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Maxskill Standard Trainer for OGT
Maxskill Standard Trainer for OGT
by MaxSkill
MaxSkill Trainer (Version 3.5)…
$72.85
This is a computer-based comprehensive study aid to help students prepare for four portions of the Ohio Graduation Test: reading English, mathematics, social studies and science. It is available in both online and software versions with accompanying personalized hard-copy review guides. Software and guides for individual subjects (math, science, social studies, language arts) can be purchased for $19.95 each.
Like similar products (IQity, Study Island, Desktop Tutor), the MaxSkill Trainer combines the appeal and instant gratification of a video game with a serious review of subjects for the OGT. Unlike competitor products, it does not employ fancy graphics or video novelties. Users can log on using an assigned school name and password or install the software CD in a home computer. It should be noted that the CD can only be installed once and cannot be moved from computer to computer.
Instructions for using the software can be reached by clicking on the “Quick Guide” button. Students can choose either the practice or testing mode to begin, then move on to a specific subject area. A 40-question diagnostic pre-test allows students (as well as teachers and parents) to assess what they already know about each subject and where study efforts need to be focused.
Questions are followed by a series of multiple-choice answers. Users click on the answer they deem correct and move on to the next question.
The heart of the system is a training section that focuses on individual topics (Example: in the social studies section students can click on “Civil War” or “American Exploration”). The number of questions in the training section varies with the subject. All questions are multiple choice and students can obtain a summary of questions answered correctly and incorrectly at any point in the exercise. Users are “timed” as they answer individual questions and users are told in advance how long it should take to answer each one. However, there’s no instant feedback on which questions are being answered correctly, as with similar products on the market. Users can discontinue their efforts at any time and then pick up where they left off later. They also get feedback on the percentage of questions they’ve answered correctly and re-try the ones they’ve answered incorrectly.
A 40-question post-test follows the training section. The test is designed to mimic what students will face on the real OGT. Like the diagnostic test and the training section, the post-test is all multiple choice. Users can view a summary of how they’ve performed at any time during the test.
Purchasing the entire comprehensive MaxSkill Trainer software entitles the user to four softbound review guides: the OGT High School History and Social Science; OGT High School English Reading Language Arts; OGT High School Mathematics; OGT High School Science.
The review guides contain instructions on how to use the software and online versions, as well as a variety of questions, including multiple-choice and written response questions. Each review guide includes and answer key.
Maxskill Standard Trainer for OGT
Editors’ Review:
Maxskill Standard Trainer for OGT
Pluses – Like similar online and software OGT preparation products, the
MaxSkill trainer creates a familiar learning environment for teenage
students who are computer savvy and oriented to iPods, cell phones,
hand-helds and other electronic devices. The online version appears easy
to use and understand and comes complete with instructions on how to
navigate the site. The “timing feature” associated with each question is
unique to MaxSkill and gives users a good measure of how they will perform
during the real-life testing period. The diagnostic test is helpful in
allowing students (and others) assess how much they already know about the
subject and where they need to focus their review. The post-test helps
determine how much progress has been made. Paper study guides come
personalized with the student’s name on the cover – a nice feature!
Minuses – No where on the software or its packaging is there an indication that the MaxSkill content is aligned with Ohio’s academic benchmarks, standards and grade-level indicators. In fact, not all the software works; some appear to be blank. The online version is far more reliable and easy to access with an I.D. and password. An effort to reorder the software went nowhere.
Unlike some other computer-based OGT study aids, this product does not entail fancy computer graphics or design. It is very straightforward. The questions are detailed and far more difficult than those found on competitors: IQity, Study Island or Desktop Tutor. MaxSkill also lacks the instant feedback that Study Island, IQity and Desktop Tutor provide. While the study guides are helpful and a unique feature of MaxSkill, it is hard to relate them to the software version. Makes the user wonder how these things fit together?
Video Review of Maxskill Standard Trainer for OGT
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