Title: The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia
Overall Rating:
C
Source: Satterlee 300 software cabinet
Playing Time: N/A (this encyclopedia
can be used for as little or as much time as the students need)
Date: 1995
Cost: $ $21.95 http://www.shoplet.com/cdrom/gr
olier.html
Number of Players: N/A (since this is
an encyclopedia it could be used by as many or as little students as desired)
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: CD-Rom
Subject Area: This software would work
for any subject area.
Objectives: To find simple explanations
on several different topics, to learn about several different subject areas
through these different topics, to research a particular topic.
Brief Description: This software is simply
an encyclopedia on CD-rom. It includes several features such as short
films, music, maps, and texts.
Entry Capabilities Required: Reading Ability,
Slight Computer Abilities
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 5 (includes short
texts which could be used to research any topic or to learn about several
different areas.
Provides practice of relevant skills:
N/A (the students may need to be able to reads to use this program, but
other than that it is pretty much a no brainer)
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 3
(as like any other printed encyclopedia this can prove to be a bit boring
and even the special features such as the short movie bits do not add much
excitement.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 5
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
5 (The animation includes bright vivid graphics)
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): N/A ( there are
no games included)
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): N/A (there
are no games involved)
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results):
I used this to research a topic for a French Paper, wasn't very effective.
Clear directions for play: N/A (there
are no games)
Effectiveness of debriefing:
N/A (there are no games)
Strong Points:
The movie bites and music are interesting, something that could not be
found by using a simple printed encyclopedia. Also the entries that
are included in the encyclopedia are very clear and precise.
Weak Points:
There are definately not enough areas covered that I could use in French
classroom. I don't think that this program would be useful to me
as a teacher of foreign language. Also the features that are included
need to be expanded to add more varieties. There are only three movie
bites under each topic and for music selections there are only ten. I had
a lot oif problems installing this program on my disk and found it to be
very frustrating.
Reviewer: Jennifer Alford
Position: EDUC 410
Date: September 16,1998
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh
PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.