PLATO Earth and Space Science is rich with multimedia lessons and activities that use animation, experiments, investigations, video, and audio to bring science concepts to life. Each lesson uses theme-based scenarios to engage students in scientific inquiry, problem solving, and critical thinking. A sophisticated test-item bank allows teachers to assign objective-based pre-tests and post-tests to determine level of understanding and prescribe appropriate instruction.

Designed as a flexible instructional tool, the PLATO Middle School Science Series can be implemented for multiple uses: as a self-study tool, as a remedial curriculum in credit recovery programs, in teacher presentations to introduce concepts, for test review, as a supplement to GED instruction, or to complement textbook lessons. Each lesson is aligned to state standards and the guidelines set by the National Science Foundation, the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) lab and the AAAS Project 2061.

PLATO Earth and Space Science is the final release in the PLATO Middle School Science Series. With the completion of the PLATO Middle School Science Series, PLATO Learning is now able to offer a comprehensive middle school package that includes standards-based mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and science content, all with built-in assessment.

Powerful New Project Management Features Reduce Costs, Improve Efficiency, and Increase Profits

SmartDraw announced today that increasing numbers of business professionals are turning to SmartDraw for project management. SmartDraw—the first program to automate the process of creating business graphics—helps users quickly create project charts, Gantt charts, bar graphs and pie charts, schedules, forms, and much more.
"The biggest benefit of using SmartDraw is the ability to create very complex schedules in just minutes," said Kim Human, IT and Services manager for Seismic Exchange, a full-service seismic data marketing firm. "We were using Excel for this purpose and it was painful. We tried Microsoft Project, and another scheduling package but they were too structured to meet our needs. SmartDraw is easy to learn and flexible…and the final products look professional!"

SmartDraw eliminates the need to do any drawing whatsoever to create a project chart. Users simply type in each task, date, or duration, and SmartDraw creates the graphic for you. In addition, users can change the scale of a project chart in a single click—changing the format from weeks to months, quarters, or years.
In addition, SmartDraw allows users to begin projects as a visual outline—or mind map—to easily plan out everything that needs to get done. Once the project is mapped out, users can view as a project chart with one click of a mouse, toggling between the mind map and project chart view anytime. Changes made in one view will be reflected in another.

"For existing clients, SmartDraw makes explaining project plans much easier and I'm betting our clients will love to visually see what's happening with their project rather than simply reading a bulleted outline," said Michael Turner, CEO of Marketing Max.

Unlike other graphics programs that provide you with a blank screen and expect you to draw, like Visio, with SmartDraw you start with a template that is specifically designed to create the type of illustration you need. You enter the information and SmartDraw does the rest: building the graphic automatically using built-in rules and professional design themes to guarantee polished, presentation-quality results in just a few minutes. It draws for you! And, in the rare case that users need extra help, SmartDraw offers free customer support to all users.

Innovative Knowledge, a leading San Jose-based educational software developer, has introduced a breakthrough series of educational software for all grade levels from pre-school to high school and SAT math preparation.  Developed to help students with reading, writing, arithmetic and the sciences, the new software titles, in association with the Weekly Reader Corporation, include “Mastering Elementary School,” “Mastering Middle School,” and “Mastering High School.”   Designed to operate on Mac and PC operating systems, the software can be downloaded to an iPod or Nano for easy access at school, in the library, or at home.

The “Mastering” series of educational software is based on Innovative Knowledge’s breakthrough learning process called The Learning System, a family of educational support software, features a proprietary “multi-sensory” approach that helps students learn faster and more effectively.  According to Mike Rothstein, president and co-founder of Innovative Knowledge, the programs engage and involve students on multiple levels using interactive questions cutting edge graphics, video and audio.  “It’s a method that has proven extremely effective in teaching all kinds of students from the learning disabled to the gifted,” Rothstein said.

Each title in The Learning System provides fast, easy access to lessons by way of a single menu, saving time and enabling more efficient learning.  All lessons share a consistent look and feel, eliminating the need to learn different menus and navigational techniques.  What’s more, progress can be precisely monitored by students and parents through exams presented after each lesson which can be printed out or taken directly on the computer.

The Learning System evolved directly from the childhood experiences and struggles of Rothstein, who was not responding well to the traditional presentation of education and was considered a poor or backward student.  “It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with dyslexia that my parents realized my inabilities weren’t my fault.  Things changed dramatically when they hired a tutor who employed multi-sensory teaching.  I have now brought this tremendously effective learning technique to our software, which students, or anyone, can use at home or on the go,” Rothstein said.

Innovative Knowledge, through an alliance with the Weekly Reader Corporation, creates and distributes a wide array of top selling educational, productivity and reference software. “Our programs were developed from a deep knowledge of technology and software which we applied to education to create stimulating, enlightening, encouraging and satisfying learning experiences,” Rothstein said.  “In addition, the content is available to the students no matter where they are via iPod, mobile computer, desktop, CD, and DVD,” he added.

The Learning System’s family of educational software includes:
* Preparing for Kindergarten 
* Mastering Elementary School 
* Mastering Middle School 
* Mastering High School 
* Preschool Series:  Getting Started in Math 
* Mastering Elementary & Middle School Math 
* Mastering High School Math & the SAT

Ableton has recently released Ableton Live 7, several new add-on instruments, and Ableton Suite. Ableton Live 7 enhances the audio engine to improve fidelity with 64-bit mix summing, POW-r dithering, optimized sample-rate conversion, and more. A new compressor device integrates three compression models, one of which is based on a feedback design commonly found in the most most praised vintage compressors, according to Ableton. 

Fully integrated side-chaining capability is available for the new Compressor, as well as Gate and Auto Filter functionality. The update adds High-Quality modes to Operator, Dynamic Tube, and Saturator for anti-aliased processing as well as reducing typical 'digital' artifacts.

EQ Eight offers an improved user interface and a 64-bit mode for increased accuracy, and the new Spectrum analyzer provides visual feedback for any audio signals within Live. The MIDI engine is also reworked to minimize timing error (jitter) of recorded MIDI, while streamlined hardware integration allows users to insert hardware synthesizers and effects into device chains like software plug-ins.

New memory management technology allows users with large sample libraries, such as Ableton's new sampled instruments or third-party libraries imported via Sampler, to run an large number of instruments at the same time automatically without the need for setup changes.

New Audio and MIDI fact sheets explain exactly how signals are (or are not) modified when using specific features in Live, and provide tips for achieving the highest quality results.

The M-Audio KeyRig 25 Keyboard turns your Mac or PC into a mobile keyboard workstation. Featuring a compact 25-note USB MIDI keyboard and the award-winning Key Rig software for the PC, KeyRig 25 makes it easy to compose and perform computer-based music anywhere you want. Play Key Rigs virtual instrument sounds, or audition loops and compose songs with Pro Tools M-Powered, Ableton Live Lite (included) or other music-creation programs. The keyboard also provides an easy way to harness the power of Apple GarageBand's virtual instrument collection on your Mac. It connects via a single USB cable and works instantly with computers running Windows Vista and XP or Mac OS X.

Knowledge Adventure, the leader in educational software for the home and the classroom, has announced its popular PC title, Math Blaster: Master the Basics, is now also available for Macintosh and Microsoft Windows Vista. Math Blaster: Master the Basics software allows kids ages 6-12 to practice important early math skills by using challenging, fast-paced video game play.

For years, children have benefited from the availability of the Math Blaster software. After incorporating the software into lesson plans at Coeur d’ Alene Elementary in Los Angeles, second-grade teacher, Beverly Ellman, recalls a marked increase in math proficiency.

“The use of the program has had significant positive effect on the student’s mathematical reasoning skills,” said Ellman. “Last year, when we began using Knowledge Adventure math programs in our entire second grade, every single student scored proficient or above on the state math tests. That was a first.”

“No other game provides a more engaging way for children to master their math skills than Math Blaster,” said David Blumstein, chief executive officer, Knowledge Adventure. “We hope that expanding the compatibility options will allow us to reach even more kids with these our fun software tools that are sure to help them successfully conquer any math problem.”

About Math Blaster: Master the Basics:
For more than 20 years, parents, teachers and kids have trusted Math Blaster as an award-winning educational resource with proven results. Math Blaster: Master the Basics now delivers those same results to a generation used to console video games by combining fast-paced, platform-style game play with state standards-correlated math content. This exciting new format makes Math Blaster: Master the Basics the perfect solution for success in learning basic math skills. In Math Blaster: Master the Basics, robots are running the galaxy, so players must fire up their energy gloves, hop on their space cycles, blast through space and master their math skills to save the universe and defend the human race. They will defeat the robots by solving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems, zipping and zooming through thousands of practice equations. Speed and accuracy will be increased as they play through three action-packed worlds and eight levels of math difficulty, gaining the confidence it takes to master math basics. Besides gaining speed and accuracy of basic math facts, players will also get to practice skills such as recognizing fact families, solving problems, finding equivalents and mental math. The software also offers automatic progress tracking so parents and teachers can provide additional instruction to help students gain mastery of specific concepts.

Mariner Software has released Montage 1.3, the only Mac-only screenwriting software developed exclusively for Mac OS X. Announced earlier this year, Montage 1.3 is the most powerful version to date, introducing several new features, including one industry first: the ability to export Montage scripts to Final Draft (.fdr).

Version 1.3 also introduces:

• Added Leopard support
• Added the ability to export Montage scripts to Final Draft (.fdr)
• Added the ability to export Montage scripts to .sex format for interfacing with
production scheduling applications like Gorilla, EP Scheduling and CompanyMOVE
• Added localized support for French, Italian, German and Spanish
• Improved accessibility
• Added iScript support
• Added “Starts New Page” setting for any element
• Added new toolbar buttons: Bold, Underline, Italic and Fonts
• Page Size can now be set in Page Setup
• Improved Montage’s performance when importing files
• Added Montage Help
• Added MORE & CONT’D. support for lyrics
• Title Page, Scenes and Script views are now all centered in the window
• Added “Print Title Page” checkbox to Printing tab of Document Properties
• Scene Navigation Palette now shows scene status colors
• Added a new Musical (Forest) template
• Tweaked the Screenplay (Screenwriter) template
• Numerous bug fixes

"Montage 1.3 is an accumulation of over a year's worth of development effort," said Michael Wray, President of Mariner Software. "Not only does it introduce an industry-first feature in the ability to save a Montage script to a Final Draft file format, it also reinforces Mariner's commitment to the world of screenwriting beyond the English language. Montage 1.3 now supports five different languages."

Knowledge Adventure has a new cumulative district licensing program for its products. Instead of being limited to pre-set configurations of two, five and fifteen licenses, customers will be able to obtain the exact number of licenses they want, as well as cumulative discounts on future purchases.

The new flexible purchasing structure is activated after an initial purchase of at least two licenses of any Knowledge Adventure software title, plus an installation/media kit CD. From there, the purchasing district and/or school can obtain additional licenses in any quantity desired and in a mix and match format. In addition, any district that has 250-1,000 licenses will receive a 10 percent discount on future license purchases. Districts with 1,001-5,000 licenses will receive a 15 percent discount on future purchases, and districts with over 5,000 licenses will receive a 20 percent discount.

”Knowledge Adventure wants to reward schools and districts that are continuous supporters of our products,” said Dan Cavalli, Vice President School Division for Knowledge Adventure. ”Also, for a limited time, we are grandfathering customers into the cumulative licensing program,” said Cavalli. ”If a school or district has purchased a certain amount of Knowledge Adventure software in the past, the district may be eligible for discounts on future purchases”
About Knowledge Adventure

For more than 20 years, children’s software pioneer Knowledge Adventure has set the standard in creating premium educational products for use in both the classroom and the home.  With award-winning brands including JumpStart, Reading Blaster and Math Blaster found in one of every five American classrooms, Knowledge Adventure understands the needs of teachers and provides educators with the supplemental, content-rich materials needed to meet and exceed today’s education standards.  Teacher tested and trusted, Knowledge Adventure software has helped millions of students build and strengthen essential learning skills.

As a provider of academic publications for Adobe, Course Technology provides you with the most accurate, comprehensive student and instructor materials. The following list represents some of our most popular titles:

Adobe Curriculum from Course Technology for Studio CS3:
The following titles provide a full-color interior and user-friendly design, creating the ideal textbook for learning the latest features of this popular suite. Technical and design skills are reinforced throughout the lessons and end-of-chapter projects. Robust instructor resources!
1-4283-1965-4 The Web Collection Standard Edition: Dreamweaver CS3, Flash CS3, and Fireworks CS3 Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4283-4083-1  The Web Collection Premium Edition: Dreamweaver CS3, Flash CS3, and Photoshop CS3 Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4283-1964-6  Adobe Dreamweaver CS3: Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4283-1963-8  Adobe Flash CS3: Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4283-1959-X  Adobe Photoshop CS3: Revealed Deluxe Edition Edition
1-4283-1960-3  Adobe InDesign CS3: Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4283-1961-1  Adobe Illustrator CS3: Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4283-1962-X  The Design Collection: InDesign CS3, Photoshop CS3, and Illustrator CS3 Revealed Deluxe Education Edition
1-4180-5259-0  Exploring Photoshop CS3
1-4180-5257-4  Exploring Illustrator CS3
1-4180-5263-9  Exploring InDesign CS3
1-4239-1242-X  Adobe Dreamweaver CS3: Introductory Concepts and Techniques
1-4239-1241-1  Adobe Dreamweaver CS3: Complete Concepts and Techniques
1-4239-1242-X  Adobe Dreamweaver CS3: Comprehensive Concepts and Techniques
1-4239-1236-5  Adobe Photoshop CS3: Introductory Concepts and Techniques
1-4239-1237-3  Adobe Photoshop CS3: Complete Concepts and Techniques
1-4239-1238-1  Adobe Photoshop CS3: Comprehensive Concepts and Techniques
1-4239-2571-8  Adobe Dreamweaver CS3-Illustrated Introductory
Publishing 12/07  New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS3, Comprehensive
Publishing 12/07  New Perspectives on Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Comprehensive

Sorenson Media, the worldwide leader for video compression and decoding solutions, today announced the immediate availability of Sorenson Squeeze 4.8 for Adobe Flash. Building on the recent release of Adobe Flash Player 9 Update 3 with H.264 video support, this upgrade enables users of Sorenson Media’s award-winning application to encode MPEG-4 video compatible with the newly-released Adobe Flash 9 Update 3 software, using the H.264/AVC, AAC and HE-AAC codecs. Because the resulting files are true MPEG-4 files, they will also be compatible with popular devices such as Apple's iPod and Sony's PSP. This one-file-fits-all technology will simplify the technology landscape for video producers and consumers alike.
 
By encoding Flash content in H.264, users of Sorenson Squeeze 4.8 gain the exceptional image quality built into this video compression format, taking advantage of the superior image quality in the updated Adobe Flash 9. In addition, Sorenson Media has included other MPEG-4 variants within Sorenson Squeeze 4.8 for Adobe Flash, in order to increase the overall value of the product. For example, the software can encode into MPEG-4 Part 10 or 3GPP formats, among others.

Still available to users of Sorenson Squeeze 4.8 for Adobe Flash are two Flash-based codecs, Sorenson Spark Pro and, for an additional $100 purchase, the On2 VP6 Pro Encoder plug-in.

“MPEG-4 is a great addition to the Adobe Flash player, but not all MPEG-4 video will play in the Flash player,” said Matt Cupal, president and COO of Sorenson Media. “Sorenson Squeeze 4.8 for Flash simplifies the producer’s job by automatically constraining their video to something Flash will accept. This is another example of what makes Sorenson Squeeze the most popular and easiest-to-use compression application on the market.”
 
Sorenson Squeeze 4.8 for Adobe Flash is available for both Macintosh and Windows operating systems, and features the same user-friendly interface as the highly acclaimed Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 application.

• Main
• archives

Search CCV Software's Catalog:

Search CCV Software's Blog:

«	January 2008					»
Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

• Visions Technology Introduces Weaving Web 2.0
• Now Available! Microsoft Office 2007 Professional with Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
• Staff and Faculty now to receive student pricing on Adobe products!
• Macworld gives Ableton Suite with Live 7 a 5 mouse rating!
• Read&Write GOLD Is Solid - www.powertolearn.com
• Nova Development among the Top 5 productivity software publishers in the United States - familiar characters to help children get the most out of learning
• Golden Globe-winner Dario Marianelli offers his thoughts on winning Oscar and Bafta-Nominations for Atonement score using Sibelius 5

• 2Simple Software [1]
• 3Dconnexion [1]
• Ableton [2]
• ACD Systems [1]
• Adobe [21]
• Alien Skin [3]
• Animated Speech [1]
• Apple [1]
• Autodesk [2]
• AVerMedia [4]
• Avid [2]
• Boris FX [5]
• Bytes of Learning [2]
• ca [1]
• Cabrilog [2]
• Cakewalk [2]
• Califone [7]
• Canvastic [2]
• CCV Software [1]
• CodeWeavers [1]
• ContentWatch [4]
• Core Learning [4]
• Corel [7]
• Course Technology [1]
• Crick [3]
• Critical Thinking Co. [1]
• CW Publications [1]
• CyberEd [2]
• Cyberlude [1]
• Discovery [4]
• Dorling Kindersley Software [1]
• Dukane Corporation [2]
• e Frontier [1]
• Educational Insights [2]
• Emanuel Software [1]
• eMedia Corporation [2]
• Encyclopedia Britannica [1]
• Epson America, Inc. [1]
• Extensis [1]
• FableVision [6]
• Faronics [4]
• FarStone Technology [1]
• FileMaker [6]
• Final Draft [1]
• Fortres Grand [1]
• FreeHand Systems [1]
• Gamco [2]
• GeeThree.com [1]
• General [0]
• GenevaLogic [11]
• Harebrain Software [1]
• Harmonic Vision [1]
• Heartsoft Software [2]
• Help Me 2 Learn [3]
• Hewlett Packard [1]
• Honestech, Inc. [4]
• Hotmath [2]
• I.R.I.S. [2]
• Image Line Software [1]
• Imaginova [2]
• IMSI [2]
• Individual Software [2]
• InFocus [3]
• Ingenuity Works [1]
• Innovative Knowledge [1]
• Inspiration [8]
• Interactive Solutions, Inc. [2]
• IQChinese [1]
• Kerio [1]
• Knowledge Adventure [6]
• Kutoka [1]
• Laureate Learning Systems, Inc. [1]
• LCSI [1]
• Lexmark [1]
• M-Audio [2]
• MakeMusic [2]
• Maplesoft [1]
• Mariner Software [2]
• Markzware [2]
• MathRealm [2]
• Maxon [3]
• McAfee [1]
• Media 100 [1]
• Micrograms [3]
• Microsoft [13]
• Mindjet [2]
• Nero Software [1]
• NetSupport [1]
• NewTek [2]
• nik Software [2]
• Nova Development [1]
• Nuance Communications, Inc [1]
• onOne Software Inc. [4]
• Optimum Resource, Inc. [1]
• Panda [1]
• Parallels, Inc. [3]
• passportM [1]
• PCI Education [1]
• Pinnacle [1]
• Pokemon Learning League [1]
• PowerProduction Software [3]
• Quark [6]
• Red Condor [2]
• Renaissance Learning [6]
• Ripple Effects [1]
• Riverdeep The Learning Company [5]
• RM Educational Software [3]
• Robert McNeel and Associates [1]
• Rocketbook [1]
• Roxio Digital Media [1]
• Sanako [2]
• Scholastic Software [1]
• Sibelius [6]
• Skullcandy [1]
• SMART Technologies, Inc. [2]
• SmartDraw [2]
• Smith Micro Software, Inc. [1]
• Softpress [1]
• Sony Creative Software [1]
• Sorenson Media [3]
• Stagecast [1]
• Steinberg [1]
• StepWare [2]
• StudyDog [1]
• Sunburst [4]
• Symantec [4]
• SYSTAT [5]
• Tab Kids [1]
• Tech4Learning [1]
• TechSmith [5]
• Texas Instruments [1]
• Texthelp Systems [3]
• Thomson Researchsoft [1]
• Tom Snyder [4]
• Tool Factory [1]
• Toon Boom [4]
• Total Training [5]
• Transparent Language [1]
• Trend Micro [3]
• Tribeca Flash Ventures [2]
• Visions Technology in Education [7]
• Wacom [1]
• Websense [1]
• Wizcom [1]
• Wolfram [2]
• Write Brothers [1]
• Xara [1]

•  Subscribe to this blog!

Links

• CCV Software
• CCV Software Licensing
• CCV Software Promotions
• CCV Software Newsletter
• Request a Catalog
• Nonprofit Software Discounts