http://johnfrat.us/2009/01/11/why-isnt-there-a-free-alternative-to-accelerated-reader/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:25:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://johnfrat.us/2009/01/11/why-isnt-there-a-free-alternative-to-accelerated-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Chris Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:32:01 +0000 http://johnfrat.us/?p=73#comment-57 We've had AR for many years in spite of numerous technical issues. Renaissance Learning's tech support is dismal. A free alternative would only be worse - no tech support at all. What's needed is something open source. Shouldn't be too difficult - a MySQL database and a PHP (web-based) front end. Then all you need is a website where everybody can download the software and exchage tests (along with a forum for tech support) and voila! We’ve had AR for many years in spite of numerous technical issues. Renaissance Learning’s tech support is dismal. A free alternative would only be worse – no tech support at all. What’s needed is something open source. Shouldn’t be too difficult – a MySQL database and a PHP (web-based) front end. Then all you need is a website where everybody can download the software and exchage tests (along with a forum for tech support) and voila!

]]> http://johnfrat.us/2009/01/11/why-isnt-there-a-free-alternative-to-accelerated-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Frankie Smith Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:49:24 +0000 http://johnfrat.us/?p=73#comment-17 I just began this morning trying to come up with an alternative to AR because we simply may not be able to afford it next year with the economic problems across the country and in our state (Alabama). That is how I found your article. As I read other articles about the effectiveness of AR, I'm not sure that the alternative isn't juat an old-fashioned reading practice approach that does not include points and levels, but instead focuses on interests and free reading time. The only problem would be the accountability factor. How can we be sure the students actually read the books without some kind of assessment? Anyway, I agree that there should be something available that would help to promote reading in general without promoting a costly program. I just began this morning trying to come up with an alternative to AR because we simply may not be able to afford it next year with the economic problems across the country and in our state (Alabama). That is how I found your article. As I read other articles about the effectiveness of AR, I’m not sure that the alternative isn’t juat an old-fashioned reading practice approach that does not include points and levels, but instead focuses on interests and free reading time. The only problem would be the accountability factor. How can we be sure the students actually read the books without some kind of assessment? Anyway, I agree that there should be something available that would help to promote reading in general without promoting a costly program.

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