Orchard Taps PracticePlanet for Intervention Strategies

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Education software developer Siboney Learning Group has updated Orchard, the company's targeted instruction software for math, language arts, and science for K-9. Enhancements to the software include expanded platform support, a variety of design tweaks, and a new technology that ties in the company's PracticePlanet service to help generate data for developing intervention strategies.

Orchard is an AYP improvement solution focused on standards-based formative and benchmark assessments, targeted instruction, and data management and reporting. PracticePlanet, launched back in July, is a Web-based solution that allows students to practice for high-stakes state-level tests. Through Orchard's new Assessment and Assignment Builder enhancement, the software can now use data from PracticePlanet (in addition to Orchard assessments and state tests) to help customize interventions for students on an individual basis.

Orchard has also been enhanced in the areas of content and design, with more than 125 updates. The software also now supports Windows Vista, and "nearly all" of Orchard's 150 programs now run natively in Mac OS X.

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About the author: David Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's online education technology publications, including THE Journal and Campus Technology. He can be reached at [email protected].

Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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