Instructional Software Reviews

School of Education

State University of New York (SUNY) Potsdam

The following are software reviews performed by students in SUNY Potsdam's Teacher Preparation program.  Each student reviewed the software using the Appraisal Checklist found in the text Instructional Media (1993) by Heinich, Molenda, and Russell (load the software review form template here)  What follows is list of titles, followed by the overall grade (A to F).  Clicking on each review will bring up more information on that specific software title.  Some software has been reviewed by more than one person.  In this case each review is listed.  It is hoped that this can serve as a resource for educators interested in purchasing software for their schools/classrooms.  This is not meant to be used as a definitive source of information regarding this software, and it is encouraged that potential software purchases be reviewed first by the person, people, or organization that will be using the software.

Software Titles:

 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Grade
Cost
Operating
System
Release
Date
Demo?
Purchase
Online?
Date 
Reviewed
Software Title
3D ATLAS 98
A+
$24.00
MAC
1997
YES
YES
6/7/1999
ACE REPORTER
C
$??.??
MAC
1997
YES
YES (Links to catalog request form)
6/7/1999
ACTION OFFICER DEVELOPMENT
B-
$0.00
WEB-BASED
1997
YES
YES
6/7/1999
ALGEBRA ONE ON ONE
A+
$14.99
WIN
1998
YES
YES
2/19/00
ALL ABOUT SCIENCE
C
$??.??
MAC
1992
NO
NO
September 1998
ALPHIE
B
$49.00
MAC
1998
YES
NO
6/7/1999
AMAZON TRAIL
-Amazon Trail
B+
$26.95
MAC/WIN
1994
NO
YES
3/19/1998
-Amazon Trail
B
$26.95
MAC/WIN
1994
NO
YES
9/21/1998
AMERICAN POETRY
-American Poetry
A+
$28.38
MAC
1994
NO
YES
9/16/1998
-American Poetry
A
$28.38
MAC
1994
NO
YES
9/15/1998
-American Poetry
A
$36.10
MAC
1994
NO
YES
9/23/1998
THE ANIMALS
-The Animals
A-
$39.95
MAC
1992
NO
NO
3/24/1998
-The Animals
A
$8.00
MAC
1993
NO
NO
9/19/1998
-The Animals
A-
$39.95
MAC
1992/1993
NO
NO
Spring 1999
-The Animals
A
??.??
MAC
1993
NO
NO
3/25/1999
ANIMALS AND HOW THEY GROW
B+
$59.95
MAC
1993
NO
NO
3/19/1998
ANIMATED ARITHMETIC
A
$19.00
WIN
1998
NO
YES
6/7/1999
ARTHUR'S TEACHER TROUBLE
-Arthur's Teacher Trouble
B+
$19.95
MAC/WIN
1993
NO
NO
9/16/1998
-Arthur's Teacher Trouble
C+
$19.95
MAC/WIN
1994
NO
YES
9/29/1998
-Arthur's Teacher Trouble
B-
$39.95
MAC/WIN
1997
NO
YES
9/16/1998
-Arthur's Teacher Trouble
A
$74.95
MAC/WIN
1992
NO
YES
9/21/1998
-Arthur's Teacher Trouble
A
$16.95
MAC/WIN
1992
NO
NO
9/26/1998
-Arthur's Teacher Trouble
A
$19.95
MAC/WIN
1994
NO
NO
2/10/1999
AUDUBON'S BIRDS
B
$41.95
MAC/WIN
1990
NO
YES
3/24/1998
AUDUBON'S MAMMALS
-Audubon's Mammals
C-
$8.95
MAC/Win
1992
NO
YES
2/14/99
-Audubon's Mammals
F
$8.95
MAC/WIN
1992
NO
YES
3/18/1999

 
 
Grade
Cost
Operating System
Release Date
Demo?
Purchase Online?
Date Reviewed
BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY
B
$0.00
MAC
1996
YES
YES
6/7/1999
BUGS, BOGS, BIOMES, BATS, and MORE!
A
??.??
MAC/WIN
1998
NO
YES
2/10/1999

 
 
Grade
Cost
Operating System
Release Date
Demo?
Purchase Online?
Date Reviewed
CANON CREATIVE
A+
$Free w/ Printer Purchase
WIN
1998
NO
NA(Can not be purchased separately)
6/13/1998
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO?
-Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
B+
$28.99
MAC/WIN
1998
NO
YES
2/10/99
-Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
A-
$39.95
MAC/WIN
1998
NO
YES
6/7/1999
-Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
A
$28.45
MAC/WIN
1998
NO
YES
6/8/1999
CATS
C
Free/$5.00 Donation
MAC
1998
YES
YES
6/7/1999
CD FUNHOUSE
C
??.??
MAC
1993
NO
NO
9/16/1998
CIVILIZATION 2
B+
$19.95
MAC/WIN
1996
NO
YES
3/21/1999
CLINTON: PORTRAIT OF VICTORY
B+
$39.99
MAC/WIN
1993
NO
YES
3/21/1999
CLUEFINDERS 4TH GRADE ADVENTURE
-Cluefinders 4th Grade Adventure
A
$19.95
MAC/WIN
1998
NO
YES
2/12/1999
-Cluefinders 4th Grade Adventure
B
$19.95
MAC/WIN
1998
NO
NO
3/20/1999
CLUEFINDERS MATH 9-12
-Cluefinders Math 9-12
-Cluefinders Math 9-12
-Cluefinders Math 9-12
-Cluefinders Math 9-12
-Cluefinders Math 9-12
COMMAND & CONQUER
COMPTON'S WORLD ATLAS
-Compton's World Atlas
-Compton's World Atlas
CREEPIN CRITTER MATH
CRYSTAL MAKER

This page is maintained by Anthony Betrus, and was last updated September 21, 1999.

  1. Easy Language (A+)
  2. Encarta '97 (A)
  3. Encarta '98 (B+)
  4. Encarta '98 {2} (A)
  5. Encarta (B+)
  6. Farm Animals for Kids (B+)
  7. Fine Artist (A)
  8. Flying Through Math (C)
  9. The Great World Adventure (A)
  10. Greatest Children's Stories (C)
  11. Grolier's Encyclopedia (C)
  12. Grolier's Encyclopedia {2} (B)
  13. The Human Body (C)
  14. Imperialism (B-)
  15. Insights (C)
  16. Insights {2} (D)
  17. It's All Relative (B)
  18. JumpStart Kindergarten Reading (A)
  19. JumpStart Kindergarten Reading {2}(A)
  20. JumpStart Kindergarten Reading {3} (B+)
  21. JumpStart Kindergarten Reading {4} (A-)
  22. Just Grandma and Me (A)
  23. Just Grandma and Me {2} (B+)
  24. Just Grandma and Me {3} (A)
  25. Just Grandma and Me {4} (B)
  26. Kids Studio (A)
  27. KidsWorks 2 (C)
  28. Life Story (C)
  29. Macbeth (C+)
  30. Macbeth {2} (A)
  31. Macbeth {3} (B)
  32. Mammals (C+)
  33. Mammals {2} (A)
  34. Mario Teaches Typing (A-)
  35. Mario Teaches Typing {2} (A)
  36. Mastering Math (C)
  37. Mastering Math {2} (A)
  38. Mastering Math {3} (B)
  39. Mastering Math {4} (C)
  40. Math Ace Cd (B+)
  41. Math Blaster Mystery (B)
  42. MathCad 8 Professional
  43. Message of Hope
  44. Muppets on Stage (B)
  45. Muppets on Stage {2} (B)
  46. My Own Stories (B)
  47. My Own Stories {2} (A)
  48. New Kid on the Block (B)
  49. Nile: Passage to Egypt (B-)
  50. Operation Desert Storm (B+)
  51. Operation Desert Storm {2} (C)
  52. Operation Desert Storm {3} (A)
  53. The Oregon Trail 2 (C)
  54. The Oregon Trail 2 {2} (B)
  55. The Oregon Trail 2 {3} (A)
  56. The Oregon Trail 2 {4} (A)
  57. The Oregon Trail 2 {5} (A)
  58. The Oregon Trail 2 {6} (C+)
  59. Our Earth (B)
  60. Prime Suspect (A-)
  61. Prime Suspect {2} (A)
  62. The Rainforest (B+)
  63. Reader Rabbit's Math 1 (A-)
  64. Reader Rabbit's Math 1 {2} (A)
  65. Reader Rabbit's Math 1 {3} (A)
  66. Reader Rabbit's Math 1 {4} (A)
  67. Reader Rabbit's Math 1 {5} (A-/B+)
  68. Reader Rabbit's Math 1 {6} (A)
  69. Schoolhouse Rock (A)
  70. Seven Days in August (B+)
  71. Seven Days in August {2} (A)
  72. Seven Days in August {3} (C)
  73. Seven Days in August {4} (A)
  74. Sing Along Kids (A+)
  75. Small Blue Planet (B+)
  76. Small Blue Planet {2} (B+)
  77. Small Blue Planet {3} (A)
  78. Small Blue Planet {4} (B)
  79. SnapDragon (B)
  80. SnapDragon {2} (C)
  81. SnapDragon {3} (B)
  82. SnapDragon {4} (B+)
  83. Spanish 1 (B+)
  84. South West College Keyboarding (A)
  85. Storybook Weaver Deluxe (B-)
  86. SuperMunchers (B+)
  87. SuperMunchers {2} (B+)
  88. SuperMunchers {3} (D-)
  89. Timon & Pumbaa (B)
  90. Tonka Construction (A)
  91. The Tortoise and The Hare (B+)
  92. The Tortoise and The Hare {2} (A+)
  93. Troggle Trouble Math (A-)
  94. Troggle Trouble Math {2}
  95. Troggle Trouble Math {3}
  96. Troggle Trouble Math {4} (B+)
  97. Virtus Vr (B-)
  98. Virtus Vr {2}
  99. Woodstock (C+)
  100. Woodstock {2} (B)
  101. Woodstock {3} (D)
  102. Woodstock {4} (B)
  103. World Atlas (B)
  104. Word City Cd( A-)
  105. World of Animals (B-)
  106. The Yukon Trail (B+)