Write better student references and save time

Do you need Reference for Teachers?
As a final year class teacher are you required to write an end of year reference for all of the students in your class? Is this a duty which you prefer to put off because it is repetitive, time consuming and just plain boring? Would you like to be able complete these references in much less time and finish with a well structured and well written reference in a word processor?

Are you a school administrator or year twelve coordinator who supervises the reference writing procedure? If so you must be concerned about the variation in the standard of the references written by different teachers. The employment prospects of your students are linked to these references, and they should not be unfairly affected because their class teacher writes short references. You may also be concerned about the large amount of clerical time taken up by this process.

Reference for Teachers offers both the class teacher and the administrator a unique solution to these problems. When used by a school for all graduating students, Reference for Teachers moderates the references written by reducing the variations caused by different teacher preferences and writing styles. The completed references are grammatically correct and are already in a word processor, saving most of the clerical time previously required

Why did I write Reference for Teachers?
About fifteen years ago I was Deputy Principal of a Senior Secondary School which had about 240 final year students each year. These students were in about 15 classes of 14 to 18 students. Student references were an important part of a "School Leaver's Statement" which the school was required to provide for all students. Supervision of the preparation of this statement was part of my duties. I knew all of the students and I noticed variations in the length and quality of the references written by different teachers for students of similar standard.

I decided in the following year to work with the class teachers as they wrote the references. In order to do this efficiently, I developed a set of about seven different sample references (on a Commodore 64 computer!) and asked the class teachers to choose which of these best suited each of the students in their class. I then worked with the teacher editing reference was to fit the student and typing in the student name and all of the personal pronouns. . This took a lot of time and resulted in too many very similar references, but the result was much better than before.

As the PC improved and I developed word processor merging and quick basic programming skills I saw the opportunity to do something much better and started the development of Reference for Teachers. I am proud of the final program which achieves much more than I originally believed it could.

How does Reference for Teachers work?
The program is set up so that a references consists of up to ten linked sentences. Each sentence can have up to ten variations. You initially enter a few data items about each student like name, class, gender, sports and clubs. The program then shows you the full set of variations to the first sentence with the students details and the correct personal pronouns inserted.

You select the most suitable variation and a single click adds your selection to the reference. You see what you have written so far and you are invited to move to the next sentence. You can omit a sentence or go back if you are not sure that you have selected the best sentence. When you have finished a reference you should edit it in a word processor so that it exactly fits the particular student.

If you use all ten sentences you could use the program to write ten billion different references. I have found that seven sentences are enough - reducing the variations to ten million.

How can I learn to use Reference for Teachers?
Reference for Teachers is a shareware program which you pay for by registering with Marino Software. You can download the full program free of charge, install it easily on any windows 95 capable or later computer and use it up to 30 times prior to registration.

You receive a set of ten variations of seven sentences which will allow you to start producing your references in a few minutes. However we expect that you will want to alter the sentences to suit your particular style.

Before you pay you can not include your own name or the school's name in the reference, edit the references in a word processor or alter the reference sentences. These features become available to you when you have paid for registration

Click here to download

How much does Reference for Teachers cost
Your teacher registration costs AUD34.95 (USD19.95) and allows you personal use of Reference for Teachers in any school. Alternatively your school can buy a site licence for Reference for Teachers for AUD 139.80. This site licence allows every teacher at the school to use the program while at that school.

As a registered user you will receive free updates and email support for 12 months and I will provide support as long as you want to continue using the program. If you register the program and then later your school buys a site licence your registration fee will be refunded to you.

For a personal order you can register using the secure card facilities at Software for Schools. You can print an order form from that site, add credit card details and fax it or and mail it to us with a cheque. Schools are most welcome to use school purchase orders. We will supply you registration code within 48 hours. Click here to order

Overseas customers can order through Register Now, Softshop or UK shareware All provide secure credit card facilities

Please order site licences through Software for Schools and quote your school purchase order number on the form. You can fax the school purchase order to 61 8 8358 0378. If faxing include an email address