to promote user proficiency in any of the language topics.
The program is appealing to students because it makes connections to their lives. This is evident in the layout and the subject area of each of the language locations. The layout will often mirror what a student will see in their classroom; an example is the use of a writing workbook complete with three ring binder holes. The subjects used to cover the curriculum expectations also appeal to a student’s interests. An example is the use of the comic strip as a means to communicate ideas.
- Reviewed by Jason Finley - ESL teacher
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Pricing and Ordering
toll free -1-800-387-1964
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or E Mail Nectar
nectar@occdsb.on.ca
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To see other Literacy programs
Disney Ready to Read With Pooh - ages 3-6
Clifford the Big Red Dog: Reading - ages 4-6
Clifford the Big Red Dog: Phonics - ages 4-6
Let's Go Read 1: An Island Adventure - ages 4-6
Ariel's Story Studio - ages 5-9
Carmen Sandiego Word Detective - ages 8-14
Robinson Crusoe - ages 8 -16
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