THE AMAZING WRITING MACHINE
Publisher: Broderbund
http:// www.broderbund.com
Grade levels: 1- 6
Subject Area: Writing
Reviewed by: Terry L. Turcotte
Software Description
The Amazing Writing Machine is a comprehensive writing, editing, illustrating, and publishing program. The user selects any five projects: stories, poems, letters, essays, and journals. The program gives students the opportunity to write and illustrate their writing in a creative and simple manner. The program contains sound and a thesaurus to help the user, and it contains a Bright Idea icon that gives students ideas if needed.
The program begins with a Project Picker, where students select a writing
genre. Next, students must choose between a Write mode and a Spin
mode. When students select the Write mode their project will appear
without any text or graphics and they create a project completely from scratch.
When students select the Spin mode, students start with a pre-written letter,
story, letter, poem, journal, or essay outline that can be edited. The Project
Picker contains sparkling jewels that set the scene for various writing genres
including fantasy, adventure, romance, and mystery. The Amazing Writing
Machine tools enable students to use various sounds in their writing,
for example, paint cans burble, brushes bubble. Stories are read, and there are
different typing sounds.
Accuracy of Content
Although I found content of the Amazing Writing Machine to be accurate, the lines on the screen and the layout of the page appeared elementary for upper-grade students. The program promotes student writing in all content areas. It allows students to transfer text into numeric or alphabetic codes, replace words with symbols, and find rhyming words. The Bright Idea icon is especially helpful for students with special needs and English as-a-Second Language students, as well as students in the primary grades, particularly if they have difficulty reading. The software is free of ethnic and gender stereotypes.
Technical Quality
Navigation through the Amazing Writing Machine is relatively easy. The program is aesthetically pleasing and the icons are logical. The graphics and stamps are creative and useful for student writing and they encourage students to stay actively involved in their written projects.
Use of Technology
The Amazing Writing Machine offers good use of the computer as a classroom tool. It promotes writing across the curriculum, and it is applicable to all disciplines. Students can simply click on an icon if they are having difficulty generating ideas when writing. The Amazing Writing Machine allows students to cut, paste, and spell check their work. It also gives students the opportunity to discover an address book filled with names and addresses of well-known personalities such as Carl Sagan and Paula Abdul.
Role of Students
Students can sit down immediately and begin to write using this program. It encourages them to create their own writing and they have control over the type of writing they create. Teachers can use this program to coincide with any subject area. For example, they can create word problems, record scientific observations or write essays relating to social studies. Younger non-writers can dictate text to an older child or adult to type, and then use the drawing tools to illustrate the text.
Role of The Teacher
The Amazing Writing Machine is easy for students to use and understand; therefore, teacher instruction may be minimal. Teachers should review the software thoroughly to be prepared to answer questions students might have about the writing tools and options. The teacher can modify writing assignments, using the Spin button, in which ready-made writing is shown.
Classroom Usage
This program fits easily into the classroom. Two students could use it, although one student using it would be ideal. Students of different ability levels could be paired to help each other. A whole class demonstration would be helpful as an introduction to the software to familiarize the students with the different icons and functions of the software.
Critical Summary
The Amazing Writing Machine is useful for students if they are experiencing difficulty generating ideas for their writing. Having the opportunity to create various types of writing, students can monitor their progress from early draft to final draft. Student writing is brought to life, while achieving enjoyment.
Overall Rating (based on a scale of 1 to 10) 10
Explanation of Rating
Although the lines in the screen and the page layout appear to be elementary for students in the upper grades, I feel this software is beneficial for all students, ages 6-12, who are having difficulty generating writing ideas. The pre-written stories, essays, poems, letters, and journals are an excellent aspect of the software. Students are able to use their higher order thinking skills to create their writing activities through this program. The options and sounds make the program intriguing and interesting to use.
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