Title: Encarta '97
Overall Rating:
A
Source: Microsoft
Playing Time: not applicable
Date: 1997
Cost: (for 1998 version since 1997 is
now outdated )$79.95 http://ms.warehouse.com/Microsoft/Reference/Education/
Number of Players: 1
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: CD-Rom
Subject Area: All
Objectives: To help in research, learning,
and discovery through multimedia.
Brief Description: A complete encyclopedia
full oif text information, colour photographs, and multimedia presentations.
Entry Capabilities Required: User should
know how to read and manoeuvre the mouse (basic reading and computer skills.)
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 5 (Extremely
helpful for research purposes or just for interest's sake.)
Provides practice of relevant skills:
4 (Encarta does not let the user interact with the encyclopedia program
but does give oportunity for use of knowledge in games provided with the
encyclopedia.)
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 4
(This program can definitely keep the user stimulated.)
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 4 (Easy
to understand but may be slightly difficult for younger children.)
Technical quality (durable, attractive): 5
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): not applicable to the encycolpedia
program
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): 5 (Pictures and diagrams
are very accurate and multimedia adds to appeal.)
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test results):
5 (Encyclopedia has gotten excellent revies from PC Magazine and Newsweek,
among other reviewers.)
Clear directions for play:
4 (Does not come with directions but is easy to figure out - young children
might need a little help.)
Effectiveness of debriefing:
3
Strong Points: The program
has beautiful photographs and drawings which can easily be copied for use
in school projects. The text of the articles is written in layman's
terms and contains many links to related articles contained in the encyclopedia.
Pull down menus make it easy to navigate/search through the encyclopedia.
The text can also be enlarged to accommodate children and those with visual
impairments. There are some games which can be played to use learned
information and there is also an atlas which can be ued to gather informationa
nd sights and sounds associated with different places.
Weak Points: Some
of the information contained in the encyclopedia is excellent for
all age of learners but occasionally, some of the information is a little
advanced for younger children, who might need some adult help. Children
might also have trouble finding particular items without an adult's help.
Reviewer: Jennifer Heidemann
Position:Student
Date:3/19/98
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh
PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.
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