Technology Profile:
Bytes of Learning’s Ultrakey 5.0
By Mitchell Levine
With the launch of UltraKey 5.0, software manufacturer Bytes of Learning now offers districts the ability to easily manage keyboarding instruction from a centralized location no matter where that instruction is taking place – at school or at home. Communicating with a server-based application called the UltraKey 5.0 Data Server, student progress data can be exchanged with the central server in real time through any network or Internet connection, whether students are learning at school or practicing at home.
The same benefit applies to teachers who can review student progress at school or at home, managing their classes’ learning wherever they have an Internet connection. “Our software has been very popular in schools, but districts have asked us for a solution whose data could be managed from a central location while providing teachers full customization capabilities within the classroom,” said company president Art Willer. “For the first time, districts, teachers, parents and students can use keyboarding instruction at school and at home while the learning is managed and reported through any network or Internet connection. Administers can rely on the technical operation of the data server while each teacher directly manages her own classes,” he continued.
A powerful and teacher-friendly class management system lets teachers know how successfully all of their students are developing skills at all times. The package also features many options allowing teachers to customize instruction at the school, class and individual levels. With a choice of theme colors, text sizes and contrast levels, it can accommodate young children, students with special needs, and users who are visually impaired. “Under the No Child Left Behind Act school districts, principals and teachers are held increasingly accountable for learning outcomes,” said Willer. “The release of this upgrade heralds the first time that school districts can have a keyboarding instruction program in the schools, while maintaining a central district-wide record of how well each individual student, class and school are performing in the use of that program.”
Sold separately, the home edition can communicate with the school or district server software to monitor and record student progress anywhere. UltraKey 5.0 Home Edition uses the options set by the student’s teacher at school, so the home experience is identical to the school experience. The UK 5.0 Data Server software is sold separately, so schools and districts have the option to purchase only if they want the central management capability. Best of all, until December 31, 2005, Bytes of Learning is granting schools credit for the full value of any UltraKey 4.0 school license toward the version. For more information, log on to the company’s site at www.bytesoflearning.com, or dial toll-free 1-800-465-6428.#
