Fall 1999
Seal of Approval
Product Testing Report
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My
First Amazing Science Explorer
DK Interactive Learning
If your child is the curious type who loves delving into the unknown to figure out why things do what they do, then this software is for them, and you. Filled with a fun interface that introduces children to facts and demonstrations about things that are a part of the world we live in, Science Explorer is a breeding ground for exploration. Children learn how to examine, test and explore. Kids liked testing themselves with the science quiz and parents were impressed with how absorbed their children were. Since the software is goal oriented, children were compelled to dig deeper and deeper.
Recommended Ages: 5 to 9 Suggested Retail Price: $29.95
Smart
Steps - Kindergarten
DK Interactive Learning
Smart Steps is a fun activity center for young children who enjoy interacting with the computer. Featuring a lively, upbeat host who cheerfully guides your child through a myriad of playtime activities, parents watched as their children played for hours exploring all the ways they could complete the age appropriate skills areas. With each success the child wins a sticker, which can be placed in their very own sticker book. This positive reinforcement was a huge hit with the children. Parents liked that they could easily track the success their children were having and in which areas.
Recommended Ages: 5 and Up
Suggested Retail Price: $19.95
Reading Blaster 1st Grade
Knowledge Adventure
The Blaster series is one of the most honored and superbly designed educational series ever produced. In this newest release, early reading is the subject of our super heroes quest. Introduced with a wonderfully produced, action-packed movie, children are cast as super hero helpers. We watched as they eagerly set about the tasks of unscrambling letters, sounding out words and a whole lot more. There are rewards that unlock games and other treasures, which kept many kids glued to the task at hand. Parent testers liked that the program tracked achievements and, we discovered that many of them were familiar with the successful series.
Recommended Ages: 5 to 7 Suggested Retail Price: $30.00
Magic
School Bus Explores the World of Animals
Microsoft
The Magic School bus is still chugging along, entertaining
and educating children with yet another release in this very successful
series. Ms. Frizzle and the gang set
off this time to learn all they can about animals large and small. Carried by the magical bus that all our
child testers secretly long to travel on, the kids see a terrific assortment of
photos and video of animals up close.
They unearth facts while traveling to eight different habitats around
the world. While exploring, players are
challenged to find the animals who are out of place. This game keeps children on the lookout and in search of clues,
which parents described as cleverly designed educational lessons.
Recommended Ages: 6 to 10
Suggested Retail Price: $19.95
I
Love Spelling
DK Interactive Learning
Spelling is one of those disciplines that clicks with some children and misses the mark with others. If your child finds spelling tests to be drudgery and if they bring home papers with loads of red ink corrections, this fun software title may infuse a little enthusiasm back into the subject. Designed with a humorous tone and a light attitude, there are games that are both fun and challenging. Each game uses a database of commonly misspelled word groups that parents or players can choose from. There is a zany MC that keeps things moving, along with a veritable zoo of other characters that react and interact with the player beautifully. There are also point accumulation prizes that drive children to achieve and succeed.
Recommended Ages: 6 to 10 Suggested Retail Price: $29.95
American
Greetings CreataCard Gold 4
Broderbund
If this newest version of card making software from
American Greetings doesn't make card shop owners cringe with fear, we don't
know what will. If you've got an occasion
that calls for a card, a last minute addition to a birthday gift, a holiday
greeting, a note of sympathy, you name it, it is here. Brilliantly designed to intuitively help you
along the design process, there are loads of files to add just the right
personalized flair. You will have no trouble keeping up with often missed
events thanks to a calendar that reminds you in advance of upcoming
occasions. The ability to grab images
from digital cameras, scanners and even the Internet to spice up your cards
with your own, stylized touch was the feature that put this software over the
top for parents.
Recommended Ages: 7 and Up
Suggested Retail Price: $49.95
PrintMaster
Platinum 8.0
Broderbund
Want to put your color printer to the test? Well stock up on the ink refills cause PrintMaster Platinum will have you creating projects faster than you can say "dot matrix". This everything-in-a-box software will astound you as it did our testers. It contains vast array of ideas, templates and fun. There are ten, count 'em, 10 CD's here, all filled with clip art, animations, fonts and much more. You will be off to the races making posters, cards, t-shirts, you name it. The results are absolutely topnotch and the easy-to-use, intuitive navigation is a snap. Whatever project you are planning, PrintMaster Platinum can add a professional look and feel.
Recommended Ages: 7 and Up Suggested Retail Price: $59.95
American
Greetings Crafts! Deluxe
Broderbund
The family home computer is often a battleground where parents try to squeeze in some time from their kids. Crafts! Deluxe is a program that will have everyone clamoring for more time at the keyboard where they can design a wonderful assortment of colorful creations. American Greetings brings their considerable creative force and drops it in the laps of both parents and kids giving them carte blanche to start their own printing business. As long as the color printer is hooked up, you'll be making gift bags and boxes, cardboard train sets, paper dolls, signs, banners, and even business cards to spread the word. Looking for a rainy day project, need to spruce up a present, want to add a little creative flair to your correspondence? Look no further.
Recommended Ages: 7 and Up Suggested Retail Price: $49.95
National
Geographic Maps
Broderbund
Illustrating the ever-changing face of our planet has been dutifully carried out by map maker for centuries. The folks at National Geographic, while not at it for quite as long, have certainly compiled one of the most impressive and complete collections of maps the world has ever seen. Over the years these maps have been published in their familiar yellow covered magazine. Now the entire collection is just a mouse click away and without a doubt this body of work is quite impressive. It took 8 CD-ROM's to hold all the maps and multimedia tours that help bring this software to life. Whether researching political boundaries or examining environmental changes over the years there are maps of every size shape and variety. Research papers will never look the same. Oh, the 8 CD's come with their own travel sized holder, which makes storage and travel to other computers a pleasure.
Recommended Ages: 7 and up Suggested Retail Price: $59.95
Compton's
Encyclopedia Deluxe
Broderbund
Brimming with audiovisual enhancements, this multimedia encyclopedia is a superb value and a must for families who wish to avail themselves to an incredibly vast storehouse of knowledge. In the '99 version of this wonderful research tool, new enhancements are plain to see and easy to use. The search tool, which reveals local neighborhood resources, is a great method for teaching children how to expand their research beyond a single venue. The Report Starter also stood out as a great assistant for helping researchers collect and gather their findings. Being hooked to the Internet makes this software an even more powerful tool as many web links are available to explore beyond the boundaries of this 3 CD set.
Recommended Ages: 7 and up Suggested Retail Price: $39.95
Mavis
Beacon Teaches Typing
Broderbund
Can anyone recall a time when Mavis Beacon was not the "queen" of typing? Now in her 10th version of teaching typing skills to all levels and ages, Mavis is doing it longer and better than anyone. The lessons are thoughtful and easy to follow. The encouragement Mavis provides keeps novice and expert alike, focused and on track. No matter what level of typing skill you start out with this program will seek out and provide appropriate lessons to enhance your abilities. Parents felt that their children would be well served spending time with Mavis sharpening their typing skills as they reach an age where their keyboard savvy can help them achieve. Moms and Dads also welcomed the opportunity to sharpen their own skills.
Recommended Ages: 7 and up Suggested Retail Price: $29.95
NATURE
- Virtual Serengeti
Grolier
Interactive
If you and your children love nature videos and the animal stars in them, you'll love Virtual Serengeti. Cast as a wildlife filmmaker charged with the task of completing an African Safari video, you will be challenged to take in the spectacular surroundings of your base camp and beyond. Capturing video, cataloging it and completing the assignment is just part of the fun. The video clips pull no punches and get you up close to the incredible array of wildlife living in the Serengeti. Filled with so many animals displaying their looks, behaviors, skills, oddities and more is fascinating fun. The challenge to complete the assignment drove our testers to examine every last bit of the bush.
Recommended Ages: 9 and Up Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
Year
2000 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia
Grolier Interactive
The benchmark of a truly well made multimedia encyclopedia rests in its ability to call up information quickly with a minimum of searching, giving the user what they want right away. Beyond that, to be more than just a question and answer tool, this new generation of encyclopedias must also tantalize users to dig deeper, find new avenues of exploration and discover new treasure. The year 2000 edition of Grolier's Encyclopedia does that as well as anything we've seen. There is never an end point to a section, each new vein of knowledge leads to another and another. It is easy to see why people can get joyously lost not just within the confines of the 2 CD-ROM's but then out to the Internet. Parents told us that their children's reports and papers are more thorough and interesting when the search begins here.
Recommended Ages: 10 and Up Suggested Retail Price: $59.99
Inspiration
Inspiration Software
This very inventive software is designed to help children and adults get a handle on their thoughts and ideas. By presenting an approach to seeing a project as a whole, from start to finish, Inspiration provides a tool to visualize the process. It thereby clears the way for children to have more creative input. Whether it is a report or a project around the house, Inspiration helps users plan the order, time and magnitude of each required element. This is invaluable for children who demonstrate difficulty with organizational skills. Using the product requires a commitment of time and energy, but the result impressed our testers with its clear, insightful results.
Recommended Ages: K thru 12th Grades Suggested Retail Price: $69.00
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Last Update: August 15, 1999