Review: Graphics Toolbox

I've always admired all the fancy graphics that others have created. In an effort to be equally creative, I've played around with MS Paint, included on most Windows computers, and similar programs. After each session I've come to the same conclusion: I'm terribly inept and my learning curve for graphics programs is flat. I've long written off being a graphics guru in my future.

When I found out that the Crew would be reviewing Graphics Toolbox, a powerful graphics program, I was both excited and nervous. Graphics Toolbox is the brainchild of Lynda Holler. Lynda's background includes 25 years in the fashion industry, where she used a powerful software program for her work. A number of years ago, she realized that there was not a professional level graphics program that was both easy to use and affordable for the average user. Together with William Tsao, the developer of the software used in her fashion work, Lynda created Graphics Toolbox. The end result was a program with intuitive and creative graphics tools, added functions for new users, and an affordable price.

I am not in a position to discuss in detail how this program compares to other programs available to the average person. I simply do not have the technical knowledge nor experience working with other programs. Some of the links below may help those a bit more knowledgeable better determine how Graphics Toolbox may compare.

Introduction Video
Graphics Toolbox vs. Other Window Programs
Download User Manual

When I first opened the Graphics Toolbox program for this review, I was overwhelmed. Granted, I'm overwhelmed with any graphics program. However, some of the functions that I had become somewhat familiar with on other programs did not work the same on Graphics Toolbox. There were also a number of things that looked entirely new. After a few clicks, I took a deep breath and closed the program. Luckily, the Crew was also offered some training sessions by Lynda.

Both my 13-year-old daughter and I attended a 90-minute tutorial titled Bobby at the Great Wall of China, where Lynda showed us the basics of the program as well as how to create a fun school project by manipulating photos. This tutorial, among others, is available at the Graphics Toolbox website. After seeing the software in action, it didn't seem so intimidating. My daughter was thrilled to find a program that she could use to color her hand-drawn pictures on the computer. Shortly after the session, she scanned in one of her drawings and added color. After adding some texture to the color and creating borders and ribbons to match, the first project was done.


After the tutorial, I as able to get up to speed with the basic functions. There are a few functions that I really like about the program:

• the framing tool - various sized frames are provided to size out your final project. The rest of the space on the screen is used as a work area. Objects can be manipulated in the work area, and then applied inside the frame of the final project.

• colors - there are many color options and the ability to create your own color card. For example, users can bring in blog and website colors and create a color card for potential designs.

• zoom function - zooming in and out is as simple as placing your cursor over an area and rolling toward or away with the mouse's roller ball
  

• ribbons and fancy lines - many options for easy embellishments

Lynda suggested that it is best to have a particular project in mind to learn, rather than just playing around with the program. For me, I found that to be true.

Inspired by the tutorial, I decided to play around with some photographs. My son absolutely loves Legos and he's always taking pictures of his various creations. I came up with the idea to place him in one of his many Lego projects. Using the irregular framing tool, I clicked around the outside of the boat that he made. Next, I found a picture of my son. Using the same irregular framing tool, I cut him out of the background and then resized the image. Next, I placed him on the boat. The background was found at Google Images. I resized the background image into my frame and then moved the boat with my son from the workspace on top of the image.



I do not scrapbook, but I have no doubt that the ribbon and color options would appeal to those who do. Below is a display of several of my daughter's drawings by hand. All roughly the same original size, I scanned them directly into the program. I resized and rotated the top two drawings. For the frames, I selected from one of the many patterns available and then copied a color directly from the the drawing I was framing. Once I had my page how I wanted it, I chose the striped ribbon to frame all the drawings. The original ribbon color didn't match, so I again pulled colors directly from the drawings and used the change color function.


I have barely scratched the surface with this program. Now that I have a better understanding of the basic functions, I look forward to playing around with the program and using it more for both fun and educational projects.

Overall, this was a very fun program to use after getting over initially being overwhelmed. To give it a try for yourself, I recommend that you take advantage of the free, fully-functional, 30-day trial Before downloading, make sure you check the system requirements in the FAQ section of the website. I originally had this program on our older computer, and it ran too slow for my liking. However, I had no trouble after downloading to a different computer.

Graphics Toolbox retails for $149. For more ideas on how to use this program as well as find more information on its capability, visit the Graphics Toolbox website.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I was given the provided with the product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Christian Keyboarding

There is one skill I obtained in high school that I can't imagine not having today – typing. It is a skill I used through college and continue to use every day. It escapes me how anyone can efficiently use today's technology with the hunt-and-peck method. Typing continues to grow as an essential skill for today's student. Rather than wait until high school, many children now learn to type in the elementary years.

Christian Keyboarding is a supplier of keyboarding and word processing programs using the touch-typing method. For review, I was supplied with the e-book Keyboarding for the Christian School in both the elementary version and the middle school/high school version. The general structure of each version is the same, with the middle school/high school title containing extra lessons.

The lessons can be used either in a classroom or by individual homeschooling students. By the end of the program, the student will have learned all the characters of the keyboard as well as general formatting of word processing documents. Keyboard characters are introduced just two at time and learned through repetition. Regular review is built within the lessons.
Once the student has mastered enough characters, they further practice by typing timed Bible verses.

This is not a program that is meant to entertain. There are no cartoon characters, no games and no flashing screens. The method used is exactly how I learned in high school – through repetition and practice. While it may not be very entertaining, it is efficient, which is more important.

The main lessons are nearly identical for each version. The elementary version has more spacing and younger graphics (a keyboard and ladybug). If you have an older elementary student that will be ready to write reports soon, the older version will be a better value for you. The main differences are included below:

Keyboarding for the Christian School, Elementary
$12.95
87 pages
32 lessons
Includes lessons for all characters of the keyboard and timed tests. Word processing lessons on centering and enumerated lists are also included.




Keyboarding for the Christian School, Grades 6 and up
$15.95
107 pages
43 lessons
Includes lessons for all characters of the keyboard and timed tests. Also included are formatting and word processing lessons for the following: centering, enumerated lists, tab key, MLA reports, APA reports, cover page, works cited, bibliography, personal business letters, business letters, envelopes, proofreaders marks, and tables.

Both of my kids can type already, but they learned in very different ways. My oldest learned quickly and is an excellent typist. I think she could have learned to type with any program, this one included. This hasn't been the case with my youngest. My initial instinct was to use the popular typing software that worked for my daughter. She absolutely loved the program. However, it had zero appeal to my son; a true example of what works for one may not work for another. I then moved to a computer program that was geared more toward younger children. While he liked the games and enjoyed all the kid appeal, he wasn't learning to type.

I finally discovered that all the options, games, and animations of the computer-based programs were simply too distracting for my son to learn to type. My high school typing instructor didn't dance around the classroom and teach us games, so it obviously wasn't a necessary component to learning to type. In my son's case, it was actually a barrier. He needed a very systematic and repetitious program without any extras. I ended up seeking a traditional program similar to those provided by Christian Keyboarding. It worked! While still slow, he is now typing. I was not aware of Keyboarding for Christian Schools at the time of my search, but I imagine it would have been just as effective.

One advantage of this program over others of a similar format is the passages used for practice and timed tests. While “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," is great for practice, why not work on spiritual development at the same time? Verses are used in the lessons and both versions use passages from Psalms in the timed test section. I would have preferred that the Bible location would have been included with the scripture though. I also like that the program teaches basic word processing as well, rather than strictly typing.

If you are looking for a no-frills, Christian, and inexpensive typing program, Keyboarding for Christian Schools may fit your needs. Visit the Christian Keyboarding website for more information or to purchase. You will also find information on where to purchase a softcover text if that is your preference as well as sample lessons and freebies. Through February 28th, you can also get an additional $5 off your purchase of $12.95 with the code NewYear5.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Tektoma

Most times, we homeschoolers like to learn right along with our kids. Usually, it is one of the perks of homeschooling. There have been areas, however, where I've felt I either just didn't have room in my brain to learn or knew my kids would be better off getting a jump start with someone else to show them the ropes. Usually this involves something techy. Not that I don't like learning techy things, but my learning curve is rather flat in this area.

Do you have a gamer in your life? Are they interested in programming their own games? Is learning game design low on your list for brain stretching activities or just something of zero interest for you?

Tektoma, created by Tom Marx and Matilda O'Connor as an extension to their offline summer camps, is designed for wanna-be game programmers ages 7-17.

Tektoma offers members:

• Engaging video tutorials for ages 7-17
• Tutorials of varying skill levels and topics
• Learn at your own pace in the comfort of your home
• Natural progression helps develop technical skills
• Customize your learning experience
• Low monthly membership fee gives access to all our resources
• New curriculums available monthly

The video tutorials of this subscription website make use of the free Game Maker software. Six video tutorials, ranging in length from 1 - 2 1/2 hours, take students step-by-step through creation of a video game. There are also currently six shorter tutorials that teach individual components. To assist with learning, a forum is available to post questions about the tutorials and make requests for new tutorials. You can see a list and description of all the tutorials here. In addition to learning to create games, members are able to both download and share games created with Game Maker.

My son was initially excited about the 3-month subscription I was given for this review. He already enjoys playing video games and the thought of creating them on his own was certainly intriguing. While he started out with vigor, the tutorials were really too long to keep his interest. I think the combination of the attention required and the little details that go into creating a game, made the tutorials not a great fit for my son. His attention span is perfect for playing fast-paced games, but not so great for the detail and time required to create them.

Next, I had my almost-teen give a tutorial a try. She is a bit more techy and has put hours in creating websites. She isn't a big gamer though. She does like them enough to happily try out the site. She got quite a bit farther into the tutorial than my son before she lost interest. She had fun while trying it, but wasn't really motivated to work at it more.

One issue both of my kids had was they made a mistake somewhere during the tutorial and the game didn't work at the next step. Both of them did this in different areas and it was a stopping point for each. They could have easily gone back to watch the tutorial to find their mistake, but the novelty had worn off at that point. My son decided he'd rather play games or Legos and my daughter wandered off as well, likely to work on a website or less techy adventure in drawing or reading. When given the option for help in trouble shooting to complete the tutorial or to try a different one a week or so later, both declined.

My son had the initial interest, but not the attention span. My daughter had the attention span, but marginal interest. The next to try was one with marginal attention and zero interest, and might I add, zero skill- yours truly!

The tutorials are very easy to follow. Each step is explained and shown on screen. You do need to have Game Maker and the tutorial running at the same time. This means you either need to run one from a laptop while you work on another computer, or size the windows and switch back and forth. The latter was doable, but did require a lot of pausing of the tutorial to switch screens to perform the task. This made the time required to complete the already lengthy tutorial longer.

The tutorials are divided up in segments. It would be easy to watch just a few portions, save your game, and come back to it at a later time. This won't satisfy those that need instant gratification of a completed game, but would be a good solution for those with enough interest in the details, but who need shorter tutorial segments.

Tektoma was created in 2009 and is still developing. I liked that request for tutorials can be made on the Discussion Forum. While there doesn't appear to be much recent activity on the forums, previous discussions seemed to have reasonable responses for both help in programming and requests. The online support and interaction is a helpful feature for those that desire to take things a step further.

For our family, this wasn't a great fit. If you have a child interested or just starting out in gaming, Tektoma may be a perfect solution to getting them started with little effort on your part. It is not for the marginally interested nor the marginally attentive, however. The tutorials are easy to follow for those with both the attention and interest. The first 40-minutes of the racing game tutorial is available for preview. This would be an excellent way to determine a fit for your student. The resulting games are not the sophisticated games of today, but the focus isn't on the end result so much as it is the process. Those looking to work with Game Maker software and wanting some hand holding may get quite a bit out of a Tektoma subscription.

Tektoma is available for a $14.95/month or $140/year. This is a very inexpensive option to in-person tech courses, based on our personal participation in similar camps. There is also a 14-day free trial.* Visit the Tektoma website to learn more about the service or to obtain a subscription.

*To take advantage of the free trial, you must become a member and cancel within 14 days.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Web Design for Kids (...and Curious Grown-ups!)

Most kids today are pretty tech savvy. If they aren't, they certainly want to be. Unlike their parents, they've been immersed in the digital age of communication of clicking, Googling, emailing, and instant messaging. It is no wonder that kids who receive communication via the computer screen will want to send information that way as well. And what better way for kids to do this than create their own little piece of the web with their own website?

Web Design for Kids (...and Curious Grown-ups!) by Click-Drag Solutions teaches basic html in a step-by-step friendly manner. The DVD is broken down into 7 lessons, taught by
Brian Richardson, a middle school computer literacy teacher. By the end of the DVD, students and adults will have the knowledge to create a basic website, including scrolling text, colored backgrounds and pictures. No special software is needed; only Notepad and Internet Explorer, included with every Windows-based computer, are required.

Specific topics included in this 1 hour 22 minute DVD are:

• The 10 Basic Lines of Code
• Coloring the Background and Letters
• Making Letters Move Across the Screen
• Designer Backgrounds
• Changing Fonts
• Adding Pictures
• Bonus Chapter on File and Folder Management
  

The DVD presentation is intended for viewers to build a website as they watch, along with the two children on the DVD, while Mr. Richardson carefully explains each step with built-in review. If you have a laptop available, this is ideal. My son started watching the DVD on a TV screen but found that he had trouble reading the text on the screen. Playing the DVD on the desktop computer while using the laptop to build the page worked much better. A portable DVD player next to the computer would have the same results.

My son would pause and start the DVD as needed while completing the steps. Working along with the DVD kept him engaged and gave the instant gratification of each step that all boys love.

For most steps, Internet access is not needed. Finding background patterns, rather than solid colors, and pictures that aren't already located on your hard drive are the exceptions. Since our laptop doesn't have Internet access, I just had my son complete and save his basic website and we copied it to another computer when he had finished the lessons. At that point it was easy enough to add pictures and different backgrounds to his design.

I'll have to admit that my knowledge in the area is limited – very limited. It isn't because there is a lack of information, but quite the opposite. There is too much information. I've found very few products that have scaled the information back enough to be successfully used by a child (or curious adults!) just starting out. Not only are those thick html books intimidating to most, some just learn better visually and with an instructor. The hand-holding approach of Web Design for Kids (...and Curious Grown-ups!) is simple enough for even young elementary children to follow. The technical terms and steps are explained in a language that anyone can understand. Brian Richardson originally targeted this DVD for ages 10-adult, but after seeing younger kids use it and speaking to parents, has since lowered the bracket to age 8.

Kids that already have some html knowledge or who need a lot of bells and whistles in presentation may not have as much appreciation for this program. Flashing graphics, exciting sound effects, and snazzy dialogue are absent from this DVD. However, for my son, this was a positive. We actually own a DVD explaining html from a popular series that my son previously attempted to use as a learning tool. All the pizazz of the program was too distracting for him to learn. As a hands-on resource for learning basic html and to pique interest in website design for those just starting out, Web Design for Kids (...and Curious Grown-ups!) is effective.

My son's only complaint about Web Design for Kids (and Curious Grown-ups!) was that the children on the DVD sounded a bit scripted. While I don't disagree, it did not take away from the instruction. In addition, the kids in the DVD ask a lot of questions that may come up while your child is building their web page. Below is a segment of the DVD, which is representative of the style of each lesson.




Overall, the program was a good experience and a great way to make web design, a topic that often befuddles adults, less intimidating to kids. I was pleased that it helped with typing and writing skills, in addition to helping my son create his own little piece of the web. To see his creation, click here. Most everything needed to create this website was taught on the DVD. He is already talking about creating another website on a different topic.

Note: The DVD does not provide instructions on how to publish your website, but it will be available on an upcoming continuation of Web Design for Kids (and Curious Grown-ups!). In addition, the DVD does not show how to make links (as on the bottom of my son's page), but that was required in order to use the background my son selected. This, too, will be taught in the next DVD.

The retail price for Web Design for Kids (and Curious Grown-ups!) is $39.99. However, Click-Drag Solutions is currently offering a summer special price of $19.95 (plus $3.99 shipping and handling). Furthermore, Click-Drag donates a part of its proceeds to five different charities as a way to give back to the community. It is refreshing to see a small business giving back, especially at a time when many charitable organizations have seen a drop on donations. Visit the website to see a list of recipients or to purchase your copy of Web Design for Kids (and Curious Adults!).

To read more reviews on this product, visit the official TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons of how the product works for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

A Review of Let's Make a Web Page! by Motherboard Books

My daughter and I were having a conversation the other day and the topic of computers was brought up. I mentioned I went through my whole school career, even college, without owning a computer. With a wide-eyed look, I was asked, "But Mom, how did you write your papers? Did you write them all by hand?" I had to explain that sometimes I did, but I usually used a typewriter, which is recognizable thanks to the American Girl Kit movie. On occasion, I went to the campus computer lab or found a rare lucky friend that actually owned a computer. The whole idea of functioning without a computer was completely foreign to her.

If the conversation and reaction of amazement weren't so entertaining, I would have wallowed in my feelings of being downright old. I grew up in a time when a computer for school-aged children was a neat machine where you learned to program how to scroll your name. However, my 11-year-old can't imagine life without a computer or internet access. Furthermore, computers are now a necessity for her and my son's future and it is my job to educate them on their use - without school computer labs and tech-savvy teachers. What a relief to have discovered Motherboard Books!

Motherboard Books, owned by Phyllis Wheeler, addresses the need for computer instruction for children learning at home through a variety of computer science instructional offerings. Let's Make a Web Page! is at 60-page ebook targeted at children ages 8-12. Upon completion of the ten short lessons, the user will have designed a web page complete with links, custom background, animations, sounds and photos. The final product will be ready to upload to the internet to a hosting site. Alternatively, the web page can be set as the home page of a browser, making a local website viewable only to those using that computer.

Let's Make a Web Page! has clear and simple instruction, directed mostly towards the child. An introduction to the parent discusses the course requirements, internet safety and CoffeeCup, the 30-day free trial software needed for the lessons. In Lesson 1, the student is started off with an assignment to interview someone and write about it as a topic for their website. Chapters and topics are:

Introduction for Parents
Lesson 1: An Interview
Lesson 2: Download and Set Up the Program
Lesson 3: Add Text
Lesson 4: Make a Table
Lesson 5: Add Photo
Lesson 6: From the Internet, Add Animations
Lesson 7: Browser Check, Backgrounds, Photos
Lesson 8: Sound
Lesson 9: Links
Lesson 10: Post Your Work
Appendix: How to Upload to the Internet

Kid Perspective

My daughter has been toying around with html and website creation for about a year now. Most of her experience has been using free hosting sites with templates, but her real desire is to start a business and have a custom web page. Her excitement to try out this ebook was no surprise. Because she already had a purpose for her site, the interview portion was changed to a product description complete with a photo. Because her product involves buttons, she even took a photo of buttons, learned to modify it with a photo editor, and used it for her background. The resulting basic web page looked impressive.

When asked what she thought, she had the following to say:

• easy to use
• clear step-by-step instructions
• helpful dialog boxes and screen shots
  
• liked how the lessons were broken down
• lots of information

She had no negative comments. Even though she has experience with the internet, she learned quite a bit. "I didn't know websites were just folders with files in them," was one comment. The basic knowledge learned will be a great building block for further exploration and understanding to build more complicated pages.

Mom Perspective

Aside from the great-looking end product, I was pleased with the content, instruction, and ease of use of this ebook.

I really appreciated the portions on internet safety and the prompts to request help from a parent for certain steps. Internet safety should be a concern for any parent and Phyllis Wheeler was sure to address this topic. Also, it isn't assumed that the user has much computer knowledge, yet the instructions are not so remedial that those who do are irritated. Young children, and tech-challenged moms, can follow the steps to success. My 11-year-old was able to use this ebook completely independently. I intend to try it out with my 9-year-old, who will probably need a little help but will likely be able to do much on his own.

The ebook can be used again as a manual to create more web pages, making this a resource that will be referenced again. Suggestions are made on how to continue making pages without buying software once the CoffeeCup trial expires. There is no need to print this product since all the work is done on the computer and switching from ebook to software is convenient. Let's Make a Web Page will be used as a guide for more web pages in our household.

If you have a student that is wanting to explore web design but needs a safe and simple way to learn, Let's Make a Web Page! is a great introduction and can currently be purchased from Motherboard Books for $19.99 (reg. $29.99). If you are not completely satisfied, Motherboard Books stands by all of its products with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Be sure to check out the other computer science programs also available.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's Official Blog for more reviews on this product!