. "6. Sources of Information on Educational Software and Multimedia Programs." Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1998.
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Resources for Teaching Middle School Science
CHAPTER 6 SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE AND MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS
6.1The American Biology Teacher
The American Biology Teacher (see9.3) includes regular departments entitled "AV Reviews" and "Computer Center" that feature reviews of films, videos, laserdiscs, and software programs. Software reviews included in this journal provide a general description of the software's purpose and information on ease of operation.
Issues/price: 8 per year; $48 per year for National Association of Biology Teacher members; $60 per year for nonmembers. Available from: National Association of Biology Teachers.
6.2Astronomy
The "New Products" department of Astronomy magazine (see9.6) sometimes includes reviews of software. Product reviews and buying guides that include software are also available on the Internet at http://www.kalmbach.com/astro/astronomy.html.
Issues/price: 12 per year; $34.95 per year. Available from: Kalmbach.
6.3Booklist
The "Audiovisual Media" section of Booklist magazine recommends materials for all age groups, from preschool through adult. Each year this section reviews more than 1,000 items for school, public library, and home use. Among the items reviewed are curriculum-related videos, audio materials, audiobooks, videodiscs, microcomputer software, and CD-ROMs. A selection of reviews is available on the Internet at http://www.ala.org/booklist.
Issues/price: 22 per year; $69.50 per year. Available from: American Library Association.
The California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse evaluates instructional technology resources—programs that use a computer, a VCR or a laserdisc player, a network or the Internet, or any combination of these—for use in California schools. The California Technology in the Curriculum Evaluations Database—on all types of instructional technology resources—is available on the Internet at http://www.clearinghouse.k12.ca.us. Databases are also available in print and on CD-ROM at the Clearinghouse's Software Resource Centers located in California county offices of education. A Clearinghouse publication entitled Guidelines for the Evaluation of Instructional Technology Resources for California Schools , contains the evaluation criteria used for reviews.
