What is the best education software?
by Edutopia Staff
May 23, 2008
Credit: Getty Images
Eliciting perhaps the most dizzying array of responses yet, this question even resulted in a few bewildered pleas of "There are too many to choose from!" Inspiration [2] -- a research and organization tool for student projects -- took our Readers' Survey blue ribbon for the third year in a row, so it might be a good time to check this one out.
However, there's clearly an ever-increasing amount of software out there, and happily, it's not all drivel. Responses included Kid Pix, Riverdeep [3], Celestia [4], Earobics [5], Knowledge Adventure's Reading Blaster [6], and Reading Plus [7], and many were accompanied by an explanation such as "The friendliness of the Safari Web browser lets you search the world" and "ExamView [8] takes hours off of my prep time."
Still, for some, the best kinds of software can only be "the ones that are free." This is a limitation, perhaps, but not an insurmountable one. Respondents referred to a variety of free options, including GameGoo [9], which provides online reading games, and LectureScribe [10], a tool for animating interactive-whiteboard lessons.
What do you think? Weigh in on the results.
Links:
[1] http://www.edutopia.org/edutopia-staff
[2] http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/index.cfm
[3] http://www.kidpix.com
[4] http://www.shatters.net/celestia
[5] http://www.earobics.com
[6] http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/school/catalog/rb_a46.aspx
[7] http://www.readingplus.com
[8] http://www.swlearning.com/examview/examview_main.html
[9] http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/gooey.html
[10] http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~bcdean/lscribe
[11] http://www.edutopia.org/node/5513/results
[12] http://www.edutopia.org/readers-survey-2008
[13] http://www.edutopia.org/best-blog-educators-2008
[14] http://www.edutopia.org/best-educational-podcast-2008
[15] http://www.edutopia.org/best-virtual-field-trip-2008
[16] http://www.edutopia.org/best-site-download-free-lessons-2008
[17] http://www.edutopia.org/best-site-grant-information-2008
[18] http://www.edutopia.org/best-technology-product-less-100-2008
[19] http://www.edutopia.org/amount-spend-classroom-supplies-2008
[20] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-get-need-classroom-2008
[21] http://www.edutopia.org/best-public-advocate-education-role-model-2008
[22] http://www.edutopia.org/best-new-book-education-2008
[23] http://www.edutopia.org/top-concern-parents-2008
[24] http://www.edutopia.org/top-concern-teachers-2008
[25] http://www.edutopia.org/what-missing-degree-certification-program-2008
[26] http://www.edutopia.org/who-teach-class-day-2008
[27] http://www.edutopia.org/subject-should-be-taught-2008
[28] http://www.edutopia.org/new-teachers-burning-out-2008
[29] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-find-inspiration-2008
[30] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-create-educational-community-2008