Learn Time's Info Center
§ KeyTrain Package for Parapro's
Paraprofessionals can prepare for the WorkKeys assesments with the KeyTrain Parapro Training Package available here. The package includes a single user software license for Applied Math, Reading for Information, and Writing. $50 plus $7 shipping.
§ Product Links
§ Other Links
Sites we find interesting
§ New Things
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
ClozePro...pretty slick software from Crick
First let me say that I am a pretty harsh critic of software. It not only has to work, it needs to look good doing it. Today I spent some time with ClozePro from Crick Software. ClozePro is a tool designed to create Cloze activities. Cloze activities are reading activities where words or portions of sentences are missing and the learner is prompted to fill in the missing parts. Talk about easy...this is it. First, I surfed to a web site with the Mark Twain classic Huck Finn. Then I copied a paragraph from the first chapter and pasted it directly into ClozePro. Then simply by highlighting certain words and pushing a button to remove the text, I created an activity. I could also highlight a word and choose to remove all instances of that word. The result is a computer based activity of fill in the blanks, with record keeping going on behind the scenes. On top of that, you can print these as activity worksheets. Great for all ages, including special needs students and adults. Creating high-quality language activities has never been easier. All this power and pizazz for $199 for a single user. Evaluation CD’s are available. Here is a link to the ClozePro product brochure in PDF.
Monday, August 30, 2004
Browser Wars?
Do you have trouble with pop ups? Are you concerned with security while web surfing? Do you get tired of all the browser windows that end up opened on your desktop? I thought I would give you a little report on what has rapidly become my browser of choice. A couple of months ago I switched to Firefox from the Mozilla folks. I bet I haven’t had 3 pop ups since then. That’s pretty nice, but I have come to like the tabbed browsing feature the best. Firefox gives you the ability to open links into new tabs within the same browser window...that is an awesome feature. Oh yeah, it even loads the pages faster. Did I mention that it’s free? Firefox uses extensions (think plug ins) to add functionality if you desire more. I added an extension to open pages in Internet Explorer...why you might ask, if Firefox is so good? Well there are still some lazy web developers out there that don’t create pages compliant with standards...they just make them work in IE...which doesn’t always adhere to standards either...so, when I run into one of those situations, I just right click on the page and choose “open in IE” and voila...the page appears...usually with a pop up or two. Anyway...go to Mozilla if you are interested.
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Greenspan makes notable comments
OK...regular visitors to this site know that I don’t really get into politics here...it’s just not the place. When I say regular visitors...I include a Cameron parish visitor. Anyway, the headlines today deal with the comments that the Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, made yesterday regarding benefits. By benefits he means Social Security, Medicare, etc. Anything the country owes to the retiring population. His comments have caused a stir because he plainly and honestly states that we don’t have enough money to pay everyone. Plain and simple. Maybe he should run from President. I want politicians who will stand up and tell the truth...no sugar coating, and stop promising everyone the moon to get elected. I only make so much money. I can’t pay for everything for everyone, although some would call me rich and say that I should pay more. By all means take more of my money and give it to someone else. That’ll fix everything. Do any of you younger people think you will ever see a nickel of “Social Security”? And yet, you are swayed by the empty promises of politicians. I doubt I ever see it...buy I pay 15% (self employed) to Washington for it. I really hope it just goes to my mother. Hey...I’ve got an idea...rather than pay Washington, how about I just send a check to my mother each month? More later…
Thursday, August 12, 2004
What if you held a meeting and no one came...
You’ve heard the adage that the only constant is change. I understand that change is a difficult thing for everyone...but in my experience it seems like it’s a much bigger challenge for educators. We recently encountered a situation where educators were invited to a training session for the equipment they are going to be using during the coming school year. The offer on the table was for them to receive a flat fee per day for a three day session plus their meals. Less than 50% attendance. Absolutely amazing. No coincidence is the fact that these same missing instructors come from some of the lowest performing schools...which leads us to the age old question. Which came first, the chicken or the egg. Some would say...look at our infrastructure...it’s terrible...how can you expect me to excel?? Last time I checked...buildings can’t fix people, but people can fix buildings. Off with their heads I say. Our students, our children deserve better. If you teach and you have this attitude....do us all a favor. Retire, find some other line of work where your lousy attitude won’t infect countless others. OK...enough already...I’m coming down from my soapbox.
