September 2001 — Software/Courseware

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Focus on Assessment Tools

The eT3 bundle includes feat- ures, such as a rubric-maker; eStandards for developing a custom database of standards; a comment builder for developing reusable anecdotal comments; a standards-based report card maker; an integrated long-range planner; and an achievement browser that visually represents students' achievement of selected standards or strands. The product is also preloaded with a set of generic standards, but teachers can customize it with standards from their own state with separate installers on the CD-ROM.

Scantron Corp. has introduced a new solution using wireless handheld technology called Classroom Wizard - the flagship product for the company's newly formed Education Technologies Division. Classroom Wizard combines Scantron's expertise in testing and assessment with the latest handheld and portable scanning technology to provide educators and students the unique advantages of concurrent learning and evaluation in the classroom. This solution enables teachers to electronically monitor students' comprehension levels while class is in session, allowing for immediate teaching adjustments to ensure that all students get the most from the instruction. Students access tests and quizzes via their handheld devices and beam their responses wirelessly to Scantron's Quiz Wizard application. Answers and scores appear immediately on the teacher's computer; results can also be printed immediately. In addition to scoring objective questions, the new system also enables educators to score short answer, essay and fill-in-the-blank answers, dramatically expanding assessment options.

Classroom Wizard includes Internet-connected, handheld devices for each student, lower-priced desktop scanners for each classroom and an Internet assessment gateway. The classroom's standard Windows-based PC and printer complete the hardware requirements. Scantron's Web-based assessment gateway gives teachers information on using the Classroom Wizard, connecting curriculum to standards, building technology into the curriculum, using assessment resources and teaching strategies, and how other schools are integrating the solution. Educators can also incorporate other Scantron software packages into Classroom Wizard.

-Matthew Miller
mmiller@thejournal.com


X@XOpenTag002Assessment ToolsX@XOpenTag001X@XOpenTag000 Contact Information

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STAR Early Literacy
Renaissance Learning, Inc.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
(800) 338-4204
www.renlearn.com

GradeQuick 6
Jackson Software, Inc.
Glenc'e, IL
(800) 850-1777
www.jacksoncorp.com

TEST READY PLUS Reading Advanced
Curriculum Associates, Inc.
North Billerica, MA
(800) 225-0248
www.curriculumassociates.com

eZ.exam
NCS Pearson, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
(800) 447-3269
www.ncspearson.com

TerraNova, The Second Edition
CTB/McGraw-Hill
Monterey, CA
(800) 538-9547
www.ctb.com

eTeacher3
Media-X Systems, Inc.
Ottawa, Ontario
(877) 722-9990
www.media-x.com

Classroom Wizard
Scantron Corp.
Tustin, CA
(800) 722-6876
www.scantron.com