How to Find Information about Children's Software
There is a large amount of free information about software available online. There are also several high-quality resources available for purchase, or available to Bank Street users through the Library. The following is a guide to some of these resources, although it is certainly not exhaustive.
"Best Of" Selections
These sites list their picks for the best children's software. Some are picks for the best of the year, and some are retrospective.
Only the Best: The Annual guide to the Highest-Rated Educational Software and Multimedia.
http://www.ascd.org/frameotb.html
This guide, published by the ASCD, identifies educational software, Internet sites, and multimedia programs that have met Only the Best's high standards for excellence. The guide compiles reviews from several major software evaluation publications. The current guide is available for purchase and past years are available for free on the web. The print version from 1997-1998 is available in the Library: Ref 371.334 o58b 1997-1998.
Developmental Software Awards
http://childrenandcomputers.com/developmentalawards/developmental_awards.htm
Since 1992, the Developmental Software Awards have identified programs that do an exceptional job of meeting children's interests, needs, and abilities. Starting last year, due to the increasing size and use of the Internet, outstanding web sites were also recognized. The awards are featured at the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Annual Conference.
LD Online Tech Guide
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/techguide.html
LD OnLine's listing of hardware and software products for people with learning disabilities includes the sections: Keyboarding Resources, Listening/Note-Taking Resources, Mathematics Resources, Writing Resources, Online Resources for Assistive Technology, Reading Resources, and Studying/Organizing Resources.
Recommended Starter Software for Preschool and K-6 Classrooms
http://www.highscope.org/software/intro.htm
This list from the Highscope Educational Research Foundation recommends software based on professional and in-class evaluations. There are no reviews given, but links to publishers are provided.
ALA Notable Computer Software for Children
http://www.ala.org/alsc/nsoft00.html
These titles are selected by a committee of librarians and educators from across the country on the basis of their originality, creativity, and suitability for young children. The members select materials that respect both children's intelligence and imagination, exhibit venturesome creativity, and encourage the interests of users. Look for the 2001 list to be posted soon.
Custom Searching
These sites provide access to large databases of software descriptions, often with reviews included. Most provide a search interface where you can specify grade level, subject area, and many other particulars.
Smarterkids.com
http://www.smarterkids.com/
This is a commercial site with extensive reviews by educators who have evaluated the products for age and grade level, skills taught, fun level, ease of use, approach, and learning style. Users may perform a detailed search or browse categories for infants, toddlers, preschool-K, grades 1-3, or grades 4-6. Products may be ordered directly from this site.
Edumatch
http://www.edumatch.com/index_flash.cfm
This is also a commercial site that allows you to "find educational software that matches your state's curriculum, your teaching style, and all the features you prefer" through a super search format. The page has some programming errors so there may be some problems with the display. Products may be ordered directly from this site.
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/229548/ref=sw_h_l_b_5/103-4523094-2670237 (note: you may just want to go to the main site http://www.amazon.com and navigate to software - children's software rather than trying to type in this long URL!)
This commercial site allows you to search by keyword, or browse by age range, subject area, new and notables, top sellers, and "great learning titles." It lists reviews from the Children's Software Revue and other review sources, including customer reviews. Products may be ordered directly from this site.
Educational Software Selector-TESS
http://www.interhelp.com/epie_tess.htm
This is a fee-based service provided to many states as a password-protected Web site or as a CD-ROM. Site licenses are also available. It is searchable by computer platform, subject, grade level, learning/teaching approach, curriculum role, price, keyword, and more and provides information on more than 19,000 educational software programs from preschool through college. The Bank Street Library does not currently have a subscription to this service.
California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse
http://clearinghouse.k12.ca.us/
This database of instructional technology resources contains over 3,700 recommendations is searchable by (California) content standards or descriptive criteria such as subject, type of technology, platform, language, grade level, and more.
Superkids.com
http://www.superkids.com/
This site provides its own reviews by educators, parents, and children, as well as news on related issues. It provides search and browse functions and includes a bestseller list and a price survey.
Technology and Learning
http://www.techlearning.com/review.html
This magazine's Web site provides a searchable database of reviews. Subjects include: Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Early Childhood/Readiness, Music/Art Appreciation & History, Creativity/Multimedia Tools, Word Processing/Desktop Publishing, Problem Solving/Thinking Skills, Foreign Languages/ESL, Reference Tools, Especially for Special Education, Guidance/Life Skills, Test Preparation/Study Skills, Computer Literacy/Programming, School Management, and Online and Internet. Users may also limit by grade level, award winners, format, product name, publisher, or keyword.
Children's Software Revue
http://www.childrenssoftware.com/
This is a fee-based service that provides access to a database of over 5,300 reviews which is updated monthly. Subscribers receive one year of the magazine (6 issues) and access to the online database. The reviews provided are also available for free through amazon.com and other publications.
Research Database Searching
These databases are available to Bank Street students and staff. Using a research database gives you online access to articles and reviews that appeared in education journals. It can save you the time of going to several different sites for reviews because you can do one keyword or subject search and get several reviews for the same product. While there are other research databases with this type of information, these two are recommended as starting points:
Access research databases at: http://streecat.bankstreet.edu/html/databases.html
ProQuest DirectUse the Guided Search feature to specify "Educational Software" as a subject, in addition to keywords for the topic or product you are searching for. You may also limit your Article Type to "Product Review." ProQuest provides full text access to the following journals that review software: School Library Journal, Science and Children, Technology and Learning, Scholastic Parent and Child, Teacher Librarian, USA Today, Instructor, and T.H.E. Journal.
Further Resources for Software Selection
Haugland Developmental Software Scale
http://www.childrenandcomputers.com/Evaluations/software/softwarescale.htm
This is a printable checklist of developmental areas to review when software for young children. It is reproduced from the Haugland's book, found in the Library:
Haugland, S. & Wright, J. (1997). Young Children and Technology: A World of Discovery. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Bank Street Library: 372.1334 h271y
Seven Steps to Responsible Software Selection. ERIC Digest.
http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed382157.html
This short paper outlines issues for educators to consider when selecting software for classroom use.
Choosing Software for Children. ERIC Digest
http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed267914.html
This short paper contains practical advice for how to evaluate children's software.
10 Tips for Software Selection for Math Instruction
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/babbitt_math_tips.html
These tips are geared towards selecting math software for special education students.
Selecting Software for Your Children
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/teachtech/selectsoftware.htm
This is a brief overview of what steps to take when considering software for children.
Smart Computing Dictionary
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/dictionary/index.asp?guid=q9w196ak
This is an online dictionary of technical terms related to hardware, software, networks, and other technology-related products.
The Teacher's Guide to Listservs
http://www.theteachersguide.com/listservs.html
Communicating with colleagues online is a great way to get informal professional opinions about different products. This list offers a nice explanation of how to join a listserv and provides the addresses for several listservs of interests to teachers.
ERIC Mailing Lists
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/
You can join one of these lists and ask questions or search the archives for relevant discussions.
PEP Registry of Educational Software Publishers
http://www.microweb.com/pepsite/Software/publishers.html
See this online list of Educational Software Publishers with contact information or order online through one of the sites listed above.
The Software Encyclopedia
For a large catalog of publishers of software of all types, see:
The Software Encyclopedia 2000. (2000). New Providence, NJ: R.R.Bowker.
Located in the Library Ready Reference Area: Ref 001.642 S681e 2000
Trying out Software
The Bank Street Library does not collect children's software. A few titles such as Hyperstudio are available in the Computer Labs on the first floor.
Public Libraries
Many public libraries have collections of children's software that you can use by appointment. To search New York Public Library's catalog for software programs and library locations, go to: http://www.nypl.org/catalogs/index.html
And search LEO, the branch libraries' catalog.
Previews and Demonstrations
Some companies provide preview copies or have money-back guarantees. Check with the company or vendor of your product for more information. Also, sometimes you can get an in-store demonstration of software before purchasing it.