CD-ROM Reviews: April, 2005
-- School Library Journal, 4/1/2005
Art–General
Art and Civilizations: Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas in the Louvre. 1 CD-ROM. Systems: Win 95 & later, Macintosh 7.5 & later. Crystal Prods. 2004. #CP-5389. $39.95.
Gr 7 Up–Works of primitive arts that otherwise would never be seen by most students are presented so that they can be examined more closely than they ever could in a museum. Through the technology of QuickTime VR, the objects can be rotated 360 degrees, or viewers can zoom into each detail. More than 52 specialists in different cultures and societies provide in-depth information about each of the 113 masterworks of the “Louvre of the Primary Arts.” Students can select an area of the world and study works from that region. Fact sheets accompany each work as it is viewed; many words and concepts are defined or illustrated by clicking on it. Another click reveals a map showing the object’s origin, or a comparison of its height to an adult and a child. Each piece is analyzed from three points of view: the object’s aesthetic qualities, its purpose, and the society which produced it. Through an icon on the toolbar, viewers can access the thematic approach to the exhibit, which groups objects according to their common traits or uses. The plan of the gallery shows the works as they are exhibited in the Louvre, and each piece can be viewed by selecting it from the map. This view also offers an explanation, called “From Museum to Laboratory,” of how the items are studied scientifically, x-rayed, and analyzed to reveal internal structure, age and composition, as well as a history of the exhibit. Commentaries can be printed, the exhibit can be searched by subject or name, and the search can be limited by geographic area. The software installs easily, and the opening screen and toolbar at the bottom make navigation smooth and straightforward, with help available on each screen. This presentation not only offers close-up views of fascinating works of art from the Inuit, Maya, Kanak, Infugao, and Dogon, but it also provides information through original sound documents, expert commentaries, and iconographic documents more thoroughly than a gallery tour.–MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
Language Arts
Nancy Drew, Vol. 11: Curse of Blackmoor Manor. 1 CD-ROM. with tchr’s. guide. Systems: Win 98 & later. Her Interactive. 2004. ISBN 0-9728336-5-X. $19.99
Gr 4-7–Nancy has traveled to England to visit a friend who recently married a British diplomat and moved into Blackmoor Manor, a 14th-century mansion haunted by a tragic past. But newlywed Linda hides behind heavy bed curtains, stricken by a mysterious malady. It is up to Nancy and the player to find out what Linda is hiding from, and to solve many mysteries and puzzles along the way. The music, setting, and plot are all satisfyingly creepy, and there are plenty of characters to question along the way. The format is the same as previous titles: explore the mansion in search of clues, keys, notes and so on needed to progress through the mystery. Some players may find that they would like to be able to interact with more characters, and some of the puzzles are more difficult than in previous Nancy Drew mysteries, but there are plenty of opportunities for help and tips. The in-game cellular phone dials up hints and Web searches where players trade tips, and the forgiving “Second Chance” option erases blunders and rookie mistakes. There are two levels of play, and junior detectives get suggestions, a checklist, and easier game puzzles. The game promises over 25 hours of “spellbinding game play,” and it really can take days to complete. Although girls have thought of Nancy as their heroine, boys can enjoy sleuthing with her as well, since the mystery is the main focus of the game. The enhanced graphics, more open-minded game play, a return to solid puzzling, and a well-crafted plot make for a nice piece of gaming. A welcome addition to the series.–MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
Mathematics
Soccer Math. 1 CD-ROM. Systems: Win 98 & later, Macintosh 8.5 & later. EdVenture Software. 2004. ISBN 0-9661683-4-8. $29.95.
Gr 2-6–Get ready for a math skills drill program disguised as a soccer game in which students practice math skills while the team dribbles, shoots, and scores. Players can choose from eight basic math topics to practice including place value, whole number operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), measurement (English and metric), greatest common factors, least common multiples, fractions, and percents/decimals. Practice consists of a set of ten problems to be solved while a player is juggling a soccer ball. These multiple choice problems have no time limit. The coach offers words of praise for correct responses, while incorrect answers cause the player to boot the ball and coach to offer words of encouragement. Regardless of proficiency, after attempting the ten problems, the user is given the option to continue juggling or move on to play a game. Playing a game adds time pressure to the problems; the user is given the choice of play levels offering 5, 10, or 15 seconds to answer each problem. Correct answers either move the ball down the field, or return possession to the user; incorrect answers give the ball to the opponent, or move the ball further away from scoring position. Each topic can be reviewed at three or four different difficulty levels. This is a terrific program for students needing speed drills, but it doesn’t offer any help or instruction. Skills must be mastered elsewhere, and then practiced on the soccer field. Instructions are adequate, even for kids who never read the “how-to” before jumping into the game. It does tend to get repetitious, however, and the graphics are not outstanding and the thrill of scoring wears thin rapidly. Still, since math drills strengthen problem-solving ability, this is a fun way to “score” with math basics.–MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
Browse the March CD-ROM reviews 
