Home PublicationsL&LIssuesVolume 27 (1999-2000) November (No. 3)

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Programs mentioned in this column have not been reviewed by the International Society for Technology in Education; their appearance here does not constitute an endorsement by Learning & Leading with Technology or ISTE.

Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals

Scholastic and Microsoft have collaborated again to create the newest installment in the Magic School Bus series: Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals. The premise is that animals from the Wild Animal Park are returned to the wilderness—but to the wrong places. Ms. Frizzle and her class (students ages 6 to 10) rescue the animals and return them to their natural habitats. The seven geographic zones are Brazilian Rainforest, African Savanna, North American Swamp, Himalayan Mountains, South Pacific Island and Reef, Arctic Tundra and Ocean, and Sonoran Desert. The program contains a game, puzzle, and experiment for each geographic zone. The levels of difficulty are adjustable. The Windows CD-ROM costs $19.95 and is available from educational software retailers.

1999 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia—iMac Edition

1999 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia—iMac Edition Own an iMac? The 1999 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia—Deluxe 2-CD iMac Edition, specifically designed to take advantage of this platform, has been released. All digital music has been remastered and reprocessed in stereo for optimal playback. The Multiplex Videos (videos with a common theme) are presented in full-screen, full-motion MPEG video with stereo audio. (All this multimedia power reminds me why the iMac is so desirable.) This Bondi blue complement is available from retailers for $59.95. With built-in Internet connections to two online encyclopedias, this package makes an excellent suggestion for parents wanting to know, “What do I buy for home?” Grolier Interactive, 203.797.3530, http://www.scholasticlibrary.com/index.html

pwWebSpeak

The Productivity Works created pwWebSpeak technology. Using this program, students with visual impairments or learning disabilities can hear what is written on the Web page. Businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and personal Web site builders who enroll in “Hear the Web Speak” receive steep discounts on pwWebSpeak and all the Productivity Works’ products. Each site that participates is listed at www.prodworks.com.

Prehistoric Animals: A History of Life on Earth

If you have been looking for more resources for early (and I do mean early) historical information or you have been looking for an extraordinarily interesting database for teaching, then examine Prehistoric Animals: A History of Life on Earth. It is Volume 9 of the RE Media ZOO Guides. It includes such topics as protomammals, birds and their relationship to dinosaurs, evolutionary processes, and how fossils are collected. Dinosaurs have captured the imagination of school children, and this collection includes dinosaurs, but it also includes many other fascinating and interesting prehistoric creatures. The database contains more than 700 species. I particularly like the information on locations of the animals in museums around the world. The CD-ROM is a Mac/PC hybrid. RE Media, 619.486.5030

The Other Side

The Other Side

Two teams of students in Grades 5–12, assume leadership of two countries in a tense and risky world (sounds like our own). The mission is to build a bridge connecting the Left Side and the Right Side, which are separated by water. Students must work together, competitively or collaboratively, to solve the problem and, at the same time, share the world’s limited resources. Communication and decision-making skills are required in this endeavor. With each new game, codes are changed and fuel is relocated to provide variety and more opportunities to learn how to create a peaceful world. One exciting new feature is the ability to play against other teams across the Internet. The $79.95 package comes with two Macintosh/Windows hybrid CD-ROMs, so teams can compete through a local area network. The curriculum guide in the back of the support book makes it easier to align the material to standards and district curriculum goals. In particular, if you teach global policy, the Cold War, trade agreements, treaties, or ethics in leadership, then The Other Side is one program you should examine. Tom Snyder Productions, 80 Coolidge Hill Rd., Watertown, MA 02472-5003; 800.342.0236, 617.926.6000; www.tomsnyder.com

FoolProof Internet

The SmartStuff people are again trying to make student use of technology more manageable. FoolProof Internet is their new product. To create a firewall, you specify what is allowable based on your district’s acceptable use policy. Instead of a list that is updated monthly, the engine inside FoolProof Internet analyzes the site for content, rating, and so on. Another aspect of FoolProof Internet is browser security, such as locking browser preferences, locking bookmarks, and prohibiting downloads of files or plug-ins. The three components are the base FPI module, which provides guided activities and browser security; the SafeFilter option, which provides content filtering at the client level; and the SafeServer option, which provides content filtering at the server level. For more information on how to select the best combination for your district, contact SmartStuff directly at PO Box 82284, Portland, OR 97282; 800.671.3999, 503.231.4300; www.smartstuff.com.

Copyright © 1999, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). All rights reserved.