Reviews
Crossword Factory
Reviewed in the July 2004 issue of HUB: Digital Living by Megan Johnston
Three across, five down by Megan Johnston
To a student on summer vacation, the words education and fun may not be synonymous,
but developer Schoolhouse Technologies has done a good job of trying to make them
so with its line of worksheet software.
Though the programs were designed as tools for teachers, they are available to the
general public and do not require special systems or databases -- just a PC running
Windows (98 or later or NT4 or later) and an inkjet or laser printer.
We looked at Crossword Factory 3, which, as the name suggests, allows you to generate
crossword puzzles. The software was easy to install and quickly start generating
customized puzzles.
Creating a crossword starts with selecting a word list. The software comes with
several word lists with clues (and you can download more at the company Web site)
or you can add your own lists -- names of local flora and fauna if you're spending
the summer at the cottage, names of destinations on your summer road trip, characters
and places in a favourite book, for example. You can add your own clues or use the
definitions included in the Crossword Factory's 65,000-word English dictionary (which
has both U.S. and U.K spellings). French, Spanish, and German dictionaries can also
be downloaded from the Schoolhouse site, if you want to create puzzles for developing
vocabularies in those languages.
The next step is clicking the Generate button, which automatically lays out the
words in a puzzle format with the clues on the lower part of the page. If you aren't
happy with the results, click Generate again -- and again, if desired -- and it
will create a different layout.
The interface is quite flexible, allowing you to adjust the size of windows and
work on more than one puzzle at a time. The design elements can also be customized
if you don't like the default look of the page: change or delete headers and footers;
add images or special instructions; change the font, size, or color of text; and
change the size of the crossword squares. Last step, click Print, and make as many
copies as you need.
Schoolhouse Technologies makes a whole series of similar easy-to-use worksheet programs,
including Schoolhouse Bingo, Map Worksheet Factory, and Mathematics Worksheet Factory.
Demo and "lite" versions can be downloaded at the Schoolhouse Web site.
--Megan Johnston
The new, completely redesigned magazine, entitled HUB:Digital Living, focuses on home and personal electronics
for the Canadian market. more...
Crossword Factory and Mathematics Worksheet Factory
Reviewed in the ROMper Room column of The Washington Times - June 06, 2004
Educators can add some powerful software weapons to their ongoing battle to teach
word useage and mathematics, thanks to a couple of easy-to-use homework creators.
First, Crossword Factory 3 creates customized puzzles with a few clicks of the mouse.
The handy interface uses word lists combined with clues to randomly generate the
standard across-and-down, boxed presentations suitable for printing or e-mailing
to students in various graphics formats.
Teachers begin by either creating their own word list from 65,000 possibilities
or selecting from a predetermined topic, including "Rulers of the Past" (requiring
knowledge of dates), "Active Lifestyle" (sports words) or "See the World" (famous
landmarks).
All clues can be edited to accommodate students' comprehension levels, and an art
element and humorous riddle or quotation can be thrown into the finished product.
Then a click on the Generate icon displays a ready-to-solve puzzle that can be further
refined by font choices, adding areas where the child can print his or her name
and the date, word color and even box size.
As an important, free benefit, owners of the software also can download an additional
20 lists on such topics as "Synonyms" (636 word pairs), "Periodic Table of the Elements"
(25 words) and "Animal Scientific Names" (100 word pairs) to further enhance a wide
range of lesson plans.
Next, Mathematics Worksheet Factory Deluxe lives up to its name by offering 60 randomly
generated types of printable homework activities to hone knowledge of core number
concepts, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Covering areas to appeal from kindergartners to 10th-graders, the simple interface
allows the user to click and choose from 13 subtopics, including time, money, geometry,
percentages, fractions, measurements and graphing to quickly display and customize
a set of problems.
The program is not as flexible as Crossword Factory 3, but it does allow color variations,
the placement of those inspirational quotations and riddles at the top of an assignment,
the ability to add equation templates, and a wide degree of numerical manipulations
to satisfy any educator's requirements.
Mathematics Worksheet Factory Deluxe ($49.99 for single users license) and Crossword
Factory 3 ($29.99 for single users license), Schoolhouse Technologies (www.schoolhousetech.com),
for Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP operating systems.
ROMper Room is a column devoted to finding the best of multimedia edutainment. Write
to Joseph Szadkowski, The Washington Times, 3600 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC
20002; call 202/636-3016; or send e-mail (jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com).
Word Search Factory Lite
Reviewed on TechCentral.IE: Ireland's Technology Website on March 19, 2004.
Getting started with Word Search Factory Lite
The program enables teachers to create a myriad of customised word searches effortlessly.
English lessons will never be the same again! Well maybe it’s not that that revolutionary
but using Word Search Factory Lite should certainly enhance spelling and vocabulary
work in almost every subject area. This wonderfully flexible program enables teachers
to create customised word searches effortlessly, which are guaranteed to go down
a treat with children of all ages.
Simply type the required word list, use a wizard and Word Search Factory will take
care of the rest. In addition, headers for each word search are easily customised,
including changing titles, font formatting, riddle or joke generation and relevant
clipart insertion. This title also comes with flexible print options, including
the ability to print or omit a clue list for hidden words and generation of an answer
key for each word search printed.
Word Search Factory is particularly useful for revision and extension activities.
For instance, enter this week’s spelling list, generate a word search and you have
the perfect revision precursor to the weekly pencil and paper test.
For €24 you can upgrade to the Pro version complete with spell-checker, dictionary,
colour formatting, diagonal word orientation, auto-date insertion and export to
image format functionality. However we believe none these features are essential
so hold onto your ICT cash and go free!
Step 1. Point your browser at www.schoolhousetech.com/products/download.htm
and follow the link.
Download "WordSearchFactoryLiteSetup.exe". A File Download dialogue box appears
choose Save and use the Drop-down list in the Save menu to select a location on
your hard drive; click Save. When the download completes choose Open and the InstallShield
Wizard will begin. Complete the wizard to install Word Search Factory Lite.
Step 2. Launch Word Search Factory Lite from the All Programs list.
Go to the Tools menu choose Word List Editor. Here we can create a new list, open
a list or combine lists. Select Create a New List. In addition to word entry we
can include Level, Classification and Clue information. For this tutorial, we will
just enter words. Type each word and press <Enter> until complete. To finish,
click the Floppy Disk icon to save the list and close the Word List Editor.
Step 3. Next from the Tools menu select Word Search Wizard, click
Next and use the Folder icon to browse for the wordlist created in Step 2. The next
five steps allow for further customisation, adjusting Grid Size, selecting Clues
or Word Bank, Number of Pages and Header and Footer, make the required changes and
click Finish. A new word search is generated, click the Floppy Disk icon to save
your work.
Step 4. To further customise the word search go the Settings Pane
in the top right corner. Use the Maximise icon to extend the window. There are three
tabs at the bottom of this pane. The Activity Settings tab allows customisation
of word orientation, font, co-ordinates etc. Make the desired changes and select
the Header tab to modify the word search title. To finish select the Footer tab
to alter the footer settings.
Step 5. Now click on Quotations and Riddles icon in the bottom
left corner and select a suitable joke or riddle. Next select the Clipart icon beside
the Quotations and Riddles button and choose a suitable graphic. Here you can insert
one of the program’s limited built-in clipart or click the Folder icon to browse
for your own graphics. To insert the desired image just select it. To finish save
your work.
Step 6. Before printing select the Show Answers icon (tick mark)
to display the hidden words and use the Generate icon (bolt of lightning) to adjust
the layout further. To finish click the Printer icon, input the desired number of
worksheets and answer keys, select the Regenerate between Copies option if you require
a different layout for each sheet and select Print.
If Word Search Factory Lite has whetted your appetite for worksheet generation,
why not download Schoolhouse Technologies’ other free titles: Basic Facts Worksheet
Factory and Basic Facts Bingo. Alternatively, you can order the Schoolhouse Collection
Sampler CD for EUR*11.20, including all three free titles and 20-use trial versions
of Mathematics, Vocabulary, Map and Crossword Worksheet Factories.
Mathematics Worksheet Factory Lite
ZDNet.com -
Reviewed on Oct 25 2000 - "Eliminate the tedium of creating math worksheets and
turn the task into a pure, streamlined process with Mathematics Worksheet Factory
Lite. This high-value freebie lets you turn out endlessly varying worksheets containing
any combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems.
Options let you adjust everything from the number of problems on a page and the
difficulty of the problems to the way problems are numbered. Customize the headings,
add a graphic and/or riddle, and then print as many worksheets and answer sheets
as you need. The results look great. You can save your worksheets, too, and build
up a library. In addition to creating problem sheets, you can print multiplication
tables and student progress charts." ZDNet Rating
Mathematics Worksheet Factory Deluxe
ZDNet.com -
Reviewed on Jan 24 2001 - "Mathematics Worksheet Factory Deluxe makes worksheet
generation a snap. Exercises in math were never easier to create -- or more fun
to do. Just select problem sets from any of eight categories, including concepts,
operations, fractions, percent, measurement, geometry, graphing, or algebra. You
can add a graphic and a riddle of the day or jazz up the worksheet with fancy fonts
and color print. The program is extremely user-friendly, allowing you to quickly
choose the number of problems per page, how they are to be displayed, and the number
of digits, decimals, addends, multiples, or remainders to be used for each problem.
The choices are displayed on the left, while a view of the worksheet appears on
the right. Simply click the radio buttons or slider bars to set the parameters of
your worksheet. You can immediately view the product to see if it meets your student
needs. Then simply print the student sheets and an answer key for grading with another
mouse click." ZDNet Rating
Word Search Factory
ZDNet.com -
Reviewed on Oct 11 2000 - "Liven up vocabulary and spelling lessons with the addition
of a word search produced by Word Search Factory. This marvelously flexible program
can be used in almost any subject area. Simply select a grid size, word orientation,
and word length; type in the list of words (or use a stored list); and Word Search
Factory will place the words in the grid and scramble them. The program comes with
flexible printing options, including the ability to print or omit a 'clue' list
of hidden words, that allow you to customize the look of the worksheets. You can
then print any number of worksheets and answer sheets, or save worksheets for later
use. This excellent program is freeware." ZDNet Rating
Vocabulary Worksheet Factory
ZDNet.com -
Reviewed on Mar 02 2000 - "Vocabulary Worksheet Factory is ideal for teachers or
parents who want to make vocabulary learning fun. This easy-to-use software creates
word-search, jumbles, codes, and definition exercises that you can print for classroom
use -- along with an answer key. The program is well designed, fully documented
and should keep your students busy. There's an exercise word database included and
you can build your own word lists with categories, skill levels or subject classifications
to quickly select words for the current lesson. Add interest by changing fonts,
adding a riddle to the lesson, or inserting a novel graphic. Each of the four modes
of worksheet offers custom options to tailor the exercise to the ability level of
the student. In word-search, for example, you can control the direction of embedded
words so that difficult backwards or diagonal words don't frustrate younger users."
ZDNet Rating