At the diary screen, users are presented with two pallets of tools with many options for writing and page layout. Each new entry is dated and ready for the author to enter text and add features. With a click of the mouse and some selecting, students can effortlessly add sounds, have the computer narrate their writing, change the page background, incorporate a short film, or illustrate their work with graphics. This is a good program to present to the entire class before the students begin using the CD-ROM on their own. As I demonstrated each powerful section, the ensuing group discussion enhanced understanding and promoted comprehension.
Students find the diaries fascinating and can t help learning as they travel through the features.
Giving them an opportunity to revisit the program will begin to motivate them to begin chronicling events in their own lives. The diary features quickly become second nature as students write pages of text recording their feelings and experiences. This program lends itself to the response journal format and can be opened for students to record their comments on current topics or literature they are studying. Responses can be printed and handed in to the teacher, or saved in a digital format and read online. This software has high possibilities as a tool for encouraging writing.