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Frequently Asked Questions
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... and Frequently Given Answers
What subjects does it cover?Study Star is an electronic notebook, just like an empty three-ring binder that you buy at the back-to-school sale. It comes with nothing in the notebook. You put everything into the notebook that you want to study. The more you type in, the more you learn.Study Star does come with some sample notes, currently:
What subjects is it good for?English, history, social studies, humanities, literature -- any subject that can be written about by writing text with an ordinary PC keyboard. There are no graphics or formula-editing functions, so formulas and diagrams are not supported, and thus mathematics and the quantitative sciences would be a challenge with Study Star. However, what Study Star teaches about how to read and study will carry over to math and science, and students using Study Star for some subjects will get benefits in other subjects as well.
Study Star is such a big program with so many features and options; how do I avoid being overwhelmed when I start?We strongly recommend that you select a subject to learn and have a textbook (or equivalent) for that subject in hand when you first start the program. Double click on the 'Tutorial' activity, and follow along with the tutorial, using the subject that you want to learn.Because the Study Star activities are based on content that you type in, you won't learn how to use the program effectively if you don't have interesting content to enter. We do provide a sample database of vocabulary words with Study Star. To get some idea of how the program works without entering any content, double-click on the 'Tutorial' activity, and then follow the vocabulary tutorial.
Do we include a word-processing program?No. There is not a full word-processor in Study Star. Our research indicates that almost every student already has a word-processing program that they know and love, so we do not duplicate that function within Study Star. When you use Study Star to write a paper, Study Star carries you as far as the preliminary rough draft; then you export the draft to finish the paper with your word-processor. Study Star also writes bibliographies and end notes in close to final form, but you should plan on using a separate word-processor to put finishing touches on those as well. If you don't have a word-processor, we can recommend several good ones that you can download free over the internet.Why use Study Star to write a paper instead of using a word-processor that includes outlining features?Look at what professional writers do: They spend much more time preparing to write than they spend on writing and re-writing. This pre-writing includes researching, organizing, planning, outlining, etc. And these are the steps that Study Star takes you through as you prepare a paper.Word-processing programs are great tools, but their features don't contribute much to pre-writing. When you are working on a paper with Study Star, you are working with facts, ideas, notes, etc -- you are not distracted by fonts, layout, graphics, margins, formats, indentation, spelling checkers, grammar checkers, or talking paper clips. Those word-processor features are valuable during the final steps of preparing a paper, but they are unimportant diversions and time-wasters while you are putting together the foundation of a solid paper by developing and organizing ideas. Use a good word-processing program for the final 15% of the time you spend writing a paper.
How much does it cost?A single-computer license costs $59.95.
Are there any discounts for quantity purchases?Yes. We are friends of education and want to help as many students as we can. We have special offers and incentives for schools and teachers, homeschool associations, and non-profit groups that support education. Contact sales@AblePlus.com for more information. |
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