Eduware- a Classroom Triple Threat

At a conference about 5 or 6 years ago I sat in on a demonstration of some Eduware products and was quite impressed. Then I took home the sample software and activated it on my computer. A side note- I am always surprised by the number of teachers that do not try or activate the free samples given out at conferences. Since then I have become a big fan of this company’s products and promote them in my workshops. I call them a triple threat because there are three ways to use their products. There is the “Wizard Test Maker”, Interactive “Race Car challenge” & “Jeopardy”, and class “polling” review all of which I use in my teaching. The material covers the 4 basic subjects (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies) and 4 foreign languages (Spanish, French, German, and Italian) so teachers of all grade levels need to explore this resource. These products also have a computer remote built into the software which allowed me to use it for two years from my one classroom computer with the kids either responding on paper or with those little whiteboards sitting in most every school I have visited.

The Wizard Test Maker is a test Generator based on a high standard of subject knowledge, the ability to design a test by topic, difficulty level and even specific questions by catalogue number makes this a powerful and unique test generator. I have also found the use of graphics to be a strong part of Wizard. I like the ability to browse questions and pick from the catalogue because I don’t like to depend on random selection of my test questions. I am often asked “How well the questions correlate to state standards?” My answer is it depends on the teacher. A good teacher can use the Wizard to produce tests that apply to their state’s standards, a bad teacher well…..enough said!

The “Polling” review/testing is probably the aspect I use the most often. To explain why I will tell you a story:

I was reviewing my Physical Science class before exams and had made up a poll of 80 questions. Well, we finished the question set and had 15 minutes left in class the kids all yelled “come on Doc V make up a few more to get to 100!” I don’t know about you but I never gave out an 80 question handout had the kids finish it and ask for 20 more questions.

The “polling” allows a teacher to create a test or review that can be answered from the students’ seats using the remotes. Since the remotes are numbered and my student roll is in the computer when we are done I have grades, item analysis, and class roll taken for that day. The ability to set the pace of the questions and see what percent are correct immediately allows me to teach as I review. Let me clarify this point some more. When a question comes up on the screen and the students answer the question. I can check right then for % correct in the class even for who got it right. This means that if less than 70 % of my students get a question right I can reinforce it right then and there before we move on to the next question. Instant feedback! I can also give test without paper-for those days the copy machine is not working well.

Last, but not least, there are now two interactive review challenges that allow fun review. I say “there are now two” because the new car race has been added within the last few years. Both “Jeopardy” and the “Car Race” allow students to compete in teams in a game/review mode. Students are given points or speed based on fast-correct answers to teacher designed questions. I tend to use these interactive games on “off days” like the Friday of Homecoming or the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This allows me to get a good review and catch the kids’ attention on a normally distracted day.

Teachers go to the eduware.com site or sit in on a demonstration at the next conference and add this Eduware “Triple Threat” a chance to help you teach more effectively.

Larry