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Software Bargains for Teachers!
Does buying software for the classroom make your head spin? How do you get what you really need at a price that won't break your budget? Education World takes some of the confusion out of finding and pricing academic software with a quick tour of three online companies that cater to educators. Included: Price comparisons and help selecting software to meet your needs.
Buying computer software for the classroom online should be easy. When you point your mouse into the maze of consumer options, however, it isn't always easy to know which way to click. To help you find your way, Education World explored more than 25 educational software resellers, comparing academic pricing and ordering policies and testing the availability of popular classroom software programs. Here's what we learned about academically priced software and short descriptions of the three software resellers that stock all seven of our "test" programs.
WHY BUY ACADEMIC VERSION SOFTWARE?
In terms of program function, the academic version and the retail version of most software programs are virtually identical. However, retail versions, though lower in price, usually include only one CD-ROM and a general instruction manual; school or teacher editions generally include two copies of the CD-ROM and a teacher manual with helpful materials and lesson plans.
If you are already well-versed in the software and simply need an additional copy, a bargain-priced single retail version may suit your needs just fine -- although you do need to be aware of copyright restrictions that might limit the classroom use of that cheaper retail software. (For more information about copyright restrictions on software, see the Education World article Copyright Law and New Technologies.)
In addition to the standard academic version, some publishers, such as Microsoft, also offer academically priced versions of software programs. These come with deep discounts and usually are not returnable.
Finally, academic-software resellers often offer lab-pack versions of software, which include a set of teacher materials and five or six copies of the CD, typically at a savings. Higher volume discounts for site and district licenses make sense for widely used programs, but note that lab-pack and site-license software are also usually not returnable.
As with all shopping, the tried-and-true phrase caveat emptor applies. Read the small print! Are you getting the latest version of the software program? Will the latest version work on your old Apple IIe? (Check the publisher's Web site if you are not sure.) Is the software covered by a warranty? Can you preview it or return it after it has been opened? Some resellers charge a hefty restocking fee for returned materials or require return authorization, so examine each site's return policies carefully.
THREE GREAT SITES FOR EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE
Educational Software Institute
The Educational Software Institute (ESI) Web site provides easy access to 5,000 software titles from a wide array of publishers in single-use, lab-pack, and site-license versions. The site's search function is easy to use, and shoppers can browse software by subject, platform, or grade level. ESI provides its own "teachers' choice award" designation to highlight software that has garnered multiple positive media reviews.
ESI offers its single-use academic pricing to parents as well as teachers. (Some publishers, such as Microsoft and Corel, require faculty identification and a purchase order or college student identification from accredited academic institutions.) Purchasers can order products online or via e-mail, phone, fax, or mail; orders have a 5 percent or $5 minimum shipping fee.
A particularly nice feature is ESI's "lending library," or previewing service. ESI ships preview items free; customers return the items in good condition within 30 days at their own expense. Customers who find that a title is not in the lending library can purchase and return it if unsuitable, according to the directions given in the Web site's thorough FAQ section. Many other software resellers do not allow returns of opened software and may charge restocking fees of up to 15 percent for unopened returns.
CCV Software's mission is to "make a difference in how students learn, and how teachers teach." With its eye-catching graphics and handy, one-click news and promotional offers, the CCV Software Web site is a snap to navigate. Using the site's search engine, we easily found the latest school versions of all our test software at prices that equaled or beat other academic software competitors.
Every product on the site includes a picture, a text description, and a complete array of ordering options, including single-use, lab-pack, and site-license versions. Products requiring academic proof with purchase are clearly marked and accompanied by ordering instructions. Shipping charges begin at $7. Retail versions are also available for some software programs. Returns are permitted on preview and damaged merchandise only, but previewing is also available on a purchase order if submitted on a school letterhead.
The Genesis Technologies home page provides easy access to promotions and bundled specials. The 2,500-program online catalog is all text. To find a specific software program, use the search option in the red bar at the top of the home page or the information screens. Other options, such as the software price list, allow users to browse by publisher only.
The search engine on this site is a bit trickier than the others. For example, the search engine did not find CorelDRAW when we typed that name into the product title box. We had to type DRAW in the product title box and choose Corel from the drop-down box of publisher names.
Genesis requires proof of academic affiliation for all software orders. Institutions must supply official purchase orders; teachers and college students are required to send photo identification with a current date of validation. Single-use and lab-pack versions of software are listed in the catalog, and customers are instructed to call for volume license options.
Genesis offers free shipping and a 30-day unconditional return policy for unopened software with no restocking fee.
STILL CAN'T FIND YOUR SOFTWARE?
If you have searched those Web sites and can't find that longed-for Worms of the Antarctic Interactive CD-ROM Version 23, don't despair. There are many more places to look, including these educational software resellers:
Educational Resources offers its Partnership Plus program to 38 member states, providing volume discounts for a minimum of five copies per title of many popular software programs.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT?
Are you trying to decide between three or four popular second-grade math programs? You can read descriptions, reviews, and ratings for an extensive list of software programs at SuperKids, an independent educational software review site for parents and teachers. SuperKids also includes links to vendors as part of a low-price survey.
For more help, Edumatch and its friendly animal graphic Digby will ferret out a software program that meets your specific educational needs and conforms to your state standards.
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Article by Leslie Bulion
Education World®
Copyright © 2001 Education World
01/26/2001
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