CDs, CD–ROMs & DVDs
Dr. D offers summaries, reviews, and opinions
by
Richard Driscoll
Ratings
☼☼☼☼☼
Strong
anxiety reduction, confirmed grade gains, supporting research.
☼☼☼☼
Solid
anxiety reduction expected, some supporting research.
☼☼☼
Some
benefits expected but unconfirmed.
☼☼
A
pleasant experience.
☼
Unclear
how anyone would benefit.
☼☼☼+
Recorded Systematic
Desensitization
Systematic
desensitization is a standard method to reduce test anxiety, with solid
benefits. Recorded versions produce about 55% of the gains, and are
rated here as moderately beneficial. Any psychologist familiar with the systematic desensitization
protocol should be able to produce an audio-taped version, suitable for use in
your school program.
Note on hypnotherapy methods. Reluctantly, we must flag an unfortunate goblin
awaiting. Hypnotherapy products may not be suitable for grade schools, which
must consider parental support and cannot afford
misunderstandings. These materials are better suited for purchase by colleges
or by
individual students.
☼☼☼+
test-taking
talented, too.
$32.00
on tape, $36 on CD + 4.00 s&h
by
Glenn Johnson, Ph.D., Head-Cleaners, LLC.
Review: The
recording is oddly the weirdest and also the most intriguing of the trance
induction, relaxation, and confidence improvement products. The
presentation is a duet and joint venture between two voices, both the same
baritone, conveying the same message, almost in synchrony but with just enough
variation to tickle your curiosity and hold your attention. The dual
voices create a bilateral stimulation, which some considered beneficial
in itself. Oh, should I mention the invisible surges of white noise that
begin on one side of your brain, pass through the middle and fade out on the
other side?
Personal lessons are presented as
questions or puzzlements, rather than as straightforward suggestions, furthering
the sense of awe but perhaps weakening the actual impact. The sequences include imagined practice scenes, which are
found to improve trance benefits. The absence of a strong anxiety inhibitor
makes the recording more suitable for the moderately anxious than those with
truly high anxiety bordering on panic.
The
website notes that most individuals will benefit from just one or two
listenings. We would love to see some initial findings on just how much
benefit it provides, for how what percentage of anxious students.
See
further information or purchase the recording.
☼☼☼+
Test-Taking
Success, CD, $17.95
+ $4.50 s&h
by
Dr. Steven Gurgevich, Transformation Works (Healing with Hypnosis Series)
Review: Gurgevich comes
highly recommended by holistic guru Andrew Weil, perhaps for good reason.
Gurgevich provides an excellent relaxation and trance induction, followed by
suggestions that you will feel confidence and clarity, and that your mind will
produce the right answers and that you may actually enjoy the test-taking
experience. You imagine taking tests with your new positive attitude,
and the mental rehearsal adds to the
benefits.
The instructions suggest that you listen to the CD
twice a day for a month, and then occasionally after that, which is a squeeze in
our modern go-go, rush-rush lifestyle. Gurgevich recognizes time
limitations, and suggests you use the CD several times and then before a
big test, and also at bedtime to improve sleep.
As above, the absence of a strong anxiety
inhibitor may make the CD more appropriate for those with moderately high anxiety than for those
bordering on panic. And
again, while hypnosis protocols with practice images are shown produce solid benefits, it would be good to see some
research on this particular CD.
See further
information or to purchase the CD (go
to 3rd page)
☼☼☼–
Test
Anxiety Prevention. $24.95
by
Howard Rosenthal, Brunner-Routledge
Review: While
the CD is specifically for counselors facing licensing exams, the suggestions
can be used by anyone. Some of the preparation tips are quite sensible
(such as be on time), although others are more demanding and flash by too
quickly.
The relaxation section is brief but satisfactory. Rosenthal presents several test preparation and test taking scenes, and makes
good use of positives suggestions that you will feel confident and well-prepared
throughout. The suggestion that you will feel especially relaxed during your
tests may be somewhat unrealistic, as even the most proficient test-takers tend
to be wound tight going into a major exam.
Purchase
the CD
☼☼+
No More Test Anxiety, Book and
CD,
$17.95
by
Ed Newman, Ph.D., Learning Skills
Publications
Review: The CD has 40+ minutes of conscious
breathing, deep relaxation, and mellow experience. I found the experience
quite pleasant, but must add that relaxation by itself is one of the more modest
anxiety reduction protocols. Relaxation is temporary, and students are anxious again in the actual testing
situations.
The last tract is a 20 minute trance induction, which is
also pleasant and might be beneficial. Trance states can be highly
beneficial, but primarily when used to promote
positive attitude changes toward the tests.
The book itself provides familiar information in a
satisfactory manner.
We would hope that some of the
comfort of this
pleasant CD might show up amid the high stress of
important exams.
See
further
information or purchase the Book & CD
☼
TestEdge
Interactive Learning Program, CD-ROM,
$59.00
by
Brian Kabaker, Institute
of HeartMath
Review: The publisher claims the CD
produces clear
performance improvements, but provides no supporting reference. So, if a
CD claims to do a double back flip into the middle of a lake but nobody sees it, does it
make a splash?
I expected the interactive format to identify your individual
problems, and to then tailor the instructions to those problems . Instead, the format has you write in your problems, but then
trudges along its set path and ignores your answers.
The technical quality of the CD is
excellent. Yet the instructional material itself is pedantic and
repetitious, and lacks the memorable illustration to bring it to life
and hold your interest. If you find yourself bored, find solace in
the supposed lesson: You are to learn that your boredom is caused not by the boring
CD itself,
as it might seem, but by your own reactions to the boring CD.
Observe as closely as you wish, and listen intently. We doubt that the TestEdge
CD will
make much of a splash. At $59, it is a stack of clams
for not much nutrition.
Oh, dear. Visitors, beware. Too late, we now find
out that HeartMath spams its customers.
See further
information or purchase the CD-ROM
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