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The following is a review of
All-Star Typing developed by The Learning Company. I chose this
software because most professions require some technical/computer
knowledge. At the base of this knowledge lies the skill of typing as
effective keyboarding often saves time when maneuvering through
software.
 GENERAL
INFO
Name
of package: All-Star Typing Ages 9-12
Vendor Name: The Learning Company/Broderbund
Vendor Toll Free Phone Number: 1-800-395-0277
Grade Level: 4th - 6th grades
Subject-Area: Business/Vocational Education
SPECIFICATIONS
Drill and Practice: yes
Macintosh: yes
Intel PC/Windows: yes
Memory Needed: 16 MB RAM
Disk: (hard, 3.5, CD): Double Speed CD ROM Drive
Instructional Purpose: To use fast-paced drills in order to increase
students' typing speed and accuracy.
Use: To provide students with self-assessments of their typing skills.
It also would serve as a good supplement to any keyboarding textbook and would
allow students a fun and interactive way to practice their skills and
determine problem areas.
Objectives Met: yes
Vocabulary Appropriate: yes
Content Accurate: yes
Free of Bias: no
Learner in Control: yes
Proper Reinforcement: yes
Self-Directed: yes
Appropriate Sequencing: yes
Student Record Keeping: yes
Disk Crash Safeguard: no
No Distracting Sounds/Visuals: no
Animation/Sound/Graphics Effective: yes
Uncluttered Screen: yes
Material Clearly Presented: yes
Easy Program to Load: yes
Simple Screen Directions: yes
On-screen Help: yes
Tutorial Manual: yes
Easy Printer Setup: no
COMMENTS
Strengths: This software is targeted
at 4th-6th graders, but would be appropriate for anyone that is new to typing or wants to brush up on
his/her skills. The different levels allow users to place emphasis on just
their problem areas. However, new typists have the opportunity to start out
slow and see their improvement as each level becomes more challenging.
Students could compete against each other for class bonus points/extra credit. All of
the content is consistent and each level introduces an exciting and
different aspect of basketball to test the students' skills (free throw, passing, HORSE,
etc.). The use of closed-captioning (for lack of a better description) makes
the software appealing to hearing-impaired students.
Weaknesses: This package is gender bias. It does not include any
information about the WNBA, which might be more interesting to some female
students. The software does not allow printing of students' scores which might be
useful for teacher evaluation/review. The introduction to typing could be a bit
more detailed and maybe there could be a brief glossary of terms/vocabulary
section for those unfamiliar with the game.
Recommendation: very good
Additional Comments: Overall, this is a good software. Even though I consider
myself a good typist, I found this software somewhat challenging. It tests your
attention to detail and challenges you to follow directions. This would be a good
drill exercise for any middle or high school student. It could even be expanded into
different sports/subject areas.
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