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The Simtech Super BundleMargaret Kardos,
MS, OTR/L, ATP
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Home | What's New | Articles Archive | Washington Archive | Resources Archive | Positions Archive | Reviews Archive | Links | Conferences | About Us |
The Simtech Super BundleMargaret Kardos,
MS, OTR/L, ATP
|
|
Marblesoft-Simtech
12301 Central Ave. NE
Suite 205
Blaine MN 55434
Sales: 763-755-1402
Simtech Super Bundle Single user (Win/Mac): $299.00; 5-Pack $1,199.00
www.marblesoft.com
I met some really great people at ATIA who were kind enough to share their products with me for review. Marblesoft-Simtech is a manufacturer of software programs for early learners and kids with disabilities. The Simtech Super Bundle is a compilation of programs designed to teach and reinforce switch use. There are 9 programs in the Bundle, 3 of which have multiple versions included, expanding the inventory to 20 different programs in all. In addition, there are two Early Literacy Programs included as well. The programs provide opportunity for teaching and reinforcing single switch use (cause and effect), as well as both automatic and two-switch step scanning.
In general, I have found that most switch programs have two problems. Problem #1 is that the content is typically suited for very young kids, making it appropriate for a very limited audience. Problem #2 is that the programs are often kind of boring and after a few hits the user loses interest. After all, how many times do you want to see the same “effect” after you have figured out the “cause”? The Simtech Super Bundle seems to have addressed both of these issues quite well. The programs are suitable for a range of ages from younger users through adolescents and teens. I must admit that I found one program quite inviting and rather challenging, and I have answered to the name “Granny” for more than a couple of years now. I’ll let you all be the judge of which program that might be (hint: there is a fly involved and a can of insecticide).
The Super Bundle contains a range of programs with varying degrees of difficulty from early level single hit cause and effect to controlled navigation and timing. The graphics are good, the colors are vibrant and the reward sounds are bound to please. Each program comes with an easy access menu with instructions for using the game, and a range of adjustable settings; several of them even keep data on hits and misses. I found the information in the instructions feature to be not only informative but entertaining as well. Bill Lynn, creator of the programs shares some personal experiences encountered during the development of the programs offering a glimpse into the "real" world of reasearch and development. The only suggestion that I would make would be to specify in the instructions the exact interpretation of the phrase “Press the Switch”. Sounds like a no-brainer, but in some of the programs you press and release to start the action while in others you press and hold to maintain the action. This was not specified and I installed the program on three different computers thinking that there was a compatibility issue with my display. It wasn’t until I accidentally put something down on the switch and the song started to play that I realized that you had to hold the switch down in order to make that particular program play. This would also be important to know for a switch user who would require a latch feature to keep the action going to the end of the activity.
The Simtech Super Bundle also contains two story books from The Early Literacy Series called “Everybody Has Feet” and “Sharon Won’t Share”. They are meant for emergent readers and contain repeated lines and predictable text, two elements found to be essential to developing reading skills. They could also be used by older students, however, to participate in shared reading with young children, providing an opportunity for switch use practice and peer mentoring.
The Simtech Super Bundle is really a lot of fun. Whether you are considering it for school or home use, or are looking for a collection of switch activities for assessment or training, the Super Bundle is a great choice all around. Nice job, Bill Lynn and Marblesoft-Simtech folks.
© 2008 ConnSENSE Bulletin