The area of software publishing for schools and libraries is remarkably small given the huge market. Over the past several years, some of the smaller companies have been purchased by larger groups making the pool even smaller.
Thousands of local distributors are available, but the pricing of software doesn't vary much. Do a quick check on Amazon, Academic Superstore, or Educational Resources to compare prices before purchasing.
Many of the publisher websites provide free trial versions or demonstrations that can be downloaded for free. Sometimes these have been noted in the descriptions.
Explore each of the following areas on this page. You don't need to look at each link, but you should have a feel for the major publishers: Large Educational Software Publishers, Other Educational Publishers, General Software Publishers, and Starting Points for Locating Software.
Large Educational Software Publishers
Although thousands of different groups publish software for children and young adults, a few companies develop the most popular software including Knowledge Adventure, Sierra, Scholastic, Broderbund (The Learning Company), and Riverdeep (Edmark).
Inspiration Software, Inc.
http://www.inspiration.com/
Home for Inspiration and Kidspiration
- - the leading visual thinking tools for learning. [ Free
30 Day Trials ]
Knowledge Adventure from
Vivendi Universal Games
http://www.vugames.com/studio.do?studioName=Knowledge_Adventure
Best known for their JumpStart
series, Knowledge Adventure is known for acquiring smaller educational
publishers. For example, they now produce the
Blaster series such as Math Blaster.
They are also known for the popular multimedia tool called HyperStudio
that was acquired a few years ago. Other products include Dinosaur
Adventure. Finally, they produce interactive books such as
the Curious George series.
Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited
http://www.riverdeep.com/
Riverdeep has acquired Broderbund, Learning Company, Edmark, and others.
Publishes software products like Word Munchers Deluxe
and Storybook Weaver Deluxe.
Broderbund (The Learning Company) from
Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited
http://www.broderbund.com/schoolsolutions.asp
One of the first publishers of educational software, Broderbund now
includes a wide range of products. Their best known products include
Print Shop, Print Master, Kid Pix, Mavis Beacon Teacher Typing, and Family Tree Maker.
Learning Company
from Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited
http://www.riverdeep.com/learningcompany/index.jhtml
http://www.learningcompanyschool.com/
The
Learning Company seal can be found on many of their educational products
such as the Living Book series,
Reader Rabbit series, Cluefinder
series, Adventure Workshop
series, and Trail (i.e., Oregon,
Amazon) series.
They also produce software products based on the following characters: Arthur (shown on left), Caillou, Carmen Sandiego, Jay-Jay, Liberty Kids, Little bear, Pokemon, Scooby Doo, StarFlyer and Zoombinis. The Learning Company also produces the PBS Kids software. They also produce the Princeton Review learning materials.
Edmark from
Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited
http://www.riverdeep.com/edmark/index.jhtml
Find favorite Edmark products such as
the House Series (Millie's Math
House), Sammy's Science House,
and Talking Walls. - [Edmark
Downloads ]
Sierra from
Vivendi Universal Games
http://www.sierra.com/home.do
Sierra is know for a variety of resources including Hallmark
Card Studio and Print Artist,
a competitor to Print Shop. They're
also producers of gaming software including electronic versions of the
Hoyle Board games. They also publish
popular historical and strategic simulations and games such as Great
Empires.
Scholastic Software
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/software.htm
Here you can locate all the Scholastic
software products like Shh! We're Writing the Constitution plus Tom
Snyder Productions' innovative, award-winning CD-ROMs to support
learning in reading, mapping and more.
This
popular book publisher has an extensive collection of software. Known
for their acquistion of popular characters, they have software related
to Magic School Bus,
Clifford, and I
Spy (shown on the left).
Tom Snyder Productions
from Scholastic
http://www.tomsnyder.com/
Tom Snyder Productions, a Scholastic
company, was founded more than 20 years ago by Tom Snyder, a former
science and music teacher, who pioneered the use of technology in
the classroom to enhance teaching and learning. Today they carry over
125 software titles covering each curriculum area. Products include
Graph Club and Timerliner. [ Free
30 Day Trials ]
Other Educational Publishers
There are many other educational publishers that produce fewer, more focused software.
A.D.A.M.
http://www.adam.com/
Leading publisher of interactive, visually engaging
health and medical information for healthcare organizations, medical
professionals, consumers, and students. Today, A.D.A.M. employs
a growing range of media, including Internet, software, CD-ROM, television
and print, to deploy its proprietary content assets and products.
Crick Software
http://www.cricksoft.com/
The makers of Clicker; an easy to use writing
and multimedia tool for children.
CyberPuppy Software
Inc. (Formerly Kid's Studio)
http://www.cyberpuppy.com/
CyberPuppy Software has discontinued development
of Monstrous Media Kit. However, they are still offering a
free copy of our software for a limited time. Only runs on a Mac.
Enjoy.
Discovery Channel School
http://shopping.discovery.com/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?
. . .
Create your own library of Discovery Channel
School's award-winning teaching tools! Includes videos, cd-roms,
and learning packs.
Disney Interactive Learning
http://disney.store.go.com/
Check out the full catalog of interactive learning
titles.
FTC Publishing
http://www.ftcpublishing.com/
Producer of Sound Companion and many other resources.
[ 30
Day Trial ]
Gallopade International
http://www.gallopade.com/
Good luck on finding product descriptions on the
website, but this is the producer of the best-selling State Facts
and Factivities software.
Global Software Publishing
http://www.gspna.com/
Global Software Publishing is the exclusive publisher
of the Dorling Kindersley educational CD-ROM titles, producer
of Eyewitness History of the World, Ultimate Human Body, and I Love
Science. They also have CD-ROM products from Emme.
Heartsoft Educational Software
http://www.heartsoft.com/
Has over 70 software titles for K-8 in areas of
literacy, critical thinking, math, and basic skills.
Humongous Entertainment
http://www.funkidsgames.com/
Producers of the Freddi Fish, Blues Clues,
and Putt-Putt series, these programs
are popular adventure and problem-solving environments.
HyperBole Studios
http://www.hyperbole.com/
Explores interactive media as a new creative form
to develop intelligent, story-driven multimedia, games, and online
entertainment.
IntelliTools Software
http://www.intellitools.com/
Classroom Tools, IntelliTalk II, IntelliMathics,
and IntelliPics Studio are integrated and offer a complete set of
resources for both general education and special needs students, truly
meeting the needs of the diverse classroom.
Jackson Software
http://www.jacksoncorp.com/
Publishes gradebook (including bestselling GradeQuick)
and school wide class management software.
Key
Curriculum Press
http://www.keypress.com/
Math software publisher. Known for Geometric
Sketchpad series.
Lightspan
http://www.lightspan.com/Portal/Corporate/
Lightspan Achieve Now is a scientifically
research-based curriculum program (integrated learning package) that's
proven to help increase academic achievement in K–8 students.
This interactive standards-based program provides instruction in reading,
language arts, and mathematics.
MicroGrams
http://www.micrograms.com/
Publish math, language, science, social studies,
and problem solving programs - - including Super Science Show.
Milliken Software
http://www.millikenpub.com/caidiv/caihome.html
In their own words, "What we do best is math and
reading."
Mindplay
http://www.mindplay.com/
Software for reading comprehension improvement.
National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education/
Number of software products including the complete
archives of 112 years of National Geographic Magazine on CD-ROM.
Software - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/cdrom/
Neufeld Learning Systems Inc.
http://www.neufeldmath.com/
Publishes math software for grades 4-10 - - including
the Understanding Math™ series.
Optimum Resource, Inc.
http://www.stickybear.com/
Optimum Resource has expanded to four software
lines - Stickybear, MiddleWare, Optimum Resource High School, and
Tools for Educators. Stickybear includes early learning, reading,
math, and typing software for pre-K thru fifth grade.
Orbis Software
http://www.orbissoft.com/
Publishes the top-selling Easy Grade Pro software.
Renaissance Learning
http://www.renlearn.com/
Creators of reading, math, writing, and standards
software solutions for pre-K to 12 learners.
Related Division: Humanities Software http://www.humanitiessoftware.com/index.htm
Simon & Schuster Interactive
http://www.simonsays.com/subs/category.cfm?areaid=58&ctgyid=62&out=50&start=1
A variety of software for children. Includes Wimzie's
House, Bundle of Bugs, Garfield, and more.
Sunburst Technology
http://www.sunburst.com/
Site describes current software include Type
to Learn, Hot Dog Stand: The Works, Easy Book Deluxe, A to Zap!,
and the Learn About Series. They
offer 30-day online previews, videostreaming of some programs.
SVE & Churchill Media
http://www.svemedia.com/
Offers a large variety of science CD-ROMs; subjects
include zoology, botany, chemistry, ecology, and more.
Tech4Learning
http://www.tech4learning.com/
Image Blender, Media
Blender, SimplyVR, and VideoBlender.
Also, Claymation Kit. [ Freebies
] [ 30
Day Trials ]
Terrapin Software
http://www.terrapinlogo.com/
Publishes various software related to Logo.
Tivola Publishing
http://www.tivola.com/
Publishes interactive storybooks, software, and
games. Includes the Little Prince, Snow White and the Seven
Hansels, Peanuts, and more.
Videodiscovery
http://www.videodiscovery.com/
Publisher of innovative multimedia products for
science and math education.
World Book Store
http://store.worldbook.com/wb/category.asp?subject_id=5
CD/DVD reference software and other materials.
Zane Publishing
http://www.zane.com/
Re-purposes some of the world’s best learning
and reference material into cd-rom format.
General Software Publisher
Many of the software packages developed for adults can also be used with children and young adults. Below is a listing of the most popular software publishers for schools and libraries.
Adobe Systems Incorporated
http://www.adobe.com/
Makers of PhotoShop,
Acrobat, PageMaker, and much more. They also now own the Macromedia products.
Apple Computer
http://www.apple.com/software/
Software products include Mac operating systems,
iMovie, Quicktime, AppleWorks and
more.
http://www.filemaker.com/
Makers of the leading database software.
Microsoft Corporation
http://www.microsoft.com/
Makers of operating system and server software,
productivity tools, reference software, and much more.
Starting Points for Locating Software
Thousands of software publishers and distributors are available online. A few popular starting points have been listed below:
Academic Superstore
http://www.academicsuperstore.com/
Great place for academic pricing.
Educational Resources
http://www.edresources.com/
Nation's largest source of educational technology,
hardware, accessories, and supplemental products.
Educational Software Directory
from Google
http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Educational/?tc=1
Directory of software companies.
Educational Software Directory
http://educational-software-directory.net/
Online guide to learning software resources on
the web. Includes software indexed by subject area with links to publishers,
reviews, and more. Index to educational game software.
Software eSource
http://www.sescc.com/education/
Pricing and sales limited to Educational Institutions
and School Districts. Software eSource offers two major types of software:
Shrink-wrapped software and User Licensed (also known as "Site Licensed")
software.
Technical Support
at Scholastic
http://www.scholastic.com/techsupport/index.htm
Extensive listing of list of software titles,
publishers and their respective technical support numbers. If you
purchased software through the Scholastic Software clubs, book
clubs or fairs, you can contact the publisher.
Adapted with permission from Chapter 5 in Lamb, A. (2006). Building Treehouses for Learning: Technology in Today's Classroom, Fourth Edition.