Publisher: DK Multimedia

Reviewer: Thomas Palmer

Target Population: Grades 7 - 12

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER:

INTRODUCTION:

1. Be easy to comprehend
2. Be easy to use
3. Facilitate teaching--not hinder
4. Have good lesson plans that the teacher can use to design his or her own plan
5. Be truly geared toward the stated target group

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

I decided to try my hand at the drawer image that was entitled 500BC to 500AD. Immediately the once cluttered desk that held artifacts from every period known to mankind, now held artifacts only from this particular period (500BC to 500AD). I thought this was a nice touch for the programmers to add. I then clicked on a large image of a globe of the earth that was in the middle of the desk. Seconds later, I was presented a world map screen where I could choose from a list of graphic icons depicting various cultures that prevailed at a particular period in time. I chose the "Germanic Peoples" icon and a software audio file blared through my headphones (I say this because I immediately missed my soothing music).

I tried to imagine what a student might be thinking as he or she was strolling through this program, and then the answer came to me--confused! The amount and quality of information provided by this software package is astounding, but the programmers did not make this a user-friendly system for the novice person. There are no obvious icons to get a printout, go backward or even to get helpful instructions. One is left to wander about the program endlessly clicking on one screen after another. For instance, I was trying to print a graphic from the screen and I pressed everything and anything that even half way looked like a file menu or a sub-file menu until I finally found a pop-up print screen, which was hiding underneath a compass image in a corner of the map wall. Then I tried to go back to a previous screen and, again, after clicking around on everything for another three to four minutes, I finally found the backward button under a little dial with a red arrow on it that disappeared and reappeared periodically. Command icons need to be clearly defined because when they are, it makes the teacher's job and the student's learning process much easier.

Though I have problems with the command icons not being clearly defined, I must admit that this program is enticing. I believe students could easily become enthralled with the graphic images, sounds and photographs. There are also quizzes for the user to test him or her self at any point in the program. These quizzes are highly effective and concentrate in the concrete knowledge that is pervasive throughout the program.

ACCURACY OF CONTENT:

TECHNICAL QUALITY:

The graphics, sound, photographs and animation are fantastic. DK Multimedia did its homework in the technical quality department. Images pop-out, sounds are abundant and photographs are so real that one feels as though they could reach through the screen and touch the real artifacts. I really have no negative comments to make about this part of the software.

DK Multimedia has made god use of the technology of today. The quizzes are applicable to concrete thinking only, but I do not feel that this is a negative aspect of the software, because questions that are missed by a student might inspire further investigation; which, in turn, might compel the student to use more critical thinking. Furthermore, when the student is in the learning sections, there is a side window that pops up if the student wants to delve further into a particular subject. There are links that are attached to various parts of a historical subject throughout the software. These links offer the student even more information about a particular topic. This program is designed to make history fun and it does just that! The only real problem that keeps coming up is the command icons issue, but that is really about all. During this review, I did not find any material that I would consider sensitive for certain age groups within the target audience. The editing group also gets a "kudos" for doing a spectacular job.

ROLE OF THE STUDENT:

This software package comes complete with lesson plans and a list of the desired outcomes and expectations. I looked these over and found them to be more than adequate for the teacher's use. Of course teachers should design a lesson plan that is relevant to their student's objectives and goals, but the lesson plans provided give the teacher a good head start on that. Once the students figure out how to navigate through the program and find the command icons, there should be few if any problems.

ROLE OF THE TEACHER:

This program, in my opinion, greatly enhances the teacher's teaching abilities. I am hard pressed to find many drawbacks or hindrances within this software system. There is an abundance of information available and, if one needs a weakness, I guess that could be one. Still, if the teacher is disciplined and competent he or she would know that too much information can be easily whittled down by simply narrowing the focus of the lesson plan.

CLASSROOM USAGE:

Eyewitness-History of the World would be great for classroom usage. The designers of this program even included a two player set-up option in the two quiz sections. Students could work in pairs or alone or even in small groups of three using this program.

CRITICAL SUMMARY:

In total, this program is exactly as good or maybe even better than the rating that Amazon.com gave it! There are a few negatives, but even those are easily rectified. Options are abundant throughout, and the senses are tantalized by the technical design. The program is very good.

OVERALL RATING:

9 TO 10 (out of 10)