Our new software programme, Steps, is specifically designed to reinforce both First Steps and Steps to Literacy. It contains all of the lists already, together with a set of exercises and games which children just need to work through. In addition, there is a General bank, which contains a ready-made literacy course, which a learner can work through if they are not following either of the workbook courses. It also contains extra wordlists which teachers can ‘dip into’. This includes word lists covering word families, spelling patterns or rules, and high frequency lists. There is also the facility to add your own lists, so the programme can be used to reinforce any spelling list or literacy resource.
Steps comes in three different editions. Home is designed for parents, Tutor is designed for tutors, and Network is designed for schools. The table below outlines the differences between the three options.
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Home
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Tutor
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Network
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Users
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5
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Unlimited
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Unlimited
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Shared
database
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no
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no
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yes
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CD required
to run
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yes
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yes
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no
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License
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One off purchase
for one computer
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One off purchase
for one computer
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Annual license for unlimited
computers within one site
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Cost
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$140 (incl GST)
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$180 (incl GST)
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$340pa (incl GST)
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Demo
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Windows Download
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see Network demo*
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Windows Download**
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* Due to the limitations of the Demos, a Tutor demo would end up having the same functionality as the Network demo. Therefore if you would like to trial the Tutor edition then please download the Network demo.
** The Network demo is limited to the local computer only and does NOT share databases.
Screenshots
Will it work on my computer?
If you are running Windows then you can download the compatibility tester and try running that. If that works fine then your computer will be able to run Steps. If it doesn't, please contact our tech support for advice on how to make it work.
Steps is made for the following operating systems: Windows XP (Pro and Home), Windows Vista (All flavours), Windows 7 (All flavours) OS10.4, OS10.5, and OS10.6.
Manual
Click here to access the latest copy of the manual.
Last updated: 18-06-2010
Patching
All three editions of Steps will be updated periodically. To check if you need an update, compare the version number in your Steps with the one written below; if your version is lower than the one on the website then an update is available. In the Home edition, your version number is written in the top left of the program when you first open Steps. In the Network and Tutor edition, it is written in the top right. The patches are different for each edition so be sure to get the right one.
To install a patch, click on the link and download it to your computer. Open the file once you have finished downloading and the rest will be done for you. Please backup your database before attempting this process.
This process may be different for Network users so please consult your IT administrator before installing a patch.
Windows
Home
Version: 1,2,3
Notes: View
Download: Here
Tutor
Version: 1,2,3
Notes: View
Download: Here
Network
Version: 1,2,3,2
Notes: View
Download: Here if you are using the preloader.
Download: Here if you are not using the preloader.
(Note: The preloader is the application that opens up before Steps. By default it is turned on.)
Mac
Network
Version: 1,2,3
Notes: View
Download: Here in Zip format.
Instructions are included inside the Zip file.
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Sign up to be emailed when new patches come out.
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FAQ
If you have any questions that are not covered here then our tech support will be happy to help.
 What is the default administrator password for Steps?
The default password is 'steps'.
Is the license code upper or lower case?
The license code is entirely lower case to make it easier to distinguish between a '1' and an 'l'.
How many computers does the Tutor Edition license cover?
You can install and run the Tutor Edition on one computer. The Tutor Edition can handle an infinite number of student profiles.
How many computers does the Network Edition license cover?
You can install the Network Edition on as many computers as you'd like inside the purchasing institution. The Network Edition can handle an infinite number of student profiles. Each separate site requires its own license.
Can we run the Network Edition client directly from the server?
We've had reports that this makes Steps run very slowly. We'd suggest installing Steps Network on every computer and only keeping the database on your server.
The Steps installer gets to a certain percent and then stalls.
Try copying the Steps_installer.exe from the CD to your computer and then run it.
Is Steps Mac compatible?
Yes, Steps is now compatible with Mac OS10.4, OS10.5 and OS10.6. It works on both PowerPC and Intel.
I have the Network Edition and am unsure if I want the preloader patch or the other one, help?
Network users will nearly always want the preloader patch. We offer the other patch just in case the computers don't have access to the registry or have no write access to the folder Steps is installed to. If you are still unsure which one to download then send us an email with a description of the way Steps has been set up and we can tell you which one to download.
If you do install the other patch then you'll need to install it on every computer running the Steps client.
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