Reviewed by: Kathleen C. Guild

 Software Description

 The Ultimate Writing & Creativity Center is a writing program that engages the young writer by providing stimulating graphics and user friendly tools. The program guides the students through the writing process. The four components of the program: the Writing Idea Lands, the Word Processor, the Picture Place, and the Presentation Theatre encourage creativity in the writer. At any time while interacting with the program the writer may seek assistance from Penny, the helpful pen character. Penny not only provides information on signing in and using the main menu, she also offers tips on how to come up with writing ideas and how to start drafts. The software integrates prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and presenting. The presenting component empowers writers to bring their piece to a final product. The completed piece may include pictures, graphics, animation, speech, sounds, and/or music.

The Ultimate Writing Creativity Center is accurate and complete. It is free of ethnic and gender bias and enables the students to encounter the writing process in a stimulating manner. Because of the user-friendly format, the integration of the writing process and the use of technology, this program can be used to meet the individual needs of today's diverse writing population.

 One can install and use this program with minimal computer experience. The easy to access graphics, sounds, and animation all add to the outstanding aesthetic quality of the program. The icons at the bottom of the screen--Main Menu, Writing Idea Lands, Word Processor, Picture Place, and Presentation Theater--enable the user to easily move from one part of the program to another. Penny the pen, the Help button, and the Writing Tips button can easily be identified and accessed while using the program. The technical quality of The Ultimate Writing Creativity Center motivates and enhances students to creatively work through the writing process.

 Use of Technology

 The Ultimate Writing Creativity Center promotes learning by making good use of multimedia. The sounds, graphics, color, and animation are readily accessible to enhance a student’s work, and can be easily modified or changed at any time. Because of the variety of options available, a teacher will need to structure the amount of time a child may take to explore and become familiar with these options. Not only does the program allow the writer to link auditory and visual reinforcement to the writing process, it does so in a manner that encourages creativity and offers helpful tips and writing ideas. The Presentation Theater is the component of the program that enables the students to share their final products; the Theater also lets students integrate the varied features of the software into the writing process.

 Role of Students

 While interacting with this program, students of all ability levels are empowered to work their way through the writing process. The freedom of choice enhances students’ creativity. The immediate visual and auditory stimulation motivates and engages the writers whether or not they are working independently, with a partner, or in a cooperative small group.

 The role of the teacher is primarily to demonstrate how to use the program and to monitor and asses students’ progress. The manual includes: (1) eight tutorials for providing step-by-step guidance for students to learn the main features of the program and (2) thirty-six guided activities along with cross-curricular activities. The students’ work can be printed at any time and/or may be viewed on saved on files.

 Classroom Usage

 The Ultimate Writing & Creativity Center is an excellent addition to the classroom. This program may be used at any time to motivate students to write and to enhance their writing. One may choose to have an ongoing center accessible for use by individuals, partners or small cooperative groups.

The Ultimate Writing & Creativity Center is an excellent program to encourage students in their writing skills. The program contains many motivational features. The parts of the writing process--prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and presenting--are all thoroughly integrated and empower writers to bring their pieces to a final product. Applications within the program support all aspects of the writing process and accommodate a range of student needs.