Summer 1997 EMC 598-Math/Science
Software Reviews

Reviews:
[A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z]

Software Name: Alaskan Trek
Type: Simulation, Tutorial,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science

Summary: Alaskan Trek is a CD ROM, mac and windows program designed for children ages 6-10 (although I had major difficulty operating it). It teaches about plants and animals of Alaska through a variety of excellent exploration simulations, unfortunately it is so user unfriendly that anyone with no patience would give up immediately. I'm not sure all the applications are very relevant to real-life. They may just be some way of incorporating other disciplines into this integrated unit. I would nor recommend purchasing this software unless you were doing a unit on Alaska and had money to burn.

Reviewer: Jenn Parcell

Software Name: Alaskan Trek
Type: Game, Reference,
Audience: Teachers,
Subject: Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science

Summary: Zurks Alaskan Trail is a Macintosh or Windows program. It is run directly off of the CD ROM drive but a portion of the material will need to be downloaded onto the harddrive. The software serves as a wonderful resource for information pertaining to the way of life Alaskans must lead. It has activities that also address mathematic and scietific situations that a discoverer might face. The most significant weakness is the slow rate at which it responds to the users requests. The greates stregth is the unbelievable amount of information that is available to the user. I strongly recommend that this software be used primarily as a research material.

Reviewer: Tamara L. Campbell

Software Name: Animals In Danger
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Life Science

Summary: Animals In Danger moderately helps students understand national standards for life science. Applications of these standards through interactive situations is not apparent. Only QuickTime footage involves the students in real-life situations, which could be found through many other media forms. A quiz is provided, but resembles a drill and practice form. The feedback moderately helps the students reach the correct answer. Overall, Animals In Danger is a valuable resource for research and reference purposes, but does not engage the students in a productive mindtool application.

Reviewer: Jolene Barresi

Software Name: Animals in Danger
Type: Reference,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Animals in Danger is a CD-ROM for Macintosh and PC users. This software is intended for elementary K-6 students. I believe all grade levels can benefit from this program. The subject areas are mainly science and social studies, but other subject areas can also be integrated. Strengths include great pictures and slide shows, a self test section, and many easy to read and follow links. The weaknesses included not much for students to do or interact with, more of a reference type of material. I know my students enjoy learning about animals and I would use this program in my classroom.

Reviewer: Suzanne Munguia

Software Name: Animals in Danger
Type: Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: REMedia's Animals in Danger is intended for either student or teacher reference. It focuses on explaining facts about different animals in danger and offers pictures of each. Overall, I thought it had good information, but was not challenging or motivational. I would use this software for research information only.

Reviewer: Marci Turner

Software Name: Apple eMate 300
Type: Word Processing, Integrated Package, Spreadsheet,
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Parents, All Levels of students,
Subject: All Curriculum Areas

Summary: The Apple eMate 300 is Apple Computer's latest edition of the Newton operating system. This hardware device is made to take the beating from students when in transition from class to class or home to school. The user is able to participate in word processing and graphing. The eMate docks to a Macintosh for printing, faxing, and emailing. This $800 unit is a solid but limited alternative to a lap top computer. Especially helpful for elementary students who tend to be rough on hardware.

Reviewer: Jennifer Boos

Software Name: Apple eMate 300
Type: Word Processing, Teacher Utility, Spreadsheet, Graphics Generation, Telecommunications,
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Parents, All Levels of students,
Subject: All

Summary: The Apple eMate is a good piece of hardware. It is basically a calculator/word processor/spreadsheet/graphics in one. All subjects and people can use this hardware. It is a good piece of hardware that does many things. It's only weakness is the glare on the screen. It needs to be adjusted frequently. If it is used to it's full potential, it's worth the money.

Reviewer: Eric A. Carmack

Software Name: Biology Science Master
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Integrated Package, Teacher Utility,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: The biology science master is a good software program for high school biology classes. It is very detailed oriented and does provide quizes to test information or subject area knowledge.

Reviewer: Mike Miller

Software Name: Chemaid
Type: Drill and Practice, Database, Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Chemistry/Science

Summary: Chemaid is is a database of information which is put into a drill and practice format within a game atmosphere. This program can be used with middle school students in the Chemistry or Science curriculum. Chemaid helps students learn the periodic table of elements by combining games like hangman to give clues to the right element. There is supposed to be sound, however I didn't notice any. There is no color and no animation. Therefore, I feel that this was a good program in 1993, but it is too primitive for the students of today. I feel that the students would get bored with it easily. Overall, I would not recommend this program to be used as anything other than something to collect dust in a cabinet, just as it is right now. However, when I was using the program, I got a disk error. When I called the company, Ventura Educational Systems, they were more than happy to send me out new disks when I told them mine were corrupted. So, if this company has new programs, I at least know that they have good customer support in their company.

Reviewer: Chris Lannin

Software Name: Chemistry Science Master
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Integrated Package, Teacher Utility,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: The chemistry science master is an excellent high school chemistry software program. This program has a detailed outline of all the subject areas covered in a high school chemistry class. There is also a section that has quizes. I really liked the software's use of scientific tables.

Reviewer: Mike Miller

Software Name: Classroom Publisher
Type: Teacher Utility,
Audience: Teachers, Administrators,
Subject: Classroom Helper

Summary: Classroom Publisher is a great piece of software to help a teacher in his/her classroom. It is useful for making cards, certificates, mid-term reports, posters, and banners. The part I really liked about it was that it has many, many templates and clip arts that are geared towards school. The program seems pretty user-friendly and the is always a guardian angel looking out for you to help you along your journey. If you need help, or the program knows something you don't, a guardian angel/helper screen pops up for you to read. I think teachers could have lots of fun creating for their classes on this program and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for such a tool. The only thing I must caution you on is: the package does not come with extra time to add to your already busy schedule as a teacher to play with this program.

Reviewer: Chris Lannin

Software Name: Cosmic Osmo
Type: Game,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: N/A

Summary: This program is a game that takes the user on a tour of a fictitious solar system. The user meets aliens along the way. This program is merely for fun, it has no real educational value. It does have funny segments and I can see how it might be fun for parents and their children to play it together. Overall, I was not impressed with this program. I found it to be slow and boring with no real content.

Reviewer: Pamela Nelson

Software Name: Cosmo Osmo
Type: Game,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students,
Subject: Exploring

Summary: This is an exploratory game that is intended to allow students to direct their own learning. It has cute graphics, but I felt the vocabulary might be above this grade level.

Reviewer: Carrie McCune

Software Name: Cosmic Osmo
Type: Simulation,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science fiction, creative writing

Summary: Cosmic Osmo is a simulation where kids can explore a fictitious solar system. It does not contain any actual facts for space research. It could be used for creative writing during a space unit. Kids K-5 will find it fun and interesting.

Reviewer: Nicole Moran

Software Name: Counting on Frank
Type: Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: Counting on Frank is a CD-ROM adventure game published by EA Kids. This software was designed after the children's book "Counting on Frank". Students are lead to a general store where a jelly bean guessing contest is taking place. The student is to search through various locations to find clues to the number of jelly beans in the jar. The students earn these clues by answering mathematical questions correctly. The user is able to choose the difficulty level of the problems. I believe that the student spends more time searching for clues than actually answering problems and using math. Students will love it but it is maybe not the best use of time in the classroom. The graphic's are wonderful also!

Reviewer: Jennifer Boos

Software Name: DataWonder
Type: Spreadsheet,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Any subject that can use graphs and charts

Summary: DataWonder produced by Addison-Wesley, the text publishing company, is a spreadsheet program that allows the user to incorporate graphs and charts along with text reports. I found the program to be difficult to load and confusing to use. The manual and the on-screen help were of little value. I can see no reason to spend money on this product.

Reviewer: Chet Rosenberg

Software Name: Dinosaur Adventure
Type: Game, Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Dinosaur Adventure offers a dinosaur story book, many reference pages and two games, all dealing with dinosaurs. The graphics and sound are decent but the background music never stops playing and it can get annoying. This software rarely does not get the student actively involved, but instead encourages passive learning.

Reviewer: Nicole Moran

Software Name: Dinosaur Hunter
Type: Reference,
Audience: K-2 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Dinosaur Hunter is a CD-ROM for Macintosh computers. The audience is aimed towards children of primary ages. This CD-ROM covers the subject areas of science and social studies. The strengths include detailed graphics, great slide shows, and good references about dinosaurs. The weaknesses include low participation for students, no navigator control, and hard to get along in the program. This CD-ROM is full of good information about dinosaurs if you can figure out how to get around in the program.

Reviewer: Suzanne Munguia

Software Name: Dinosaur Hunter
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Game, Graphics Generation, Telecommunications,
Audience: Teachers, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject:

Summary: Dinosaur Hunt is an interactive simulation of a detailed dinosaur museum published by Dorling Kindersley Multimedia. This software is appropriate for teachers or students. It is easily navigated with clear directions. The information level is not advanced making detailed information nonexistent. However, it contains links to the internet to further exploration. You also have the capability to download movies or graphics. There is a substantial amount of text to read, so the weak reader would have trouble with this software. There are exhibits to explore, movies and pictures to see, and games to play. You can easily access any dino or topic with the index guide. The disc and a small informational book and dinosaur model come to you for about $70.

Reviewer: Kim Williams

Software Name: Dinosaur Hunter
Type: Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Dinosaur Hunter is a CD-ROM for Macintosh that allows you to go back to look at the different eras and were each dinosaur lived Strengths: Graphics. Great pictures of dinosaurs and fossils. Also provided a lot of great information. Weaknesses: It was difficult to move around within the program, and there was very little access to help. Overall impression: Not a strong one, but the program does have interesting graphics.

Reviewer: Kevin Rapps

Software Name: Dinosaur Hunter
Type: Reference,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Science/Social Studies

Summary: Dinosaur Hunter is a very graphic CD Rom intended for primary and intermediate students studying Dinosaurs. I was impressed with the graphics but was rather disappointed trying to navigate through the program with ease. It did provide vast information on specific species of dinosaurs. It would be an excellent reference of science content!

Reviewer: Susan Alcaraz

Software Name: Encarta Encyclopedia 97
Type: Game, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Parents, All Levels of students,
Subject: Reference Software

Summary: This was an interesting piece of software that could be used for research or just for fun. The pictures are wonderful and it also included games for people to play. Most of the topics were picture-clickable so I think even young children could use it. The only weakness that I found was that it did seem to be picture oriented and offered very little text. This would be a drawback if you were using it for research.

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Summary: Encarta '97 is a CD-ROM encyclopedia. Strengths: Excellent graphics and sound/video quality. Weaknesses: Having to switch between the 2 CD's proved to be very irritating. Overall impression: This is a very high quality encyclopedia, and I would purchase it myself, as long as I had plenty of memory so it would move quickly.

Reviewer: Kevin Rapps

Software Name: Encyclopedia of Science
Type: Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science is a multimedia program featuring scientific and mathematical information and problems. Using a CD-ROM, the program has excellent graphics and sound. Start-up screen did not help me navigate the program. Unless you had a specific idea or interest there was little to pull me in to using the software. It was intelligent but boring.

Reviewer: Chet Rosenberg

Software Name: Encyclopedia of Space and the Universe
Type: Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Eye Witness' Encyclopedia of Space and the Universe is intended for either student or teacher reference. It focuses on giving textual and graphic information to the user in the areas of space travel, living in space, and space technology. The information is excellent, but it is not challenging or motivational at all and tends to become boring.

Reviewer: Marci Turner

Software Name: Eyewitness Photo Gallery
Type: , Clip art
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, All Levels of students,
Subject: Art and Science

Summary: The Photo Gallery is a CD that can be used for both Macintosh and PC. Strengths: Very clear photos on white backgrounds for use anywhere. Can make stationary and make background wallpaper for PC's Weakness: Takes up a lot of space. Not a large variety of photos, especially wild cats. Overall impression: Very good. Can be used for a variety of tasks. If you had plenty of memory it would be a good program, if you don't have a lot of memory, don't bother.

Reviewer: Kevin Rapps

Software Name: Eyewitness Space
Type: Simulation, Game, Graphics Generation, Telecommunications,
Audience: Teachers, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Astronomy

Summary: Eyewitness Space in an interactive simulation of the Planets and other space objects published by Dorling Kindersley Multimedia. This software is appropriate for teachers or students. It is easily navigated with clear directions. The information level is not advanced making detailed information nonexistent. However, it contains links to the internet to further exploration. You also have the capability to download movies or graphics. There is a substantial amount of text to read, so the weak reader would have trouble with this software. The disc and a small informational book come to you for about $70.

Reviewer: Kim Williams

Software Name: EyeWitness Virtual Cat
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Virtual Cat is a tutorial type of software which guides you through a huge database of information. It is in the form of a CD and can either be loaded onto your hard drive or played directly from the CD. I would recommend this program for 6-12th grades as a discovery tool for science classes. This program was created in 1996, so it is up-to-date and utilizes the current technology. You can either go on a guided virtual tour of the museum or you can wander around on your own. Once you are in the museum, you can click on virtual movies, pick up objects to examine them closer, or click on sound bits to hear what the animal sounds like. I think the neatest function of the program is that you can download the sounds or pictures that you like to use wherever you want. I would recommend this piece of software, especially if you love cats like I do.

Reviewer: Chris Lannin

Software Name: Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science
Type: Tutorial, Integrated Package, Teacher Utility,
Audience: Teachers, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Math and Science

Summary: The software is called Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science. The format is CD-Rom. It is intended for 6th grade and up. The intended subjects are math and science. This is a good program. It has a lot of information to give. It's weakness is finding out how to make it work. One needs to test things out.

Reviewer: Eric A. Carmack

Software Name: EyeWitness Virtual Cat
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Virtual Cat is a tutorial type of software which guides you through a huge database of information. It is in the form of a CD and can either be loaded onto your hard drive or played directly from the CD. I would recommend this program for 6-12th grades as a discovery tool for science classes. This program was created in 1996, so it is up-to-date and utilizes the current technology. You can either go on a guided virtual tour of the museum or you can wander around on your own. Once you are in the museum, you can click on virtual movies, pick up objects to examine them closer, or click on sound bits to hear what the animal sounds like. I think the neatest function of the program is that you can download the sounds or pictures that you like to use wherever you want. I would recommend this piece of software, especially if you love cats like I do.

Reviewer: Chris Lannin

Software Name: Exploring the Nardoo
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Many a' many

Summary: The software is called, "Exploring the Nardoo". It is CD-Rom format. It is intended for students of 6th grade and up. It is intended for science. The software gives examples of what could happen to a river if different things happen to it. The program does well at explaining what could happen and tries to scare people to a certain degree.

Reviewer: Eric A. Carmack

Software Name: Exploring the Nardoo
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science/Social Studies

Summary: Multimedia's Exploring the Nardoo was a river research simulation. It seemed to have good information, but was difficult to navigate and understand the concept of the river visit. Overall, I liked the concept, but the directions need to be improved!

Reviewer: Marci Turner

Software Name: Fizz & Martina at Blue Falls High
Type: Simulation, Problem Solving
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: Fizz & Martina at Blue Falls High, a laser disk program from Tom Snyder Productions is an excellent tool for teaching middle school students to work word problems in a cooperative setting. This title indicates that it is intended for grades 3-4, but I used it very successfully with an accelerated 6th grade. The program's greatest strength is that it is highly motivational, students want to know what happens to Fizz & Martina. In fact, my students wanted to use the remaining three titles in the series so much that they volunteered to hold a bake sale to finance the $600 cost of the series! The series utilizes the NCTM standards extensively. It also teaches general skills of careful observation, note-taking, communication and problem-solving, and sorting relevant data. It made it much easier for my students to move into the algebraic logic that is necessary for them to develop algebra readiness. These students had far less trouble with the units on reading and writing algebraic sentences as 7th graders than any of my previous students.

Reviewer: Margaret Duffy

Software Name: The Graph Club
Type: Simulation, Teacher Utility, Reference, Student Utility
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students,
Subject: Math and integrated curriculum

Summary: The Graph Club is a student utility program that can help elementary school students understand graphs and create their own graphs. Students can collect data in many ways and use this program to communicate the information through all types of graphs. This software support materials provides teachers with a lot of motivational graphing activities that allow students to be creative and work at their own pace.

Reviewer: Nicole Moran

Software Name: Grolier's Encyclopedia
Type: Integrated Package,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Good for all subjects.

Summary: The software is called, "Grolier's Encyclopedia". It is on CD-Rom format. It is intended for all ages and all subjects. It is a good program that shows movies, documentaries, pictures, readings, etc. There can always be more information added to the program (even though there is quite a bit).

Reviewer: Eric A. Carmack

Software Name: The Incredible Machine
Type: Simulation, Game,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, All Levels of students,
Subject: Problem-Solving

Summary: The Incredible Machine is a Macintosh only program. It requires CD ROM and I recommend an upgraded sound system. The game does take a great deal of memory to run and most be run off of the CD at all times. The only other complaint was that you must be patient and go through all of the levels before you can create your own puzzle. I suggest that you play a great deal of the puzzles provided before attempting to create your own. The music on this game is incredible and is worth the cost of the game. Another added benefit is that the CD can be used in an audio CD Player so that the music can be enjoyed elsewhere. I also enjoyed the types of hints that the computer gives. Knowing how to react to the hints requires a certain amount of problem solving skills as well.

Reviewer: Tamara L. Campbell

Software Name: The Incredible Machine
Type: Simulation, Game,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, K-2 Students, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students, adult
Subject: Problem Solving, Thinking Skills

Summary: The Incredible Machine, version 3.0, by Sierra, is an addictive game! It was quite challenging, motivational and interactive. I really didn't want to quit reviewing it until I had gotten out of the tutorial puzzles, but I did in the interests of class harmony. The main drawback that I found was that the online help was not as extensive as I wanted it to be. I never was able to get the sound to work correctly and I couldn't find a troubleshooting guide. However the customer support numbers are readily available in the program brochure, so this might not be as much of a problem at home or at school. Other than that, the program itself was intuitive, and easy to use. Children would probably figure things out even faster than I did because they would be less likely to worry about "messing up" than I am. Experimentation is the name of this game and The Incredible Machine does it very well. Higher order thinking skills really come into play in all aspects of the game.

Reviewer: Margaret Duffy

Software Name: InventorLabs
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science, History

Summary: InventorLabs by Macromedia is a CD-ROM which explores the life and inventions of Edison, Watt, and Bell. It offers a well organized graphic simulation of their workshops and different inventions. The explorer directs the path of investigation and it is easy to enter or exit different areas. This would be a fun addition to a science lesson, but contains mostly historical information. Overall, it is a easy to use motivational exploration. Cost is about $40.

Reviewer: Kim Williams

Software Name: James Discovers Math
Type: Drill and Practice, Game, Graphics Generation,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: James Discovers Math is a CD ROM designed specifically for children of ages 3-6. It is very user friendly for this age group and provides children with vivid graphics, music, language and lots of interaction. It incorporates 10 math basic skills while captivating childrens' interests. It also allows free exploration and printing of graphics. This software is best for primary students who do not tire of a certain selection of possible choices!

Reviewer: Susan Alcaraz

Software Name: James Discovers Math
Type: Drill and Practice, Game,
Audience: K-2 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: James' Discovers Math is a CD-ROM that can be used for students in elementary K-2 grade levels.The subject matter is mathematics. Strengths included user friendly, great graphics and pictures, and lots of student interaction takes place.Weaknesses include that it is limited to the elementary K-2 grade levels. The program had a lot of good strengths and I would use it in my classroom if I taught K-2.

Reviewer: Suzanne Munguia

Software Name: James Discovers Math
Type: Drill and Practice, Simulation, Game,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: James Discovers Math is a CD-Rom disk that is recommended for ages four to six. It covers varies math concepts-shapes, addition and subtraction, matching, and numbers. It provides for different ability levels. It is very easy to navigate and the directions are given orally. The children at all levels can work independently. The graphics are colorful and interesting, and holds the child's interest. The only weakness is that transition from skill to skill is very slow. The menu for selection is a room and the children can make selections by clicking objects in the room. I recommend this disk for preschool and kindergarten.

Reviewer: Gena Hull

Software Name: Larson's Leap Frog Math Elem. 3
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: K-2 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: Larson's Leap Frog Math Elementary 3 was specifically designed with the NCTM standards in mind. Primary students navigate their way through the make believe town of Frog Hallow. Frog Hallow has various stops such as a school, house, art store, and of course a toy store. At each of these stops, the student is given a series of mathematical problems that match the NCTM standards. As a student successfully completes 10 problems, he/she is then given the option to play an entertaining game. This is a terrific piece of software to reinforce daily math lessons. The student leaves the computer feeling successful every time!

Reviewer: Jennifer Boos

Software Name: Life in the Desert
Type: Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: Life in the Desert- The strengths of this program are it's graphics and the amount of information provided. Unfortunately, this is also a weakness because most of the information is text based, and students many get bored having to read it all. My overall impression of this program is not a very good one. It was a little confusing to navigate and it contained a lot of text. Even though there were good graphics and good information, it was too difficult to get to.

Reviewer: Kevin Rapps

Software Name: Life in the Desert
Type: Reference,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Life in the Desert is a CD-ROM for Macintosh & PC users. This software is intended for age 8 to adults, but I think any grade level can benefit from its use. The subject area covers science, social studies, and other subject areas can be integrated. Strengths include great animation, easy to use, and full of resources about the desert. Weaknesses are there is low interaction between student and computer. I think this is a good reference resource. I would use it in my classroom.

Reviewer: Suzanne Munguia

Software Name: Life in the Desert
Type: Reference,
Audience: Teachers, All Levels of students, Adults
Subject: Science - Deserts

Summary: Life in the Desert is an interactive CD ROM suitable for primary students and Adults. It is an excellent science reference for researching life in the desert and what type of land composes a desert. It features video clips, photos, animated sequences, a full index, an interactive quiz and expert narration! It does not allow for lots of interaction aside from the quiz but it's resources are great!

Reviewer: Susan Alcaraz

Software Name: Magic School Bus the Body
Type: Simulation,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science/Anatomy

Summary: This piece of software was really captivating and motivated me to investigate all the different gadgets, people and places to go. I found it was informative at a primary level.

Reviewer: Sandy Luedke

Software Name: The Magic School Bus-Ocean
Type: Simulation, Game, Reference,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The Magic School Bus-Ocean is a simulation/game CD ROM that places a student in Ms. Frizz's care. Students attend a field trip to the ocean via computer. The idea behind it is great...the graphic's wonderful...however it lacks in instruction and flow.

Reviewer: Jennifer Boos

Software Name: The Magic School Bus
Type: Game,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body CD ROM is specifically designed for 6-10 years olds. It allows students to explore and travel through the human body by clicking on certain icons. It also provides tidbits of trivia related to specific body parts. It's user friendly, colorful and fully animated. However, it does not possess extensive content resources related to the study of the human body and the sciences.

Reviewer: Susan Alcaraz

Software Name: Magic School Bus-Human Body
Type: Game, Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Health, Science

Summary: Magic School Bus is a CD-ROM for Macintosh. Strengths: Quality of, and amount of, information. Quality of graphics. Weaknesses: Very difficult to navigate. There were many buttons and switches which I was never completely sure what to do with. Overall impression: I was very disappointed with this CD. It was very confusing even though it had a lot of info., it was difficult to access.

Reviewer: Kevin Rapps

Software Name: The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Microsoft's The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body is made for child use between the ages of 6-10. It is made to show a journey through the body, but it is very difficult to navigate. Its only strength is its graphics. Otherwise, it lacks information and is too slow moving.

Reviewer: Marci Turner

Software Name: Major League Math
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: Teachers, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: mathematics

Summary: Major League Math is a CD rom used on Mac. intended for students ages 9-13. It has a coaches corner which is a tutorial center on a wide variety of math concepts. It has strengths of very motivational graphics and music. The teacher materials are a must because they have assignments based on each "game". It would be difficult without this to see the value of the program as far as learning. Overall, a fun program, yet it only applies to learning math with the teacher activities present and after practice seeing how to operate each "game".

Reviewer: Jenn Parcell

Software Name: Major League Math
Type: Tutorial, Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: This was a fun piece of software that could be used to help students reinforce their basic skills such as averaging, percents and measurement. I also liked it because it would be fun for two people to play on opposing teams. The help feature was easy to use to and the questions covered a variety of topics so you didn't get bored.

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Software Name: Major League Math
Type: Tutorial, Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: Major League Math was viewed in CD-Room format. It should be used for the grades of 6 - 9 but 10 - 12 could use it if needed. It is a good game that includes percentages and logic questions. The only problem it really has is it's too slow in it's transitions. On the other hand, this may happen due to the computer.

Reviewer: Eric A. Carmack

Software Name: Mastering Math
Type: Drill and Practice,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: This is a piece of software I checked out of the Fletcher Library. It sounded good, but I was surprised that a piece of software made in 1993 would be so "blah!" The strengths would be that it covered a variety of topics to master and it does keep track of the score so the students know how they did. The weakness is that it is basically a computerized worksheet that gives automatic feedback. It's typed in black with no color and no graphics. Boring!

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Software Name: Math Blaster Mystery
Type: Drill and Practice, Simulation, Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: mathematics and problem solving

Summary: Math Blaster Mystery is a CD rom compatible with Windows 3.0. It is a program intended for ages 10-adult that teaches problem-solving and some order of operations strategies. It has fractions, integers, decimals, and percents. I especially like that you have to answer a word problem to earn coins in order to "buy" an easier equation and hints can be provided when requested. One weakness found was it was difficult to know if you should click, double click or click and drag to move numbers around. I highly recommend this program for students who need practice with word problems and equations dealing with order of operations. It offers a variety of ability levels so that they can begin with easier problems and progress to more difficult problems.

Reviewer: jenn parcell

Software Name: Mathematics Volume 2
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: This is a piece of software I checked out of the Fletcher Library. It covers algebra, coordinate geometry, intro calculus, mathematical modeling and numerical analysis. Each subject has a tutorial, movie, applications and some practice problems. Strengths would be that it was easy to navigate to different topics and there were clickable definitions. I would recommend for anyone in algebra or higher math.

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Software Name: Math Sleuth
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Math and Science

Summary: This laser disk simulation would work well as a large group activity. There is some back and forth from the teacher manual to the student manual to figure it out but it's manageable. A variety of math and science concepts are outlined for you in the 10 different activities.

Reviewer: S Luedke

Software Name: Math Sleuth
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Math/Science Scenarios

Summary: This offers 10 real life scenarios and identifies many math/science concepts as students use problem solving and math/science skills to make decisions.

Reviewer: Carrie McCune

Software Name: Math Workshop
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: mathematics and problem solving

Summary: Math workshop is an excellent CD Rom for dos or windows intended for parents and students ages 6-10, yet the game "rockets" involves very difficult concepts and problem solving skill building that older students could appreciate. Strengths- video guide for parents called Parents Corner. These video clips talk to parents about how math education is changing and tells them to stay involved in their child's education of math. It has a wide range of fun games that are thought-provoking. Math workshop addresses many math concepts. It has ability levels and many choices within each game. This is an excellent piece of mathematics software.

Reviewer: Jenn Parcell

Software Name: Microsoft Bookshelf
Type: Integrated Package, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: EMC 598

Summary: Microsoft Bookshelf is a reference set including a dictionary, thesaurus, atlas and encyclopedia. It is easy to use and seems reasonably complete. The graphics are clear and easy to read. The chief drawback to the software is it's lack of depth. Many topics are covered in only the most cursory way. This program could be used to investigate various ideas but to find any serious or detailed information, another resource would need to be used.

Reviewer: Chet Rosenberg

Software Name: MicroSoft Windows Logo
Type: Graphics Generation, Programming
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Parents, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students, Adult
Subject: Computers, Math, Science, Problem Solving

Summary: MicroSoft Windows Logo, a freeware program from Softronics, Inc., is a good value. It is available for downloading from the Web at http://www.softronix.com/ along with the reproducible book and video kit that comprise its tutorial. The main weakness of the program is that its graphical interface is not as extensive as, and directed toward the lower grades, as Microworld's GUI. One cannot change turtles to cute little stamps, and the drawing functions are not available. It would not be accessible to non-readers, but children from grades 3 on up should have little difficulty using the program. It is robust enough to extend to high school and adult users with ease. It includes a module for the development of Windows GUI's. Other strengths include midi functionality and modem connectivity, making it possible to upload and download additional modules and programs. The book and video tutorials are easy to use and quite extensive. The program is available in both 16 and 32 bit versions to accommodate windows users with any type of PC. I would recommend the program to middle schools and high schools with no hesitation. It could even be a good value for elementary schools on a limited budget or those that would begin programming lessons after grade three.

Reviewer: Margaret Duffy

Software Name: Mighty Math
Type: Drill and Practice, Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: Mighty Math is a CD-ROM for Macintosh and PC users. This CD-ROM is intended for ages 5-8. The intended subject area is mathematics. Strengths included great graphics, fun activities, and repetition of skills. Weaknesses were hard for me to find. I really thought my students could get some drill and skill practice and interact well using this program. I would use the program in my classroom.

Reviewer: Suzanne Munguia

Software Name: Mighty Math
Type: Drill and Practice, Game,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: Mighty Math Zoo Zillions is a CD ROM intended for elementary students up to 14 years of age. It teaches problem solving skills and essential math concepts at various levels of ability. Animal guides take children through graphic adventures and also allows for free exploration. A parent component is included with information on early mathematics learning. The concepts taught are in sync with NCTM Standards.

Reviewer: Susan Alcaraz

Software Name: Mighty Math Zoo Zillions
Type: Drill and Practice, Game,
Audience: K-2 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: Mighty Math Zoo Zillions is a Macintosh CD ROM program designed for Kindergarden through third graders. The focus of the activities are mathematics. Primarily, students are taught counting, addition, subtraction and the number line. The only weakness that is evident is the slow reaction to mouse movements. This problem can be solved by downloading the program onto the hard drive, although this is not necessary. One major strength of this program is the incredibly encouraging behavior of the animals that instruct the student. Mistakes are accepted and tutoring services are provided by the animals in very subtle ways that demonstrate problem solving skills as well as the correct answer. At $50, this program would serve as a wonderful encouragement material.

Reviewer: Tamara L. Campbell

Software Name: Millie's Math House
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial,
Audience: Preschool Students,
Subject: Mathematics and problem solving

Summary: Millie's Math House is a Macintosh and MS DOS program for children 2-6 years of age. It teaches counting, pattern recognition, shapes, sizes, problem solving skills, and explores creativity. It does an excellent job of keeping kids involved. A weakness is that for someone first using it, not enough instruction on what to do is given (unless reading the adult info which would be far too complicated for a child to find and read). Overall, it a fairly good learning program for children.

Reviewer: Jenn Parcell

Software Name: Millie's Math House
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students,
Subject: Preschool/Primary:Problem Solving:Math

Summary: Millie's Math House is a macIntosh program that has to be downloaded onto the hard drive via four disks. It is recommended for 2-6 year olds. The activities include matching, vocabulary building, relationships of numerals to corresponding sets of objects, counting, patterning, problem Solving, and building self image. The learning is open ended and children learn through play. The directions are a little unclear. The graphics are fun and colorful. Children can feel success and it's fun. I recommend this for school use with ages stated.

Reviewer: Gena Hull

Software Name: Millie's Math House
Type: Drill and Practice, Game,
Audience: Preschool Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: Millie's Math House is a Macintosh program. It needs to be downloaded onto the hard drive via four floppy disks. The activities were designed for 2 to 6 year olds just beginning mathematics. The activities include the development of counting skills, pattern recognition, shape recognition and problem solving. The weak areas of this program include, unclear instructions for each activity. The activities are limited to the very primary needs and do not allow the user to grow. Finally, there are too many unnecessary characters on many of the activity boxes. Strengths include age appropriateness and very involving for the students. Characters encouraging and helpful when students answers are incorrect. The program is worth the $50 if it is used by a multitude of individuals but I would not suggest it for individual home use at that cost.

Reviewer: Tamara L. Campbell

Software Name: Multimedia Bugs
Type: Reference,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Multimedia Bugs is a CD-ROM for Macintosh and PC users. This program is intended for children of all ages. This CD-ROM will enhance learning in the area of science education. The strengths of this program include easy to follow along in the program, user friendly, and great slide shows, and loads of information on insects. The weaknesses is that there is no interaction or responses necessary for the user. Low interaction with the student, more of a reference program. Overall I think the students would enjoy using this program. I would use the program in my classroom.

Reviewer: Suzanne Munguia

Software Name: Multimedia Bugs
Type: Tutorial, Game, Reference,
Audience: All Levels of students, K-6
Subject: Life Science

Summary: Multimedia Bugs has the ability to appeal to all ages. The bells and whistles on this program will entertain students to a certain point. One game allows interaction of the user, but is limited to only clicking the mouse. Individualization and feedback are lacking or not provided. Multimedia Bugs helps students moderately meet the national standards for life science. The game portion utilizes the national standards of learning by teaching the adaption of animals to their ever changing environment, but is not reinforced with a simulation or any other feature.

Reviewer: Jolene Barresi

Software Name: Multimedia Bugs
Type: Reference,
Audience: All Levels of students, Adults
Subject: Science - Insects

Summary: Multimedia Bugs is an interactive CD ROM that captures 600 different species of insects in the world! It includes exceptional photography accompanied with informative articles and audio effects. It is an excellent science reference tool for users of all ages. It is user friendly but does not provide opportunities for interaction.

Reviewer: Susan Alcaraz

Software Name: Physics I & II
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Integrated Package, Teacher Utility,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: Pro one physics is a high school physics software program on CD-ROM. The software contains a detailed overview of all the topics covered in a high school physics classroom. Questions are also given to develop problem solving skills and to test information covered in each section.

Reviewer: Mike Miller

Software Name: Physics science master
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Integrated Package, Teacher Utility,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: Physics science master is a CD-ROM interactive software package that outlines the entire physics curriculum. This is intended for high school students who are in a physics class. There are examples and quizes in the program which allows a student to challenge themselves.

Reviewer: Mike Miller

Software Name: Planetary Taxi
Type: Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: science - space

Summary: Planetary Taxi is a game type of software. It has the user take passengers to various planets and they need to know information about each planet. This is a fun learning tool. The user needs to use the reference tool in the program to find out information. The user is also required to interpret data from a graph to answer the questions posed by passengers. The only weakness is the poor graphics - no real pictures. However, I don't think that will ruin the game for the kids. Overall, I think the program is a fun, educational game that kids will enjoy playing.

Reviewer: Pamela Nelson

Software Name: Planetary Taxi
Type: Tutorial, Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Earth and Space Science

Summary: Overall, Planetary Taxi is very helpful in reaching national standards for earth and space science. The program is individualized to meet the varying needs of students. The three levels include rookie, cruiser, and expert. Graphics, though illustrated, give proportions of planets to other tangible objects in their life. This will reinforce facts and concepts. Navigation of Planetary Taxi is user friendly. One weakness is the feedback of incorrect answers.

Reviewer: Jolene Barresi

Software Name: Planetary Taxi
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Math / Science

Summary: This software is mainly for upper elementary levels. Kids can plan a trip, find out about planets, comparison/contrast planet sizes.

Reviewer: Carrie McCune

Software Name: Planetary Taxi
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Mohl and Nanny's Planetary Taxi was a simulation game intended for kids that quizes them on information available if the planets shown are clicked. Overall, it was a moderately interesting and challenging game; however, I was tempted to guess and not read the correct information.

Reviewer: Marci Turner

Software Name: Pre-Algebra Blaster - The Great Train Robbery
Type: Drill and Practice, Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: This was a fun piece of software that would help students reinforce their basic skills. It offers problem solving, order of operations and two different logic sections. It was colorful and middle school students would love the graphics and sound. I would definitely recommend it for either school or home use if you have a middle school child.

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Software Name: The Rainforest
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The Rainforest helps children understand how important the survival of the rainforests is to the world. The children are introduced to the diverse life forms that exist in the rainforest. The adaption of plants and changes that occur in life forms are addressed in this program. Up to date research is available for reference. Weaknesses include lack of engagement and poorly constructed drill and practice applications.

Reviewer: Jolene Barresi

Software Name: Rain Forest Zoo Guide
Type: Reference,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science/Environment

Summary: This is primarily for individual use. The information is interesting and informative. The debate section could lead into good class discussions and then lead into more research.

Reviewer: Sandy Luedke

Software Name: Redshift
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Teacher Utility,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: Redshift 2 is a software package that gives you a lot of information for a high school astronomy class. There are a number of high level areas that are covered. This software is great for teaching students about the different parts of the universe.

Reviewer: Mike Miller

Software Name: Redshift 2
Type: Simulation, Tutorial,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: astronomy

Summary: I had a difficult time using this software. (following the directions,moving to various activities, and a screen freeze) The purpose of this lesson is to tour the solar system, find major events in space history, and to use higher math skills to generate star/planet positions.

Reviewer: Carrie McCune

Software Name: Red Shift 2
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: Astronomy

Summary: This program is difficult to figure out. The guided tours are its best feature but they move a little slow. The tutorial is helpful but there should be more feedback on how to use the control panels.

Reviewer: Sandy Luedke

Software Name: RedShift 2
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Graphics Generation, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Astronomy

Summary: RedShift 2 produced by Maris Multimedia is an outstanding CD-ROM that explores all areas of Astronomy. This is not a CD for wimps. In fact, it takes a few long trial runs and reading the manual to learn the necessary navigational skills. However, once mastered (or at least understood) the possibilities of exploration are endless. Space travel and exploration is totally controlled by the navigator (you). Different objects can be filtered out of the sky to focus on particular objects. The graphics are excellent. Control panels display true life data (time, distance, temperatures, speed, etc). You are really flying in outer space toward Mars or wherever. The data is up to date. I was flying through outer space on June 30, 1997 with objects moving as they do in the sky on June 30, 1997. While I could not find the Pathfinder in rout to Mars, Hale-Bopp was there. In addition to this navigational section, RedShift 2 contains a tutorial section and a tour section. The tutorial allows you to choose a specific item or idea. You can view movies, pictures, or compile data to print out. The Tour expands to broad topics with full motion graphics or movies. Both are great places to better understand what you might encounter in space. This is a great buy for a mere $40.

Reviewer: Kim Williams

Software Name: Sammy's Science House
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students,
Subject: Preschool, Science, Language arts, Problem Solving

Summary: Sammy's Science House is a CD-Rom and encourages children from ages 3-5 to discovery the world of science. It provides five activities that help children practice sorting,sequencing, observing, predicting and constructing. Spoken instructions ensure that even the preschoolers can work independently with success.It has three levels of difficulty. Many of the areas have an explore and discover mode as well as the question and answer mode. This was my favorite piece of software. The graphics were wonderful and the directions and content were clear and age appropriate. This would be a useful learning tool in the classroom and at home. I recommend this for the younger child (3-6) because it is challenging and they can work independently.

Reviewer: Gena Hull

Software Name: Science Blaster Jr.
Type: Game,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Science Blaster Jr. is a CD-Rom intended for 4-7 year olds that advertises"road to scientific discovery. The knowledge gained was limited and I had difficulty getting into various activities. It was a very busy looking main cabin in the spaceship. That was the menu. The directions were not clear and pushing various buttons did not help. I felt that the manufacturer wanted to create a beautiful piece of software and he did. They had their own agenda. The learner could not move at will until the song and flash was finished. The graphics and music were great but the content was lacking. I do not recommend this software for any level. It did not meet any standards.

Reviewer: Gena Hull.

Software Name: Senses
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Database, Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science/Health

Summary: Senses is a program that is a database/tutorial about the senses which uses a drill and practice and game format. This program is intended for middle school students in either the science or health curriculums. My overall impression of this software was that I give it a very low rating. This software seems very primitive compared to today's standards, since it has no animation or even color. In 1993, when this software was created, I am sure it was well worth the $60 that the school paid for it. However, it is too primitive to keep the interest of today's students. The information is still up-to-date, however, I don't believe it would be worth the time to use it in today's classroom.

Reviewer: Chris Lannin

Software Name: Sim Farm
Type: Simulation, Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science, Math, Social Studies, Problem Solving

Summary: Sim Farm is a game that simulates a real farm. It is challenging and very interactive. The student makes all the decisions-what to purchase, where to locate, what to buy or sell, etc. It integrates social studies, math and science by creating a real life problem solving situation. Its strength lies in that it is very interactive and totally learner controlled. The manual is extensive with ideas and great support. The weakness is that it is not flashy with great, colorful graphics. The price is great and the learning can be extensive but a student will have to work at it a bit. It uses many learned skills and the brain.

Reviewer: Gena Hull

Software Name: SimFarm
Type: Simulation, Game,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, K-2 Students, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students, Adults
Subject: Science, Social Studies

Summary: SimFarm, Classic, by Maxis, is a simulation game centered on farming practices. It has an extensive print manual and good online help. It is intuitive, challenging, motivational and interactive. It will quickly show that running a farm is not as easy as one might think. It also brings home the fact that math, science and social studies knowledge is essential for running a prosperous farm. The software indicates that it is intended for ages 6+, but little ones will need some help at first. Middle school students to adults will probably get the most out of the program. Its strengths are its manual, ease of use and interactivity. There are several levels of play, from pre-built scenarios to do-it-yourself farms. The game can be made as challenging as the player likes with increases in skill and disasters. It is even possible to turn the disasters off. This is another game which involves problem solving and higher order thinking skills disguised as fun.

Reviewer: Margaret Duffy

Software Name: Sim Life
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Sim Life is a simulation software for students in either middle for high school science classes. My overall impression of this software was that it was frustrating and very user unfriendly. I have enjoyed playing Sim Life in the past, which seems to be very user friendly and easy to learn. However, after spending an hour on this game, I still didn't know what I was doing or even what I was supposed to be doing. I do believe that this could be a valuable asset to a science program, however, I also believe that the teacher would have to spend numerous hours learning the software first. This certainly isn't a piece of software you can let the students loose on to learn as they go along.

Reviewer: Chris Lannin

Software Name: Space Shuttle
Type: Simulation,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: Physics

Summary: This software was an interesting introduction to physics or physical science. It had a movie and great graphics. It would be helpful to use as a tutorial.

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Software Name: Space Shuttle Physics
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: Teachers, 9-12 Students,
Subject: physics

Summary: The software is called, "Space Shuttle Physics. The format is CD-Rom. It is intended for high school students and some college. The intended subject is Physics. This software has good effects and instructions. There aren't any weaknesses. It is a good program for Physics.

Reviewer: Eric A. Carmack

Software Name: Space Shuttle Physics
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: 9-12 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: Space shuttle physics is a software program for an introductory physics or physical science course. The program focuses on developing conceptual ideas verses mathematical based physics. It had great movies and graphics and I liked the robots explanation of physics concepts. Some questioning techniques were used.

Reviewer: Mike Miller

Software Name: Surf Watch
Type: , Net Screening Device
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Parents,
Subject: Internet Screening

Summary: This product come with the initial blocks for inappropriate internet sites for 1995. But since the net changes daily you have to pay $6.00 a month to up date the list of sites that are screened out. I'm not sure how they decide what is inappropriate or who makes these decisions. One nice feature is the screen can be turned off by anyone who knows the password. It did cause a problem with restarting the computer while it was active.

Reviewer: Sandy Luedke

Software Name: Thinking Things Collection I
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Game,
Audience: Preschool Students, K-2 Students,
Subject: Preschool/Primary;Problem Solving

Summary: Thinking Things I is a CD Rom recommended for Preschool to Fourth grade. There are various level of difficulty to accommodate the age range.The goal is to develop critical thinking and problem solving. The activities are open ended and the children create their own screen. This area needs more guidance at first, and I didn't feel that the directions were clear enough. This is not software that can be worked independently, at first. Because this software is so learner directed, I feel a little more help should have been included within the program. I was at a loss and didn't know where to get additional help while working. Thinking Things does accomplish promoting problem solving and developing critical thinking, but if you are looking for software that a younger child can work independently this needs more preliminary direction. I think the target age is five and six. This is a good CD-Rom but there are, in my opinion, better pieces that cover similar areas.

Reviewer: Gena Hull

Software Name: Thinking Things Level 3
Type: Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Problem Solving

Summary: This was a colorful piece of software that had several different types of logic games. The games were interesting but I thought they were slightly confusing. If you explained it to your students first, then I think they would enjoy it. If they tried to learn it by themselves, I think they would be frustrated.

Reviewer: Patti Kerns

Software Name: Thinking Things Collection 3
Type: Simulation,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Problem-Solving

Summary: Thinking Things Collection 3 is a Macintosh CD ROM program intended to develop problem solving skills in children from 3rd to 8th grade. My overall impression of this software is absolute depression. The program has five different activities for students to engage in. The first explores the basics of physics with regard to friction, gravity etc. This portion was confusing and slow. It had no automated instructions and only served to frustrate me. The second activity involved using small aliens to alter pictures. The manual described this activity as an exploration in spatial relationships. However, I had to read the manual to know what the purpose was and I still find that explanation as a academic reach. The final three activities had similar faults. In general the activities where primary actions but required advanced reading or problem solving skills. For these many reasons and many more I can not give this program a good review at any price let alone at the $50 cost it now holds.

Reviewer: Tamara L. Campbell

Software Name: Treasure Galaxy
Type: Game,
Audience: K-2 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: The learners travel through an animated galaxy on a space scooter in search of some stolen crystals. To get the crystals the learner must solve all types of math problems to receive the crystals and to move up to more difficult problems. The game is fun and will hold most primary students interest. The game does use problem solving in many of the activities. The sound on the CD-ROM skips a lot on older computers.

Reviewer: Nicole Moran

Software Name: Triazzle Animated Puzzle Challenge
Type: Game, Problem-Solving
Audience: Teachers, Parents, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science, Social Studies, Problem-Solving

Summary: Triazzle Animated Puzzle, by Berkeley Systems is a fascinating puzzle that is based on the flora and fauna of the rainforest.The puzzles are motivational and challenging. It can be played by many age levels because it has several difficulty levels. It also includes some very good information about each of the animals and plants that are pictured on the puzzles, as well as information about the rainforest ecology in general. This software could be an interesting part of an integrated unit on the rainforest, a unit on amphibians, one on insects or one on plants. As such, it it highly versatile piece of software. It does require a fast computer for optimum enjoyment, however, so a school with old 386 or even 486 PC machines would find it disappointingly slow, even though those would meet the minimum system requirements. I originally installed it on an upgraded 486 and my 13 year-old daughter found it so slow she became frustrated with it. After we uninstalled it from her machine and installed it on my faster Pentium, she found that it was captivating and motivational. She was really taken with it and requested that I consider it as a birthday present for her. So, if your school has the right equipment and can afford the cost, it could be a good addition to the science or social studies curriculum.

Reviewer: Margaret Duffy

Software Name: Virtual Reality Bird
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Virtual Reality Bird uses a CD-ROM and is easy to install and operate. It takes the user into an aviary where you move around different floors clicking on items and being presented with data on birds from all over the world. The graphics and sounds are well done. My chief complaint is that I saw little connection to what I think of as curriculum. There was a large amount of information but if you're not interested in birds you're in the wrong place.

Reviewer: Chet Rosenberg

Software Name: Virtual Reality Cat
Type: Tutorial, Integrated Package,
Audience: All Levels of students,
Subject: Sort of Science

Summary: Virtual Reality Cats is a cd-rom program with numerous small segments covering cats of all types, wild to domestic. A keen interest in cats is required. I like cats so I found the program interesting. Dog lovers stay away.

Reviewer: Chet Rosenberg

Software Name: The Visual Dictionary
Type: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Teacher Utility, language in subject
Audience: Teachers, All Levels of students,
Subject: Wide use

Summary: Strengths: Giant, big, really huge, selection of images with pronunciation guide in English, French and spanish. Like a master file of overhead images with sound. Great lecture tool for term introductions or classroom review. Weakness: not allowed to print or copy images without permission from publisher.

Reviewer: Kenna Anduha

Software Name: The Way Things Work
Type: Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The Way Things Work is a CD-ROM for Macintosh and PC's. It allows you to explore how machines work. It also lets you learn about inventors and their inventions. Strengths:Excellent description of all aspects of the CD. Very easy to manipulate and guide your way through. Weakness: The only weakness is not having all inventions on the CD, but that would be almost impossible. Overall impression: This is an excellent program, and I strongly recommend it to everyone.

Reviewer: Kevin Rapps

Software Name: The Way Things Work @.0
Type: Simulation, Tutorial, Integrated Package, Graphics Generation, Telecommunications, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, All Levels of students, from 4 years old to 90
Subject: The Physics of Machines of all types

Summary: Great program! Machines are demonstrated, principles explained, you can print, or copy drawings to use on homework or note sets. Lots of little movies and fun Wooly Mammoths action to captivate all audiences but not just for little ones adults can get in-depth information on how a machine works in an understandable form. Something for everyone! I intend to use it as a launch point for my Freshman Science class or as a closing to lessons to show the applications and workings of physics concepts.

Reviewer: Kenna Anduha

Software Name: The Way Things Work 2.0
Type: Tutorial, Telecommunications,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science and Social Studies

Summary: The Way Things Work incorporates many national standards from inquiry, history, technology, and physical science perspectives. Mammoth.net allows the access to the Internet for further research. The graphics, though illustrated, enhance the learning of the process, parts, and subsystems of devices. The historical aspect of the program is explained very thoroughly. Weaknesses include the lack of branching for individualized use and varied levels of challenge. The program does not provide simulations or games to enhance learning. The Way Things Works is excellent for referencing and researching things like the computer.

Reviewer: Jolene Barresi

Software Name: The Way Things Work
Type: Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The Way Things Work is an interactive reference CD-ROM depicting how machines, tools, etc. work. Students will enjoy the click and browse method of discovering the scientific inventions in everyday use. This CD allows students to view items at their own pace or interest level. The only weakness is the text is not read to the user (no option). This would be difficult for the slow or non-reader.

Reviewer: Jennifer Boos

Software Name: Windows On Math
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: Teachers, All Levels of students, K-8
Subject: Math

Summary: Windows On Math is a series of laser discs for supplementary use in elementary grades. It formulates problems from everyday situations. Pictures of quilt designs enhance the students' abilities to describe, model, draw, and classify shapes. Short movie clips with cartoon characters solving measurement problems are incorporated to enhance learning of math concepts. The oral explanations and movie clips are also available in spanish for individualizing the program. Other curriculum areas are integrated into the laser disc series. One weakness includes the use of the laser disc and scanning device. Photo copying bar codes could easily solve this problem. Overall, Windows On Math is helpful to achieve the national standards for math.

Reviewer: Jolene Barresi

Software Name: Windows on Math
Type: Simulation,
Audience: , elem. grade. levels are available
Subject: Math Concepts

Summary: I feel this laser disc had the potential to be very useful in the classroom to break down concepts and to create a new avenue of thinking for the students. It helped them to think beyond getting the right answer.

Reviewer: Carrie McCune

Software Name: Windows on Math vol. 3
Type: Simulation, Tutorial,
Audience: 3-5 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: Windows on Math is a program that utilizes a videodisc to provide information. The program poses problem solving questions for students to solve. This program gets the student actively involved in problem solving. The only weakness is that the students do not get actively involved with the technology. Overall, this is a good program for getting students interested in solving math problems.

Reviewer: Pamela Nelson

Software Name: Windows on Math
Type: Simulation, Problem Solving
Audience: 3-5 Students,
Subject: Math

Summary: Optical Data's Windows on Math is a laser disk aimed at presenting real-life problems for children to solve. Its strengths are that the teacher may start and stop the disk easily as it plays, the problems are challenging, and the cartoon characters create a mood of fun. The only weakness I noted was that the students do not have any options to skip around the disk unless they are using it on their own and not viewing it as a class.

Reviewer: Marci Turner

Software Name: Whales and Dolphins - Zoo Guides
Type: Reference,
Audience: Teachers, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: This program provides information about different types of whales and dolphins. It consists of text, pictures and videos. It does provide users with good information, however, there is no interaction between computer and user. The videos are easy to understand so younger users could take advantage of that aspect of the program. Overall, the program was a little slow, but it can be used as a reference for good information.

Reviewer: Pamela Nelson

Software Name: Where in Space is Carmen San Diego
Type: Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Space Exploration and Problem Solving

Summary: This game is captivating but its value academically is limited unless the teacher builds in some data collection requirements. This problem solving activity could be enhanced by asking the student to keep a travel log, describing the places they go and the clues they gather.

Reviewer: Sandy Luedke

Software Name: Where in Space is Carmen San Diego
Type: Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: science

Summary: Where in Space is Carmen San Diego is a wonderful interactive game for students. It is captivating and motivating. Students are searching the solar system for space criminals. They must use the clues given to figure out where to travel. The difficulty level of this game is high and might be too difficult for younger students. The program also lacks a help feature for students who get lost.

Reviewer: Pamela Nelson

Software Name: Where in Space is Carmen San Diego?
Type: Game,
Audience: 6-8 Students,
Subject: Space exploration

Summary: This enhances note taking skills, solar system information, problem solving and logic skills. However, it does not give any help when you get stuck and it is confusing at times.

Reviewer: Carrie McCune

Software Name: Whitworth's Planet Earth
Type: Game,
Audience: 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Earth Science

Summary: Whitworth’s Planet Earth published by Gazelle Studios is a CD-ROM game exploring different aspects of our planet: Earth. It Runs off the CD or Hard Drive and requires only a mouse, monitor(color), and speakers. It targets students age 7 and up, however would confuse and frustrate many. No objective and little direction is given. It is easy to navigate and the player can choose her path of exploration. The object of the game, getting treasures, is not explained well. Without this purpose, you are wandering aimlessly through different sections of the world. Other than having fun playing the “game” I do not see much appropriateness for the classroom.

Reviewer: Kim Williams

Software Name: The Widget Workshop
Type: Simulation, Game,
Audience: K-2 Students, 3-5 Students, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The Widget Workshop is mostly a simulation of a scientist's workshop. The booklet included takes the learner through a series of experiments and activities. Without the booklet the user would be lost. The software is extremely detailed and would probably take a new user weeks to feel comfortable with it.The software does encourage a lot of scientific inquiry.

Reviewer: Nicole Moran

Software Name: The world of reptiles
Type: Tutorial,
Audience: Teachers, 6-8 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: The world of reptiles is a CD rom Mac compatible tutorial program that teaches middle school students about all types of reptiles, their habitat, anatomy, life cycle, and their class and order names. It has a vast amount of information. Very good as an encyclopedia reference, yet as a motivational tutorial, it would depend if you were really excited about reptiles or not. Once studying about a reptile, you can quiz yourself on how well you learned. One weakness is it doesn't give you two chances to get the right answer. Overall, it is a good source of information on reptiles.

Reviewer: Jenn parcell

Software Name: Zoo Guides: The Rainforest
Type: Tutorial, Reference,
Audience: Teachers, Parents, 6-8 Students, 9-12 Students,
Subject: Science/Social Studies

Summary: Zoo Guides: The Rainforest, version 2.0 by Macromedia, Inc., is a good reference work for middle school to high school aged students. Parents and teachers will like the fact that there is a quiz built in to each chapter. Students will enjoy the multimedia presentation of the material. One of its strengths is that it has well defined chapters that are easy to navigate after one finds the online help. It has two drawbacks that I noticed. The first is that the navigation was not intuitive at first, and I only found the online help by accidentally clicking on the Zoo Guides icon. The second drawback is that it is not easy to print out any of the information. In order to print, one must exit the program, go to the "Text" folder in the main Rainforest folder, find the correct chapter, open it and scroll to the correct section. This section can then be copied and pasted into a word processing document for printing. This is quite an involved process for most students.

Reviewer: Margaret Duffy

Software Name: Zoo Guides Whales & Dolphins
Type: Reference,
Audience: 3-5 Students,
Subject: Science

Summary: Zoo Guides-Whales and Dolphins is a wonderful reference program for those interested in whales and dolphins. This CD-ROM provides excellent video segments that capture your attention. This software provides valuable information for students studying whales and dolphins in science. The only weakness is the lack of directions. A nice piece of software for only approximately $30.

Reviewer: Jennifer Boos

Software Name: Zoo Zillions
Type: Simulation, Game,
Audience: K-2 Students,
Subject: Mathematics

Summary: In Zoo Zillions the learner visits an animated zoo where he is offered five choices of math activities. The learner is encouraged to use electronic manipulatives to solve problems. The graphics and sound are very good, but many primary students would get bored easily due to the constant repetition of tasks in each activity.

Reviewer: Nicole Moran

Software Name: Zurk's Learning Safari
Type: Game,
Audience: Preschool Students,
Subject: Mathematics and Science

Summary: Zurks Learning Safari is a Macintosh and Windows capable program. It can be run off of the CD ROM or off of the hard drive. It has a significant amount of music and I recommend it be used with and upgraded sound system. The strengths of this program include wonderful graphics and a variety of activities to choose from. The activity menu is self explaining. The weaknesses include a slow response time to mouse movements and it does not allow the user to get out of activities until they have run their course. This program is for the preschool age children. It deals with the alphabet, shape recognition, puzzles and a look at the types of animals that can be found while on safari.

Reviewer: Tamara L. Campbell