Another year has begun for teachers and students throughout the country, and with the beginning of the term has come a busload of educational software. These programs are ready to take your child on the high-tech road to the head of the class.
A new kid in school this year is the Scholastic Software Club. An offspring of the popular Scholastic Book Club offered in many schools, the Software Club offers children the opportunity to buy educator-approved software for Apple, Macintosh, IBM and even Nintendo computers. If you have a child in school, odds are you`ll be seeing one of Scholastic`s brochures soon. Current club titles include such well-reviewed programs as The Children`s Writing and Publishing Center from The Learning Company and the computer version of Jeopardy from Hi Tech Expressions. Teachers who wish to receive information about the club can call Scholastic at 800-541-5513.
Some Chicago-area schools are trying some innovations of their own this year. Thanks to a grant from IBM and Ameritech, selected schools in Palatine, Palos Hills, Park Ridge and Winnetka will experiment with having students use their home computers to link up with school.
The possible uses of the linkup are many: Students will be able to do library research from home; sick students will be able to telecommunicate homework assignments; students working on group projects can work together over the modem; and parents can check to see what each teacher has assigned for the day.
Even if your child`s school is not a part of the experiment, you can still hop aboard the high-tech bandwagon. After all, October is Computer Learning Month. So to help celebrate, here`s a roundup of some of the best of the new educational products on the market. The prices are suggested list;
expect to pay considerably less at discount software houses.
For all ages
Professor Mac and Professor Windows ($29.95 each) are the two most recent additions to Individual Software`s catalog of computer-based training products. The series of tutorials for Macintosh and IBM users covers a number of software applications. Most are geared to novices who will appreciate the program`s ease of use. For more information, contact Individual Software at 800-833-3533.
For age 6 and under
The Berenstain Bears Learn About Letters (Britannica; IBM; $39.95) is a colorful and easy-to-use program that helps children to learn the alphabet, distinguish between upper and lower case, and spell simple words. The program also features a Learning Manager that lets parents or teachers customize the program for each child.
The Berenstain Bears Fun With Colors (Britannica; IBM; $39.95) is a just- released program that serves as an interactive coloring book. Children color a screen using a dazzling palette and can add to their creations one of 70 pieces of clip art or 20 animated objects. Britannica says the program is geared to ages 3-10, but around here a few adults had fun with it too.
Previous titles also available in Britannica`s Early Education Series include The Berenstain Bears Learn About Counting and The Berenstain Bears Junior Jigsaw.
Mickey`s Crossword Puzzle Maker (Disney; Apple, $39.95; IBM, $49.95) is aimed at kids from kindergarten through 3rd grade. It lets them create simple and colorful crosswords featuring such characters as Dumbo and Bambi.
Disney is also offering some bargain discounts on some titles that have been around for a while. Donald`s Alphabet Chase, Mickey`s Runaway Zoo and Goofy`s Railway Express are now listing for a mere $14.95. The titles are available for Apple, Commodore and IBM computers.
Two more recent Disney titles at low prices are Dick Tracy Crimestoppers Print Kit and Mickey & Minnie`s Fun Time Print Kit (Commodore, IBM; $19.95). Both of these offer young children a painless introduction to rudimentary desktop publishing. Each package can be used to print banners, cards, posters, letterheads and more.
Sesame Street Countdown (Hi Tech; Nintendo; $49.95) is one of the few educational products for the Nintendo. The big attraction of this program is its sound capability. The batty Count from Sesame Street uses digitized speech in leading children through a variety of fun number drills.
Joshua`s Reading Machine (Compu-Teach; Apple, IBM, Macintosh; $49.95;
800-44-TEACH) is a fun reading program for kids ages 4-7. Included are close to 40 classics of children`s literature from Aesop to Mother Goose.
Other offerings from Compu-Teach worth a look include the Once Upon a Time series of programs, which lets kids 6-12 create their own illustrated books; and Stepping Stones, an early-learning package aimed at kids 2 and up. For ages 7-12
Where in America`s Past Is Carmen Sandiego? (Broderbund; IBM; $59.95) is the latest in this best-selling series of fun detective adventures. In past releases, kids learned geography by chasing Carmen around the globe. This time out, they learn history by using a time machine to pursue the V.I.L.E. villain. This title figures to be perhaps the biggest-selling program of the year, and its popularity is well-deserved. The graphics and sound of this release far surpass anything you`ve seen or heard on previous Carmens. It is highly recommended.
The Bank Street Writer for the Macintosh (Scholastic; $129.95) is the first Macintosh word processor designed for elementary and junior high students. The Bank Street Writer has been available for other computer systems for years, but this new Mac version is the niftiest yet.
The program boasts desktop publishing features such as multiple column layouts; it offers hypertext capability; and it even has an electronic mail feature for students in a networked classroom (at last, a high-tech way to pass notes during class!).
All of these features sound as if they would be a bit overwhelming for a 10-year-old, but the program takes such good advantage of the elegant user interface of the Macintosh that it is a breeze to use. This program alone should be reason enough for schools to dump their Apple IIs and upgrade to Macs.
Bushbuck Charms, Viking Ships & Dodo Eggs (PC Globe; IBM; $39.95) is a fun global scavenger hunt in the same vein as the Carmen Sandiego series. Great graphics and clever design make this one a good find.
PC Globe has a cottage industry in geography-related games. Other new titles include Geo Jigsaw (IBM, $39.95), Geo Puzzle USA (Apple IIGS, $39.95)
and Geo Quiz (Apple IIGS, $49.95). Each offers a series of fun puzzles and quizzes.
Elementary School Grade Builder 3 Pack (Britannica; IBM; $29.95) combines in one package three popular titles that have been around a while:
Designasaurus, Math Maze and Spellicopter. The price and the good quality of the titles make this one a bargain.
”Computers: 49 Science Fair Projects” (Tab; $9.95) is a book by Robert Bonnet and G. Daniel Keen geared to students from ages 8 through 13. It shows them how to use a computer in a number of experiments, from forecasting weather to playing games of chance. It`s the perfect book for when your child is stuck for an idea at science fair time.
For teenagers
Headline Harry and the Great Paper Race (Davidson; IBM; $59.95) is a Carmen Sandiego clone in which you take the role of an intrepid reporter attempting to track down some big scoops. The stories are based on major happenings from 1950 to 1990, so along the way players learn about current history.
Junior High School Grade Builder 3 Pack (Britannica; IBM; $29.95) is another three-in-one package that includes Body Transparent, Grammar Examiner and States & Traits. The titles are aimed at ages 11-14, and you can`t beat the price. However, none of the three was a big hit when originally released. What`s My Angle? (Davidson; IBM; $49.95) covers an entire year of geometry and has a lot of fun along the way. Its cast of colorful characters includes an astronaut, an athlete and a rock star; your teenager aids all of them by using geometry to solve real-life problems.
The slick package includes online help, a glossary of mathematical terms and a personalized record-keeping system. It also lets your child print out certificates of achievement along the way. If you try this program, you`ll wonder why geometry was never this much fun when you were in high school.
Destination: Mars! (Compu-Teach; Apple, IBM, Macintosh; $49.95) is an imaginative program that simulates an expedition to Mars in 2010. It encourages students to use knowledge of chemistry, biology and physics to solve problems that threaten the mission`s success.
The College Knowledge Series (Education Information Systems; IBM; $79.95 for each module; $179.95 for all three; 201-882-4581) is a series of three programs: How to Choose the Right College; How to Choose the Right Major; and How to Plan for College. The programs search a database of close to 5000 colleges to find the right match for you.
For instance, if you are interested in a four-year college in Georgia offering a degree in the dramatic arts, the program will quickly bring up a list of nine possibilities, along with their addresses and phone numbers.
However, this program has a lot to learn itself. Its user interface is so klutzy and its graphics so low-tech that it is hardly a delight to use. Fortunately, most people will have to find the right college only once.
For adults
Objection! (TransMedia; IBM; $89.95; 313-553-9100) offers lousy graphics and a clumsy interface, but if you are interested in law at all, you`ll find it fascinating. You take the role of a defense attorney, and you need to decide-as quickly as possible-whether a question is objectionable or not. The game was meant to be a training tool for lawyers, but the ruling here is that you`ll enjoy this game even if you don`t make $100 an hour.
”The (Guilty) Parent`s Guide to Educational Software” (Microsoft Press; $14.95) by Marion Blank and Laura Berlin is a 400-page book filled with reviews of more than 200 educational programs. It is organized by age group and includes the hardware requirements of each product. There is also a special section on software for the learning-disabled student.
For teachers
”HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills): Using Computers to Develop Thinking Skills in Students at Risk” (Scholastic; $24.95) is a 253-page book by Stanley Pogrow that outlines an innovative approach to using computers to motivate students. It is of particular interest to computer coordinators and administrators.
