Figure 1. Sample evaluation criteria for
multimedia
encyclopedias. See a completed
form
for all five encyclopedias.
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Instructional Design
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Encyclopedia Name
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Search
methods (keyword, natural language, or Boolean)
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Search
words marked in text? How?
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Indexed
by article?
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Links
to other articles? Linked webs? Topic trails?
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Dictionary
window accessible automatically by clicking on word in text?
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Encourages
browsing by organizing material by images, movies, and so
on?
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Can
students print text or e-mail article?
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Can
students move text to word processor?
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Can
students export pictures?
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Contains
Internet links?
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Keeps
track of student routes of exploration?
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Other
Ways Students Can Organize Information
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Content (topics from VaSoL)
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Language
Arts
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Mathematics
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Science
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|
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|
|
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Social
Science
|
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ex.
Meaning of a country’s flag (United States and
Nigeria)
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Technology
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Teacher Support
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Clear
Printed Instructions
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Guided
Tour Loaded with Program
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Lessons
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Handout
Masters
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Further
Resources
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Technical
Support (free or charge)
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Technical Quality
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Photos
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Videos
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360º
View
|
|
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Sound
|
|
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Control
Bar—icons or all text
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Internet
Links—links only? can be printed? included in article?
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Network
Version
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Multimedia
Encyclopedia Package Contents
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Compton’s Encyclopedia Deluxe: Teacher’s Guide
& Resource Package
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Contents
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2
CD-ROMs in a 196-page binder
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Report
Making Tools
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Topic
Chooser, Report Starter, Bookmark List, Notebook, Word Processor,
Presentation Maker, Get Research Tips
|
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Documentation
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Extensive
Curriculum Integration Guide includes Lesson plans, Training
Lessons with masters for overheads, Reference pages
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Extras
(desired or not)
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Built-in:
Planetarium, Atlas, Dictionary/Thesaurus, Picture Tour, Guided
Tour
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Internet
Resources
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Monthly
updates; Web Link Directory; also links to some specific sites
Ask the Librarian™, Electric Library, and Neighborhood
Resources
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Copyright
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Clearly
stated on last page of binder; bottom of printouts
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Microsoft Encarta Reference Suite 99
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Contents
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2
CD-ROMs for program; 1 CD for installation; 1 CD for Virtual
Globe; 1 CD for Bookshelf; 22-page booklet
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Report
Making Tools
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Research
Organizer
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Documentation
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Introductory
instructions for all included software
|
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Extras
(desired or not)
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Encarta
Virtual Globe, Microsoft Bookshelf Optional: Microsoft Internet
Explorer 4.01
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Internet
Resources
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Monthly
updates, Encarta Online
|
|
Copyright
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Citation
Wizard adds reference information for text and images; models
good citation practice
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Encyclopædia Britannica CD 99: Multimedia Edition
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Contents
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3
CD-ROMs (one is for installation only); installation page;
12-page Family Guide; 28-page User Guide
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Report
Making Tools
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Attach
notes to articles, Add Bookmarks
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Documentation
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Family
Learning Guide contains suggestions for posing questions to
children and suggested activities to encourage developing
connections
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Extras
(desired or not)
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EarthLink
Sprint 30-day access, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (required
to install), QuickTime for Windows and QuickTime Browser Plug-in,
Adobe Acrobat Reader, Built-in: Compass (contains maps), Analyst
(for making spreadsheet-type comparisons)
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Internet
Resources
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30-day
subscription to Encyclopædia Britannica Online, Links
at end of articles
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Copyright
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Stated
in User Guide; bottom of printouts
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1999 Grolier Multimedia Reference Suite
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Contents
|
2
CD-ROMs for program; 1 CD-ROM Atlas; 1 CD-ROM quotes; 1 CD-ROM
Almanac; book; 32-page CD-size booklet; 64-page Activities
book
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Report
Making Tools
|
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Documentation
|
Book
titled Improve Your Grammar and Usage; Activities & Study
Guide for the Home and Classroom
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Extras
(desired or not)
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Wall
Street Journal 1998 Almanac; Hammond Atlas of the World; Bartlett’s
Familiar Quotations
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Internet
Resources
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Links
at end of articles
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Copyright
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Bottom
of printouts
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1999 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia: Teacher’s Guide
& Resource Package
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Contents
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1
CD-ROM, 156-page binder
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Report
Making Tools
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Documentation
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Binder
with tutorial, instructions, curriculum activities, lessons,
blackline masters
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Extras
(desired or not)
|
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Internet
Resources
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Links
at end of articles
|
|
Copyright
|
Bottom
of printouts
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1999 World Book: Family Reference Suite
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Contents
|
3
CD-ROMs (the third has Via Voice™),
60-page booklet
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Report
Making Tools
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Homework
Wizards, Questions at end of articles, Sticky Note, Highlighter,
Dictionaries
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Documentation
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Petite
60-page User Guide, not for classroom use
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Extras
(desired or not)
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Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus; Literature Encyclopedia;
Medical, Intermediate, Bio- graphical Dictionaries; Information
Please Almanacs; IBM’s Via Voice w/microphone; San Diego
Zoo’s Cyber Safari
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Internet
Resources
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Monthly
updates, The Month in Brief, Web sites, Our Century, online
Library, World Book Web site, Web page design Wizard
|
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Copyright
|
Bottom
of printouts
|
Evaluating
Encyclopedias on CD-ROM
for Educational Purposes
|
|
Compton
|
Encarta
|
Encyclopædia
Britannica
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Grolier
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World
Book
|
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Instructional Design
|
|
Search
methods (keyword, natural language, or Boolean)
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Keyword
Boolean, Simple natural language
|
Keyword
Simple natural language
|
Keyword
Simple natural language
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Keyword
Boolean
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Keyword
Boolean
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Search
words marked in text? How?
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Highlighted
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Sometimes
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Yes—
highlighted
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Underlined;
stepping option
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Red
text
|
|
Indexed
by article?
|
Yes
|
Yes
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Yes
|
|
|
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Links
to other articles? Linked webs? Topic trails?
|
Links
in articles
|
Links
in articles, Explore option
|
Links
in articles, Spectrum, Spotlights
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Links
in articles, Knowledge Tree, Guided Tours
|
Links
in articles
|
|
Dictionary
window accessible automatically by clicking on word in text?
|
Moveable,
resizable
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Moveable,
slightly resizable
|
No,
must open and type in word
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Yes
|
Moveable,
resizable, and stays that way
|
|
Encourages
browsing by organizing material by images, movies, and so
on?
|
Picture
Show, Map by country
|
Collages,
Timelines, Yearbook
|
Images,
Compass, video/ animations
|
Interactivities,
Atlas, Gallery, Timelines
|
Time
frames, Dictionary, Just Looking, Maps
|
|
Can
students print text or e-mail article?
|
Print,
Text prints as seen w/images
|
Print
|
Print,
Text prints small w/images
|
Text
prints without images
|
Text
prints without images
|
|
Can
students move text to word processor?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Move
text, Add notes to articles
|
Yes
|
Move
text, Add notes to articles
|
|
Can
students export pictures?
|
Yes
|
Only
when image is listed under copy option
|
Can
be done
|
Sometimes;
double-click to select
|
Yes
|
|
Contains
Internet links?
|
Web
Directory (new search)
|
With
articles
With addresses
|
Related
Internet Link List
|
Online
Knowledge Explorer
|
On
articles, Web site, What’s Online
|
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Keeps
track of student routes of exploration?
|
Back
option lists up to 20
|
Back
and Forward arrows
|
Go
menu,
History List
|
Back
and History (List)
|
Back
arrow icon
|
|
Other
Ways Students Can Organize Information
|
Presentation
Word Processor
|
Research
Organizer for a report
|
Analyst
|
|
Wizards:
Report, Timeline, Chart, Web page, Quiz
|
|
Content (topics from VaSoL)
|
|
Language
Arts
|
|
ex.
Mark Twain
|
Mark
Twain’s voice on audio clip
|
Audio
book excerpt
|
Article
only
|
Text,
Image, Picture of boyhood home
|
Article,
Picture, Time line
|
|
Mathematics
|
|
ex.
Gauss
|
Article,
pic
|
Article,
pic, and probability Interactivity
|
Article
|
Article,
pic
|
Article
|
|
ex.
parabolic curve
|
(4),
parabola (13)
|
(1),
parabola (3)
|
92
articles, >200 with parabola
|
(2),
parabola (14)
|
(0),
parabolic (3), parabola (3)
|
|
Science
|
|
ex.
alligators
|
Many
images
|
Text,
pic, and sound
|
Text
and image
|
Text,
pic, and sound
|
Text,
pic, sound, and video
|
|
ex.
nonvascular plants
|
Yes
|
in
Bryophytes
|
Yes
|
(0),Bryophytes
|
Yes
|
|
ex.
Karst topography
|
(0),
Karst (3)
|
in
Cave Detection
|
|
in
Cave
|
(0),
Karst (1)
|
|
Social
Science
|
|
ex.
Virginia economy
|
Must
search text to find
|
Yes
|
Yes,
thorough
|
Yes,
good article
|
Article
plus table on economics
|
|
ex.
Meaning of a country’s flag (United States and Nigeria)
|
U.S.:
yes
Nigeria: no
|
U.S.:
yes
Nigeria: no
|
U.S.:
yes
Nigeria: no
|
U.S.:
yes
Nigeria: no
|
U.S.:
yes
Nigeria: yes
|
|
Technology
|
|
ex.
ethical issues
|
Try
Theft of Copyright
|
Try
Netiquette
|
Don’t
try Copyright
|
Try
Hacker or Computer Crime
|
Try
plagiarism
|
|
Teacher Support
|
|
Clear
Printed Instructions
|
Lessons
& Reference Sheets
|
Getting
Started Guide
|
User
Guide
|
User
Guide and tutorial in text
|
User
Guide
|
|
Guided
Tour Loaded with Program
|
Yes,
8 parts, voice, no text
|
Yes,
5 parts, voice, no text
|
Demo
on the Installation disc
|
four-screen
overview
|
None
|
|
Lessons
|
Yes
|
Under
Resources
|
No,
activity ideas in Family Guide
|
In
Teacher’s Resource Guide
|
Questions
with articles
|
|
Handout
Masters
|
Yes
|
None
|
None
|
Yes
|
None
|
|
Further
Resources
|
Book
list at end of article
|
Sidebars,
Further Readings
|
No
further reading list
|
Bibliography
at end of article
|
Book
list at end of article
|
|
Technical
Support (free or charge)
|
Some
free, toll number, e-mail
|
Some
free, otherwise $15/incident
|
Toll-free
numbers, e-mail
|
Web
pages, e-mail, toll-free number
|
Toll-free
number,
e-mail
|
|
Technical Quality
|
|
Photos
|
thumbnails
to large
|
thumbnails
to large
|
thumbnails
to large
|
Small
to large
|
thumbnails
to large
|
|
Videos
|
Medium
sized
|
Med
small to Full
|
Varying
sizes
|
Med
Small
|
Has
text caption
|
|
360º
View
|
Under
Movies
|
Under
Virtual Tours
|
None
|
Panoramas,
with zoom
|
Yes,
visit the Cyber Zoo too
|
|
Sound
|
Audio
clips, speaker’s text may be included
|
Sound
clips, use voice to navigate, article to speech option
|
With
videos only
|
Audio
clips, with videos
|
Audio
clips, with videos, Via Voice comes with it, & text to
speech
|
|
Control
Bar—icons or all text
|
Words
for buttons
|
Words/Menus
|
Menu
bar & Control bar
|
Menu
bar and Control bar
|
Icons
|
|
Internet
Links—links only? can be printed? included in article?
|
Separate
from article
|
Links
with article
|
Icon
for list & links at end of articles
|
3
links at most per article
|
Menu,
6 choices for connection
|
|
Network
Version
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Copyright © 1999, ISTE (International Society for Technology
in Education).
All rights reserved.
|
