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Part I -- Interactive History of the United States, a unique interactive textbook, is a text reconstruction program for achieving content mastery, and for improving reading, writing, and reasoning skills.
This new instructional software includes the
TRAC Structures for Learning (TRAC SL) system from New Intelligence Inc., developed for Windows-compatible computers running Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or Windows 98. Emphasizing simple point-and-click operations by students using the program, the
TRAC SL system software also includes powerful, easy-to-use central student management, performance analysis, and reporting functions.
Interactive History of the United States capitalizes on the power of the computer and the
TRAC SL system to make the student an active learner, with feedback on the accuracy of his or her comprehension of the content, as well as active immersion in standard written English. In contrast to traditional textbooks, student interaction is central to
Interactive History of the United States. Students must actively and continuously respond in a unique approach called "Managed Engagement" that engages the student in carefully and thoughtfully reading the content, and manages each student's progression through the material. This helps students focus their attention on the material, improving content mastery. In addition, the approach builds reading, writing, and reasoning skills.
Part I of
Interactive History of the United States begins with the earliest
migration of humans to North America and continues through the Civil War and Reconstruction.
(Part II is scheduled for publication in early Spring, 2001, and continues the
series through current events.)
Dr. Myra Linden, one of the authors, explains that when a student is given a reading assignment, the student's attention often wanders, or the student can skim the content without reading carefully, because no active response is required. The student's failure to carefully read the material may not be identified until a test is given days or weeks later. With the
Interactive History of the United States instructional software, and its Managed Engagement approach, the student cannot progress unless the student reads and understands the material presented.
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