MyAra vs StepsWeb

MyAra is Ara Institute of Canterbury’s student app, providing quick and easy access to everything you need to make the most of your Ara experience. The app works seamlessly with the MyAra website, providing the same tiles and information. The app requires you to have a current Ara student login. Features include: • The ability to personalise your dashboard by moving, hiding and changing the colours of tiles • Easy access to your student email • Quick access to your Moodle course material • Easily check your student timetable • Quickly check your attendance record • Keep up to date with campus events • Search library resources and keep track of what books you have on loan • A large knowledge base of content to help you while studying at Ara

StepsWeb is a web-based literacy software programme for learners of all ages from 6 years to adult. It covers all key aspects of literacy and language development and covers the processing skills involved in literacy as well as the ‘knowledge’ aspects. StepsWeb provides a structured, cumulative approach to literacy, which encompasses and develops the five key elements often referred to as the Five Big Ideas in Beginning Reading (USA National Reading Pane, 2000). These are: phonological awareness, phonic knowledge, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. StepsWeb is a well-designed computer programme which can reinforce many of the core foundation skills and knowledge. It is intended to be supplemented with ‘real book’ reading, discussion, direct instruction and opportunities for the learner’s own ideas to be expressed (both verbally and in written form). As such, supporting resources such as workbooks are also available. StepsWeb provides a considerable amount of additional reinforcement which learners need to develop true automaticity. This is done in a structured and cumulative fashion, but still in a way which provides variety and enjoyment.