My Own Bookshelf
By Magliocco, Carol, PhD; ConnSENSE Bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 1Publication Date: March 2004
Article provides a review of My Own Bookshelf from SoftTouch, which is an authoring tool that allows educators to create a collection of books that can be accessed via mouse, touch screen, Intellikeys, and switches. The program allows the user to perform five key tasks: (1) make an unlimited number of books and bookshelves, (2) make a different bookshelf for each student or scholastic unit, (3) customize options for each unit, (4) collect student data on specific selections and reading time, and (5) share books with others. The My Own Bookshelf CD includes a tutorial in PDF format, along with the sounds and image files necessary to complete the activities in the tutorial. The package also contains a trouble shooting guide and a My Own Bookshelf Reader so that books that are created can be shared with others who do not have access to the program. The author contends that My Own Bookshelf is a quick and easy tool for developing a library of books that can be accessed through a variety of methods, as it allows for the use of a wide range picture and sound formats to accommodate individual preferences. Overall, the author rates the program an “A”.
Assistive Products Discussed: MY OWN BOOKSHELF
Published by: ConnSENSE (Connecticut's Special Education Network for Software Evaluation) (Website:http://www.connsensebulletin.com)
NEAT (New England Assistive Technology) Marketplace (Web Site: http://www.neatmarketplace.org )
A.J. Pappanikou Center for Developmental Disabilities (Web Site: http://www.uconnucedd.org )
Connecticut Tech Act Project (Web Site: http://www.cttechact.com )
