Better Than Ever
As these titles show, instructional software is improving
By Russell Smith
Here's good news: Instructional software is getting better.
Today's top-selling CD-ROMs have a nice combination of advanced
software techniques and comprehensive instructional content. It
looks as though the producers have finally stopped simply converting
programs from floppies to CD-ROMs without really taking advantage
of larger storage capabilities. What's more, the new software
is less expensive than the titles of five years ago and has been
carefully designed for specific segments of the education market.
Here are some of my top picks for early 1999, along with phone
numbers and web addresses so you can get more information and
prices for volume purchases.
Elementary titles
 An
Odyssey of Discovery: Earth Systems
Pierian Spring Software.
(800) 213-5054. Ages 9 and up. This social studies CD-ROM uses
the same concept of interactive narrated modules that is so effective
in Pierian's Geography of Earth and Mapping Concepts CD-ROMs.
Overviews of key science concepts are followed by instruction
and problem-solving activities. Students learn important details
about the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, climate, and atmosphere,
people and their environment, and natural resources. Teachers
will be pleased with the essential elements covered in this program.
 Arthur's
Birthday and Arthur's
Computer Adventure
Broderbund. (800) 548-1798.
Ages 3 to 7. Arthur's Birthday is a wonderful remake of the classic
CD-ROM from Broderbund's Living Books collection. The screen size
has been enlarged and the sound enhanced. Two neat new activities
provide additional affective and cognitive skills. One is an innovative
Pin the Tail on the Donkey game, and the other requires students
to figure out clues about Arthur's mystery gifts. This is a great
learning CD-ROM for primary school students.
Broderbund's other new Arthur CD-ROM, Arthur's Computer Adventure,
will also be a big hit with elementary teachers and students.
This program gives us a pleasant glimpse of what lies down the
road in interactive DVD software. Users who liked the classic
CD-ROM Arthur's Teacher Trouble will be amazed at the scope of
this program, which represents a new step forward in interactive
children's software. The addition of highly original and scalable
learning activities makes this program a cut above the rest. If
you can afford only one CD-ROM for young children, this is the
one to buy.
 Dr.
Seuss Kindergarten Deluxe
Broderbund. (800) 548-1798.
Ages 4 to 6. This program includes more than 250 lessons covering
early reading and math and set in the funny world of Dr. Seuss.
Multiple skill levels and the ability to track children's progress
make it easy to individualize instruction. A printable workbook
on a second CD-ROM lets teachers print out additional math and
reading lessons. There is also a set of math flash cards and an
alphabet stencil so students can practice numbers and letters.
For preschool teachers, Broderbund offers Dr. Seuss Preschool
(ages 2 to 4), which teaches essential preschool skills such as
numbers, letter recognition, phonics, shapes, and colors. Teachers
of young children will find the Dr. Seuss CD-ROM collection a
wonderful curriculum supplement and reasonably priced.
English Your Way 2.0
Knowledge Adventure.
(800) 545-7677. Ages 6 to adult. This highly inventive voice-recognition
software will amaze you with its interactive microphone activities.
This CD-ROM is great for ESL students or for kindergarten-age
English-speakers. Conversation activities and vocabulary drills
help students learn 2,300 common English words, and instant feedback
lets them compare their pronunciation with that of native speakers.
 Kids!
Spanish
Knowledge Adventure.
(800) 545-7677. Ages 6 to 10. This language CD-ROM uses pioneering
technology by Syracuse Language that includes interactive speech-recognition
and language-immersion techniques. Kids learn 400 common Spanish
words in 35 enjoyable activities and, using a microphone, can
check their pronunciation against that of native speakers.
Learning to Read on
the Promenade (Kindergarten
and Preschool
versions)
Sunburst Communications.
(800) 321-7511. Ages 2 to 6. Teachers will like the combination
of animated storybooks, which they can show an entire class, with
activities designed to teach early reading skills to individual
students. Children will want to play these colorful and well-designed
CD-ROMs again and again.
 Spelling
Blaster
Knowledge Adventure.
(800) 545-7677. Ages 6 to 9. Kids older than 9 might also benefit
from this exceptional program, which I rate as the best disk in
the Blaster series. There are over 1,700 words in 140 word lists
(some of the more difficult examples: monotheistic, irreversible,
and circumnavigate). Teachers and students can also print
out 29 colorful storybooks to use away from the computer. Students
learn important spelling skills such as recognizing misspelled
words, filling in missing letters to complete words, and using
context clues to complete sentences.
I was impressed by the fast pace of the program and its clean-cut
interface. Students will be up and running and learning new words
in a matter of seconds. Put this one on your must-buy list for
elementary and intermediate school.
My First Amazing World Explorer
DK Publishing. (800) 937-5557,
ext. 4. Ages 4 to 9. This updated program teaches geography and
cultural skills in an entertaining and easy-to-understand format.
It features interactive games and audio narration coupled with
excellent video clips. Those with Internet access will also appreciate
the goodies at the World Explorer web site.
Equivalent
Fractions and Fraction
Operations
Sunburst
Communications. (800) 321-7511. Ages 8 to 12. These two math
CD-ROMs designed by Tenth Planet help teach fraction skills like
equivalency and lowest common denominator. I really like the whimsical
animated sequences that use rhymes to teach math facts. Students
often have a difficult time with fractions, and these CD-ROMs
will help them understand key concepts.
Secondary titles
 Amazon
Trail 3rd Edition: Rainforest Adventures
The Learning Company.
(800) 852-2255. Ages 9 to adult. This updated Amazon Trail program
continues the long string of Trail adventure hits. (There's an
awesome DVD version of The Oregon Trail new for 1998, as well
as a great new holiday version in a commemorative box.) In this
program, students make critical decisions that help them learn
South American history, ecology, science, and geography. It includes
interactive video clips of historical figures and native peoples,
and users can choose from among three different levels of difficulty.
The
American Girls Premiere 2nd Edition
The Learning Company.
(800) 852-2255. Ages 9 to adult. The American Girls program became
a top seller only one month after it first appeared in late 1997.
Now it's back again in a new version introducing the newest member
of the American Girls, Josefina. A girl from 1824 colonial New
Mexico, Josefina joins the series' five other girls from different
periods of American history. Improvements in the software include
better text-to-speech technology and a new feature allowing users
to print out the screens of their favorite plays. I give this
program high praise for historical creativity.
The
Princeton Review Inside the SAT, PSAT and ACT '99 Deluxe
The Learning Company.
(800) 852-2255. This updated version of the Princeton Review's
award-winning test-preparation software deserves a place in the
high school classroom. The 10 full-length practice tests alone
are worth the price, but the comprehensive tips on study plans
and test-taking strategies make this a must-buy for college-bound
students who are looking to improve their test scores. The software
also includes profiles of 1,600 colleges and universities, as
well as extensive information about financial aid packages.
The Princeton Review also produces several other high school
programs that are exceptionally well-done, including The Princeton
Review College Prep and The Princeton Review Math Library. Both
are excellent for high school students preparing for college.
Interactive Biology Multimedia
Courseware
Cyber Ed Inc. (530) 872-2432.
Ages 14 to adult. This is a superlative full-year biology course
on 24 CD-ROMs. About the only drawback is that it's pricey ($2,400
for the full series), but if your school desires the finest in
high school biology software, then look no further. This comprehensive
series covers virtually every aspect of biology in a highly graphic
and interactive format. Individual CD-ROMs are available for sale
if you can't afford the entire program. Check the web site for
full information about each CD-ROM.
Create
Screensavers Quick & Easy
Individual Software.
(800) 822-3522. Ages 8 to adult. This program will create screensavers
or make multimedia slideshows. Combine it with a nice mega-pixel
digital camera like the Kodak 260, and your students will have
lots of fun learning how to manipulate graphics. This easy-to-use
program allows the user to save screensavers as executable files
to install on other machines. It is also easy to add text and
sound to screensavers. Skills learned in this program will carry
over into future academic and workplace careers.
Professor
Teaches Windows 98
Individual Software.
(800) 822-3522. Ages 8 to adult. Probably one of the biggest mistakes
we make in the classroom is in teaching only applications and
forgetting about the nuances of operating systems. Having a good
background in the fundamentals of Windows will help students and
teachers work more efficiently. This CD-ROM from the popular Professor
series (which began in 1983 with Professor DOS) uses a combination
of lessons, exercises, practice sessions, and quizzes to bring
users quickly up to speed in Windows 98. The power tips alone
in this tutorial CD-ROM are worth the price ($19.95). Ask about
the teacher's discount to get an even better deal.
Pinball Science
DK Publishing. (800) 937-5557,
ext. 4. Ages 10 to adult. Students who liked The Way Things Work
will enjoy this new title from David Macaulay. More than 300 quiz
questions, coupled with a fast-paced pinball game, make this an
exciting CD-ROM for older students. There are three difficulty
levels and rich illustrations of key science curriculum concepts.
I recommend this disk for gifted-and-talented programs especially.
 Spanish
for the Real World and French
for the Real World
Knowledge Adventure.
(800) 545-7677. Ages 11 to adult. These fast-paced language CD-ROMs
take the student on a race car rally through Mexico or France
to master first-year language skills. Immersion techniques and
microphone input enable pupils to learn and use Spanish or French
in real-life simulations. This is a great supplement for any secondary
language classroom or G/T class.
Spanish Your Way 2.0
Knowledge Adventure.
(800) 545-7677. Ages 11 and up. This counterpart to the English
Your Way program is another in the new breed of language software
that will astound your Spanish teachers. They will be delighted
at the immersion format of this interactive voice-recognition
program. Students learn over 2,500 common Spanish words and practice
conversations with native speakers. Get this one along with the
Real World CD-ROM, and your Spanish teachers will be among the
most high-tech teachers on campus.
Improvement or obsolescence?
Instructional CD-ROMs continue to improve, with smoother installations
and better interactivity. The most innovative software now uses
voice-recognition technology, and as the computer marketplace
moves toward faster machines and DVD-ROM drives, this technology
will be more common.
But obsolescence will become a factor. Future programs will
have so many bells and whistles that they'll make an older CD-ROM
look like a floppy program on an Apple IIGS. School districts
need to look seriously at the minimum specifications for new machines
they buy in 1999 and beyond. The new software looming on the horizon
will require lots of hard drive space, plenty of RAM, a fast CPU,
and a DVD-ROM drive. Buying large quantities of bare-bones machines
now because they're cheap will only cost you more money in the
long run.
In case you're wondering whether DVD technology is about to
take off, consider this: According to the new PC-99 specs released
by Intel-Microsoft, all 1999 PCs should be equipped with a DVD
drive and a PCI bus -- no CD-ROM and no ISA bus.
That's not to say that all new PCs will be configured this way,
but it's clearly the direction things are going. And that's something
to think about when you place your next order for PCs.
Russell Smith
is an educator and technology consultant for Region XIV Education
Service Center in Abilene, Texas.
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