DOCUMENT RESUME ED 382 804 CE 068 887 AUTHOR Hollin, Freda, Comp.; Rowbottom, Nancy, Comp. TITLE Basic Skills Software Guide for the Apple Macintosh, Acorn Archimedes, RM Nimbus, IBM PC and Compatibles. Second Edition. INSTITUTION Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit, London (England). REPORT NO ISBN-1-85990-012-7 PUB DATE Mar 95 NOTE 80p.; Updated by Freda Hollin and Maggie Jakeman. AVAILABLE FROMAdult Literacy and Basic Ekills Unit. Commonwealth House, 1-19 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1NU, England, United Kingdom (6.50 British pounds plus postage and packing). PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Adult Basic Education; *Adult Literacy; *Basic Skills; Computer Assisted Instruction; *Computer Software; Courseware; Databases; Desktop Publishing; *English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; Job Skills; *Numeracy; Spreadsheets IDENTIFIERS Great Britain ABSTRACT This British guide contains reviews of software available for Basic Skills, including English for Speakers of Other Languages, in both education and training for employment. In addition, it offers guidance on how to use software effectively to develop basic skills. Section 1 provides information about the following aspects of the guide: computers and compatibility, windows, software included, prices, suppliers, and types of software--content free, dedicated, drill and practice, computer-based learning and training, and multimedia. Section 2 categorizes the software for literacy into these groups: literacy, numeracy, work skills, word processors, databases, spreadsheets, integrated packages, and desktop publishing. Before the appropriate category, information is provided on using a word processor, using a database, using a spreadsheet, integrated packages, and desktop publishing. Each review is accompanied by this information in a sidebar format: make of computer, price, publisher, and availability. Over 150 software packages are reviewed. Three indexes are provided: subject, computer, and publisher. Addresses of British publishers and distributors are appended. (YLB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** r $ - 1 * 4 0 Are 1 1 I I 0 9' '*.V13.41 I ItI t BEST COPYAVAILABLE UR. O(PARTIMINT OP 1101/CATION °Roo al Eartahond P000mcA and ifoomsomont "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS E RONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER IERIC) Aus documoot Ads boor mom/lucd 5$ rocorood from dm Dorman or odmmtomon onmntind It O MAIM eltorldolt tows boon pods lo toolothicoo wooly Palmed ~at mayors 'IMMO in thedoett. 2 mom do dm not000ludy mdro/MAI °thew OEFA 1ModadorTRACY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERICI" Basic Skills Software Guide For the Apple Macintosh Acorn Archimedes RM Nimbus IBM PC and Compatibles Second Edition X0Borok Mit4- :3 This guide is published by the Basic Skills Unit (ALBSU). It has been produced by an ALBSU Special Development Project providing support in IT and Basic Skills. The guide provides information about software available for Basic Skills, including English for Speakers of Other Languages, in both education and training for employment. In addition. it offers guidance on how to use software effectively to develop basic skills. Software for Apple Macintosh, Acorn Archimedes, IBM PC and compatibles and ROM Nimbus computers is included in the guide. Software for the BI3C Computer is not included. Although the BBC computer has served education well in the past,itis increasingly being replaced with more up-to-date equipment. A recent NCET survey found that 83" 0 of users in further education worked with more than one type of machine. Software development is taking place for machines other than the BBC. In ALBSU's view, basic skills students should have access to the latest technology. This is reflected in the contents of the guide. Freda Hollin Nancy Rowbottom Updated by Freda Hollin and Maggie Jakeman Acknowledgements ALBSU wishes to thank Freda Hollin and Nancy Rowbottom of the Special Development Proiect foi then work in compiling the guide. Thanks are also due to the following for then advice. support and contributions to the production of this guide Leslie Mapp. Sally McKeown. Roger Whitfield. Janet Leonard. Tony Pal kin. Paul Milnes. Ian Sillett. Roger Smith. Sandra Crappei and David Mason ) AIRStr coninionyaith I 19 Now oxiold spool irindon\'(: I A I N11 All14110: rc`roivc',tl\k) pdi t of pul)1R-alion nit l,o photcwrvw.i n volci i ot I( I ..tow(-1 uhicv.t1 sy.,Iptn 11,111:411ln( in .1111In! III(1h','.11IV CIP.10111c ca110(1.1111C11 1110.111:, WI11101111110 1.1101 '11111.-1,11 I, liltW11,1 l'Ilbil:11(`,11.11111,11 NI.11, HUI; riIN I .! ) 111 I 4 2 Basic Skills Software Guide: second edition CONTENTS Contents Section 1:Educational About this guide Types of software 6 Section 2:Review of software Literacy 8 Numeracy 25 Work skills 30 Wordprocessors 34 Databases 44 . Spreadsheets 52 Integrated Packages 58 Desktop Publishing 62 Section 3:Index Index of software by subject 68 Index of software by make of computer Apple Mac 70 Archimedes . 71 IBM 72 Nimbus 74 Index of software by publisher 75 Addresses of publishers and distributors 77 t 5 Basic Skills Software Guide: second edition 3 ABOUT THIS GUIDE About this guide COMPUTERS AND COMPATIBILITY This guide contains reviews of software for the following makesof computer: Apple Macintosh, Acoi n Archimedes. IBM PC and compatibles,RM Nimbus. ml- ?re are a number of different models of computer withineach range. The :lusion of a program for a particular make of computer is not a guarantee thatit will run on every model. You are advised to checkwith software publishers before purchase.. Some programs, particularlyprofessional packages. need to be installed on a hard disk. and haveminimum memory requirements in order to run. In the software reviews Nimbus refersto Nimbus PC-186 computers. or Nimbus PC- 286i386/486 computersrunning in RM mode. Nimbus PC-286/386/486 computers are IBM compatible and will therefore runIBM software as well. PC EMULATION Some programs which are published for IBM PC andcompatibl:is will also run on Archimedes and Nimbus PC-186 computersunder a PC emulator, but this is not the case for all IBM software. Where a program brown to run under a PC emulator. this is made clear under the computerspecification. for other programs you are advised to check with the softwarepublisher. It should be pointed out that the performance of a programunder a PC emulator may not be as good as on an IBM: for example. programstend to run more slowly. A PC emulator is supplied by Research Machines withNimbus PC-186 computers: for the Archimedes a PC emulator canbe obtained from Acorn dealers. WINDOWS Some programs are described as running underWindows: this refers to Microsoft Windows. a separate program which you need tohave installed on a hard disk or network server Il 4 Basic Skills Software Guide: second edition ABOUT THIS GUIDE SOFTWARE INCLUDED Educational software The following criteria have been used to decide what to include in this guia;,: marketed for adult basic skills marketed for schools but suitable for use with adults marketed for FE but appropriate for basic skills in education and training non-phase specific software appropriate for use with adults Professional (industry standard) software Professional software is discussed in the introduction to each section on applications software. In the Wordprocessing. Database and Spreadsheet sections. the leading professional programs are listed but not reviewed. PRICES Although prices of software have been checked during the preparation of the guide. they should be taken as a guide only. Prices quoted are single user, educational prices (where applicable). exclusive of VAT. Several prices may apply to a single program: standalone (single copy, multiple user): network; site licence. Details can be obtained from the publisher. Some software is available under licence from local education authorities; check with your LEA. Educational discounts are not available for all professional packages. but special offers are often available from dealers and it is worth shopping around. SUPPLIERS Unless otherwise indicated, software is available from the publisher. Where programs are available from a number ol.ther sources. the main distributor has been listed, or dealer isindicated. Some publishers will provide inspection or demonstration copies of software. If this is not the case. contact a local dealer or a teacher':, centre to see if you can look at a program before you buy. IBM DISKS Some IBM software is only available on one size of disk other software is available on both 5.25- and 3.5- disks. Check with the supplier before puichase .11)(1 make sme you si,ecify oil your oidel which sis,e you need 7 Basic Skills Software Guide: second edition 5 TYPES OF SOFTWARE Types of software CONTENT-FREE SOFTWARE Content-free software turns the computer into a useful tool and can be used to support learning in all areas of the curriculum. Most educational content-free software is designed to encourage an investigative approach to learning. Themajorcontent-freeapplicationsare:wordprocessor.database. spreadsheet. integrated packages and desktop publishing, and these are listed under separate headings. There is a description of each type of program and guidance on its use in the development of basic skills. Content-free software designed primarily for use in education is included under the appropriate subject heading: literacy. numeracy. or work skills. There are a number of advantages in using content-free software to develop basic skills: the flexibility of the program allows the user to work on a topic and at a level of their own choosing the program can be used by students of different levels of ability the user is in control of the program the program is never exhausted the student can acquire real computer skills whilst developing other skills. The disadvantage for the teacher of using content-free applications is the need to provide support materials.