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SOFTWARE EVALUATION

1). Microsoft Dangerous Creatures - Explore the Endangered World Of Wildlife.

System Requirements; To play the dialogue and music excerpts, the video clips, and to display text and graphics in Microsoft Dangerous Creatures, you need:

* A Multimedia PC that includes a 386SX or higher microprocessor, at least 4MB of RAM, 2.5MB of available hard disk space, CD -ROM drive, audio board, and UGA (for 16 - colour support) or VGA plus (for full 256 - colour support) display.

* MS - DOS (copyright) operating system version 3.1 or later.

* Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.

* Headphones or speakers.

2). Very easy to install as it simply requires the C.D. to be inserted, the D drive to be clicked on via going into the My Computer icon or explorer option, followed by clicking on the set up option and from there the steps are self explainatary.

It is very easy to use due to options such as Trouble shooter which helps with things such as C.D ROM problems, general information about Dangerous Creatures and lists of credits. The Using Help option explains step by step how to copy a picture to the clipboard or desktop.

It is priced at approximately $50.00 and although it does offer educational benefits I don't think I would have purchased it unless it came with our computer as part of the package as it is to American for my liking. But, the price seems fairly reasonable for what it offers, especially if you live in the States.

3). The accompanying documentation includes operating instructions in the form of a small booklet, which also cotains clear specified step by step examples of how to access the Overview Movie on the software which is both a visual and audio stimulating introduction to learning the basics of using the program. The framework nature of Dangerous Creatures is in a sense flexible by the way in which the content varies so vastly forming intricate layers upon one another (as you can travel from knowing about the Arrow Point Frog of Brazil to the Snow Leopards of China in a matter of seconds). Yet, it is also rigid in the sense that it doesn't allow the children to have a great input except for browsing and the playing of associated games so they are unable to type, draw or orally create any form of text, thus keeping the context preety much the same.

4). This truely is a multimedia program at its best. The clarity and vividness of the visuals is a mindblowing experience. You almost feel at times as if you can touch them or that they can touch you. The narrative aspect also adds a differednt dimension to its use and with the aid of another, caters for children with various dissabilities for eg.blindness or will simply help children at younger ages with less literacy skills or ability. The information provided is uncomplicated and easy to follow, holding children's interest. The options offered such as Atlas allows children to discover all they can about the animals of a specific country (to keep within animals of a certain region) or the Habitats function offers children the choice of exploring animals that live in either Wetlands, Forests, Oceans, Arctic, Grassland or Desert. The Weapons option lets children discover creatures with either Jaws, Venom and Claws, which unravels as it goes leading from one thing to another, from the Killer Bee to the Portuguese Man Of War, allowing children to see the connection between such strange and seemimgly diverse creatures. The index offers the option of being able to click on any letter of the alphabet for eg. M and you can then choose from any all the animals starting with M that appear on the screen as to which one they wish to find more out about. The Slide Show option offers educational games such as 'Who Eats Whom' or Whose Tracks Are These' which is fun aswell. Children can click on a phrase such as 'Where We Live' that has a small film image next to it to view a film on the given topic or phrase. Children can click on the picture of the film and it will repeat itself encase they missed something the first time. Another feature also offered is that children can click on highlighted words to find out their meaning and hear how they sound. It emphasises concepts such as bio-diversity and caring and protecting animals and their environment. However, the finding of specific information is difficult. The Guides option is helpful to a certain extent, but is a little bit of a joke in respect to the tour guides personal facts. The information tends to overlap and repeat itself a little which can be annoying. The incorrect reference to certain animals was a little worrying also such as the piece on the Tasmanian Wolf rather than the Tasmanian Tiger which is properly known as. It would also require headphones as it a extremely distracting program with the audio feature and restrictions on the use of a colour printer would also have to be considered. Although this program offers a journey of enlightenment for children I am a little concerned as to what their destination would be and therefore am hestitant in recommending it for regular use in relation to educational purposes.

5). I observered Hana a seven year old girl who has had a fair bit to do with computers and is extremely literate when it comes to their use, yet she had never seen or heard of Dangerous Creatures before. Some of her reactions which differed to how I thought she would respond was the fact that she loved the pictures in the gallery and the sifting through of information with no real sense of direction. She enjoyed the Slide Show features ,but didn't test out any of the other options and actually appeared to get bored of it fairly readily. Nothing appeared to be anything she hadn't seen before and although she said she liked it she also said she could wait untill tomorrow or the next time I came to visit to play with it again. What are they teaching or exposing children to in classrooms these days? For I sure would like to know.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE LESSON PLANS.

(http://www.educ.utas.edu.au/~MeganTasker/lessplan.htm)