ConnSENSE Reviews Archive

Note: This is the archive of ConnSENSE Reviews from the ConnSENSE Bulletin dating back to early 1998. For more recent Reviews, please check the What's Up page at: http://www.connsensebulletin.com/whatsup.html

LanguageLinks: Syntax Assessment and Intervention 10/1/07
Book Review: Technology for Communication and Cognitive Treatment: The Clinician's Guide Muncie Kardos 8/5/07
MiniMerc - Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device Muncie Kardos 8/5/07
Spin It Again Muncie Kardos 7/28/07

Learning Together with Music Muncie Kardos 4/11/07
ConnSENSE Review: Soliloquy Reading Assistant V.4 Muncie Kardos 4/10/07
Puddingstone Place Muncie Kardos 12/27/06
The Tango! Not Just another Pretty Face! Joy Zabala 11/29/06

Chatbox 40 Margaret Kardos 10/6/06
Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners 8/26/06
Crick Training Toolkits Task-Based Learning Guides Margaret Kardos 8/20/06
Handbook of Special Education Technology Research and Practice - Sections 7-8 Margaret Kardos 8/20/06
Read & Write 8 Gold for Windows Margaret Kardos 8/17/06
Virtual Pencil-Algebra Margaret Kardos 8/11/06
L*E*O Language and ECU in One 7/10/06
Meet My New Pal - Packet of Adaptive Literature Margaret Kardos 6/12/06

WriteAssist Matthew Press 12/30/05
Handbook of Special Education Technology Research and Practice - Section 4 Margaret Kardos 12/17/05
Read and Write Gold for Mac A Margret Kardos 12/01/05
Clicker 5 A+ Margret Kardos 11/15/05

IntelliKeys A+ Tracy Rackensperger 10/25/05
Handbook of Special Education Technology Research and Practice - Section 3 Margaret Kardos 10/14/05
Texthelp Read and Write Gold 7.1E A+ Laura Langlois 9/24/05
DynaVox Series 4DV4 Tom Younkerman 9/5/05
Handbook of Special Education Technology Research and Practice - Section 2 Margaret Kardos 9/01/05
Creature Chorus Sterling Edition Janet LaMarre, A, 8/1/05

Penfriend by Crick Software, Heidi Zabilansky & Carol Magliocco - A 4/1/05
Wordbar by Crick Software, Heidi Zabilansky & Carol Magliocco - A 3/30/05
Early Learning 1, LeeAnn O'Leary, Horace W. Porter School, Columbia, CT - A 3/07/05

Judy Lynn Software Reviews, Carol Magliocco, EASTCONN, Heidi Zabilansky, and Chris Lee, Special Education Teachers at E.O. Smith High School, Mansfield, CT and the students in their classrooms 01/11/05
Early Learning Toolkit 2.0, Kathy Griffin, B+. 11/6/04

Read & Write for Mac, Laura Langlois. A, 7/14/04

textHELP Read & Write Gold, Version 6, Debra Hultgren, A+, 2/24/04
My Own Bookshelf, Carol Magliocco, Ph.D., A, 2/23/04

Exploring Physics, Abbe Waldron, A- (08/05/03

The Writer, Chauncy Rucker, A (4/17/03)

IntelliPics Studio, Carol Magliocco, A+ (3/31/03)
Three more "Learn About" Sunburst Programs, Pamela Fox, A (03/25/03)
Learn About Life Science: Animals, Reviewer: Connie Ziko, SPLP, A- (03/24/03)
PDFAloud, Reviewer: Chauncy Rucker, A+ (2/11/03

JumpStart Artist, Reviewer: Jane Creamer, A (12/04/02)
Splish Splash Math, Reviewer: Jane Creamer, A (11/28/02)
Sterling Editions of First Words I, First Words II, and First Verbs, Reviewers: Janet LaMarre & Terry Fers, A+ (11/19/02)

Jump Start Explorers, Reviewer: Mary Jo Chretien, A+ (9/27/02)

Hollywood High, Reviewer: Scott Marfilius, A (8/12/02)
Clicker 4, Reviewers: Debra Hultgrem, Melissa and Dawn, A+++ (7/02)
Voice Mate, Reviewer Annette M. Carr, A (6/24/02)

Attention Getter, Reviewers, Debra Hultgren & Matthew Leister, A+ (4/30/02)

Three Science Programs from Sunburst, Reviewer, Elaine Sokolowski, A (2/28/02)
Picture It, PixReader & PixWriter, Reviewer: Chauncy Rucker with contributions from Eileen Pracek, A (1/25/02)

UltraKey, Reviewer: Barbara Hitchcock. Also includes remarks from the publisher, A+ (10/22/01
Occupational Therapy & Clicker 4, Reviewers:Marina Herold, Betsy Coville, & Celeste, Forest Town School, Johannesburg, South Africa, A+ (10/17/01)

Discover Screen, Reviewers: Debra Hultgren and Jessica Dybdahl, A+ (8/10/2001)
Dr. Peet's PictureWriter, Reviewer: Head Start Students and Louise Dannehl, Reviewed: May, 2001, A+. (6/24/2001).

Math Blaster 7-9, Reviewer: Louise Dannehl, Reviewed: April, 2001, A-. (4/24/01)
Touch Free Screen, Reviewer: Denise deMello and Cameron Frost, Reviewed March, 2001, A- (4/20/01)
Space Academy, GX-1, Reviewer: Jana Seifert, Reviewed: April, 2001, A+ (4/11/01)
Start-to-Finish Books, Reviewer: Louise Dannehl, Reviewed: March, 2001, A+. (4/7/01)

Co-Writer 4000, Reviewer: Chauncy Rucker, Reviewed January, 2001, A.

Reviews Prior to March, 2001
in Alphabetical Order

On a 10 point scale: 10=Way Cool!, 9=Way Cool, 8=Cool.

Ab-breviate! Reviewer: Linnie Calland, Reviewed: February, 1998, Cool.

Amazon Trail II Reviewer: Cheryl Tyler, Reviewed: February, 2000, Way Cool! (added 3/17/2000)

Awesome Animated Monster Maker Math Reviewer: Terri Buganski, Reviewed: December, 1998, Cool.

Chemistry Tutorials Reviewer: John Rust, Reviewed: March & April, 1999, Way Cool! (added 5/30/99)

Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1998 Edition Reviewer: Linnie Calland, Reviewed: April, 1998, Way Cool!

Consonant Blends and Digraphs Reviewer: Belle Wong, Hayley, and Sherri, Reviewed: February, 2000, Cool. (added 3/17/2000)

Co:Writer 4000 Reviewer Chauncy Rucker, Reviewed: January, 2001, A.

The Cruncher 2.0 Reviewer Linnie Calland, Cool (added 1/15/2000)

Curious George ABC Adventure Reviewers: Connie Ziko and the Students from Sweeney School Computer Cafe, Reviewed: March, 1999, Cool (added 5/30/99)

Curious George Learns to Spell Reviewers: Connie Ziko and the Students from Sweeney School Computer Cafe, Reviewed: March, 1999, Cool (added 5/30/99)

Curious George Paint and Play Studio Reviewer: Cheryl Tyler, Way Cool (added 1/15/2000)

Curious George Preschool Learning Games Reviewer: Cheryl Tyler, Reviewed: January 31, 2000, Way Cool! (added 3/17/2000)

Dr. Peets TalkWriter for Windows Reviewer: Louise Dannehl and Head Start students, Reviewed: March, 2000, Way Cool! (added 3/17/2000)

How Many Bugs in a box? Reviewer: Valerie Soja and her three and a half year old identical twins, Reviewed: April, 1996, Way Cool! Note: This review is a little old, but it's beautiful!

Island Reading Journey Reviewer: Denise deMello, Reviewed: October, 2000, Way Cool! (added 10/23/2000).

Jump Start Math for Kindergarten Reviewers: Lesa and David Brodeur, Reviewed: May, 1999, Way Cool! (added 5/30/99)

Jump Start Phonics Reviewers: Lesa and David Brodeur, Reviewed: January, 2000, Way Cool! (added 3/17/2000)

Learning to Read on the Promenade Reviewer: Sarah K. Ross, Reviewed: December, 1998, Way Cool.

Let's Go Read: An Island Adventure Reviewer: Sarah Ross, Reviewed: March, 1998, Way Cool.

Microsoft Ancient Lands Reviewer: Joe Kelly, Reviewed: October, 1996, Way Cool! Note: Also a little old, but a very popular review.

MindTwister Math Reviewers: Belle Wong, Sean and Daniel, Reviewed: February, 2000, Way Cool! (added 3/17/2000)

Nouns and Sounds Reviewers: Louise Dannehl and Headstart students, Reviewed: March, 2000, Way Cool!

The Oregon Trail II Reviewers: Alan & Andrew plus K. Rodriguez, Reviewed: January, 1997, Way Cool!

PhysicaElementa Reviewers: Paula Setters and Michelle Gajdik, Reviewed: October, 1998, Way Cool (added 5/30/99)

Physics CD: General Physics v. 3.00 Reviewer: Paula Setters, Reviewed: February, 1999, Cool.

Reading Blaster, Ages 5-7 Reviewers: Belle Wong and Hayley, Reviewed: May, 2000, Way Cool (added 5/21/2000)

Reading Blaster Vocabulary Reviewer: Linnie Calland, Reviewed: November, 1998, Way Cool!

Sequencing Fun Reviewer: Sarah K. Ross, Reviewed: December, 1998, Cool.

Smiletown Reviewer: Louise Dannehl, Reviewed: February, 2000, Cool. (added 3/17/2000)

Spy Fox 2: Some Assembly Required Reviewers: Belle, Sean, and Hayley Wong, Way Cool (added 1/15/2000)

Stars & Stories Reviewer: John Rust, Reviewed: February, 1999, Way Cool!

StickerPIX Reviewer: Drew Crocker, Reviewed: June, 1998, Way Cool.

Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust Reviewers: Brenda Hester & Linnie Calland, Cool. (added 1/15/2000)

Thinkin' Science I Reviewer: Terri Buganski, Reviewed: April, 1998, Way Cool!

Type for Fun! Reviewer: Kathy Rodriguez, Reviewed: April, 1999, Way Cool! (added 5/20/99)

Type To Learn Reviewer: Kathy Epps, Reviewed: Spring, 2000, Way Cool! (10/25/2000)

Ultimate Speed Reader Deluxe Reviewer: Cheryl Tyler, Reviewed: May, 1998, Way Cool!

Web Workshop by Sunburst Reviewers: Scott, Sam,Tom and K. Rodriguez, Reviewed: April, 1998, Way Cool.

Word Parts Reviewer: Shirley Baker, Way Cool (added 1/15/2000)

Word Munchers Deluxe CD Reviewed by: Laura, Ashley, Nicole, Heather, Maya and K. Rodriguez, Reviewed: March, 1997, Way Cool!

The World of Physics Reviewers: Paula Setters and Michelle Gaydik, Reviewed: February, 1998, Way Cool.

ConnSENSE Reviews Criteria

During the summer of 1995 a group of our assistive technology students enrolled in an internet course came up with the Way Cool Software Reviews Project. Way Cool has proved to be a successful way of reviewing software, particularly software that might be appropriate for people with disabilities or gifted students. You may check all of the Way Cool Reviews at
http://www.pappanikou.uconn.edu/wcool.html

However, to be included as a ConnSENSE Bulletin Review, the review (a) should concern software that could be of value to individuals with disabilities or are gifted, (b) must have been completed by a professional in the disability or gifted area, (c) hopefully includes feedback on use with students, (d) must have been edited by ConnSENSE Bulletin staff, and (e) must have received a rating of 8 or above on the Way Cool rating scale. This distinction may seem silly, but a successful review published in the ConnSENSE Bulletin can affect its inclusion in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) publication Only The Best. Thus, the ConnSENSE Bulletin reviews have to meet this higher standard. All of the Reviews in the ConnSENSE Bulletin list meet these criteria and were reviewed in the years 1997 to 2000 (except for two special reviews published in 1996).

ConnSENSE Reviews Archive

Reviews Prior to March, 2001 in Alphabetical Order

On a 10 point scale: 10=Way Cool!, 9=Way Cool, 8=Cool.

ConnSENSE Reviews Criteria

Reviews Prior to March, 2001
in Alphabetical Order