Title: Small Blue Planet (The Real Picture
Atlas)
Overall Rating:
B+
Source: Now What Software
Playing Time: n/a , this is not a game.
Date: 113
Cost: $35.38 Computer
Discount Warehouse - C
Number of Players:only one person can
facilitate the mouse, however there is the opportunity for other individuals
to watch the screen to learn from what the user is doing.
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: any
256 color Macintosh with System 6.0.5 or higher: OMB RAM, and a CD-ROM
drive
Subject Area: Social Studies/ Geography
Objectives: The students will learn more
about geography in a more technologically advanced way.
Brief Description: It is an atlas that
provides the students with all kinds of options
Entry Capabilities Required: Mouse Skills,
very little geographical knowledge needed.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 4, clearly states
why the program would be useful to provide more geographical knowledge
about our ever-changing planet to students of all ages.
Provides practice of relevant skills:
4, expects you to have a general knowledge of world of geography and applies
them to location and time zones.
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 3,
it is attractive to the reviewer because of its uniqueness and capabilities.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 5,
easily understandable even without the program directions.
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
5, it is a very visually attractive piece of software. The color
and dynamics are amazing. It provides a rotating simulation of the
planet, earth, and provides daylight, darkness, and the different time
zones for any location on earth.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): n/a , software is not
a game.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): n/a, the
software is not a simulation.
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results):
3, I used it to locate a specific world location at a specific time
on a specific date. The program would be useful in providing the
learners with accurate results.
Clear directions for play: 2, the directions
for play are not available without the software container. However,
the software is user-friendly enough for it to be figured out without the
provided directions.
Effectiveness of debriefing:
It may provide students with better skills regarding geography.
Strong Points:
The software is extremely attractive visually to all grades and user levels.
Weak Points:
It really provides no purpose except to display to the user a planet with
features that are applicable to different dates, time zones, land composition,
and international borders.
Reviewer: Gabrielle M. Rainville
Position: Student
Date: September 17, 1998
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh
PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.