KID PIX STUDIO DELUXE
Broderbund
(415) 382-4700
Grade Level(s): PreK-4
Subject Area(s): Interdisciplinary
Reviewed by: Kristine Trahan
Software Description
Kid Pix Studio Deluxe is an art program designed especially for kids. The program combines video, special effects, photos, music, and more. With any of the six art projects (Kid Pix, Moopies, Stampinator, Digital Puppets, Wacky TV, and SlideShow), children can create a different kind of art or animation.
Accuracy of Content
The content of the software is appropriate for elementary age children, especially those in the primary grades. The software is easy to read and access and contains no apparent biases.
Technical Quality
The program is very easy to use and run. The brilliant colors within the main menu, or Picker screen, invite children to easily choose from the six projects and create! When opened, the project directions can be heard as well as read on the screen. Bright pictures, stamps, sounds, movies, art tools, and text tools enable students to experiment and develop unique artistic masterpieces. Children can choose from or import sounds and graphics. Artwork can be displayed as a slide show when complete.
Use Of Technology
This is an excellent program to use in the classroom. Kid Pix is a drawing and painting program. Moopies takes the Kid Pix tools into the world of animation. In Moopies, the Wacky Brushes, Rubber Stamps, Alphabet Stamps, and Electric Mixer effects move! Stampimator is stage where stamps are selected, and when dragged with the mouse, move along a created path. Digital puppets are computer marionettes that are controlled by the keyboard. The Wacky TV is a movie viewer that you can use to watch digital movies. The SlideShow is where all creations come together. Finished projects are displayed to tell a story, or just for show.
Role of Students
Kid Pix Studio Deluxe empowers students. They are free to explore and develop projects through art. Preschool age children can experiment with the art materials and tools, while elementary age students can incorporate text with illustrations. Seeing completed work displayed as a slideshow acts as a motivator and confidence builder for students. Students can produce stories with illustrations that can be saved or printed for teachers to track and assess.
Role of Teacher
Teachers should demonstrate the various features of Kid Pix Deluxe to the class using a large screen display device. Each art project should be introduced at a different time, so students can become comfortable with all aspects of the program before actually creating a product.
Classroom Usage
Students should use the program one at a time or if multiple computers are available, each on a separate computer. Slide shows can be developed by individual students or by an entire class. The program should be used to supplement a reading and language arts lesson or unit. The software can also be used to develop a class slide show wherein each student creates his or her own picture with a caption to display to parents during curriculum night or open house. The captions should be written as well as read and recorded by each student in order to personalize the show.
Critical Summary
Kid Pix Studio Deluxe is a fantastic program that most students who enjoy art will find exciting. Although there are many possibilities for uses with students in the primary grade levels, teachers must be sure to attach an academic use to the primarily art related program.
Overall Rating (based on a scale of 1 to 10)
10
Explanation of Rating
As I reviewed the software, I found myself amused and enthralled by all of the creative options. Time passed quickly as I developed my own masterpiece and viewed my results in a slide show. This program can be used as an educational tool, or just for mere enjoyment.
Last revised: January 15, 2003