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Explorers of the New World is an interactive multimedia program designed to allow the user to research and discover interesting and important facts about a number of explorers of the New World, also known as the Americas. This particular software program achieves this in many different and enticing ways. First, there is an introduction that includes computer-generated figures that are also links of Christopher Columbus, Cortes, and Magellan. Additional figures represent a link to other explorers that were important in the New World. When one begins this program, each of the figures narrates in accents from their native country, what they are famous for and invites the user to explore their journey to the New World. After the introduction, the user can link to a timeline, tour, database, or impact, by simply clicking on a road post.

A compass icon that is present in the left-hand corner that will take you to the main menu, return to the previous frame, obtain help, find the index, or quit. But once you begin this program it is very hard to quit. The timeline shows what was happening in the world at the time of the explorer journeys. Each frame is 25 years long, and arrows to the right or left will take you forward or backward on the timeline. The timeline ends at the year 1625 when the Dutch founded the colony of New England.

The database lets the user search the index of explorers, see their portrait, read a brief text which includes when they were born and died and their significance in the discovery of the New World. Some explorers did not have a portrait that could be displayed. Maps also show where the explorers traveled. The impact link allows the user to visually see the impact and hear the narration of the impact of the explorer.

When the user decides to click on an explorer a narration by the explorer, begins with highlights of what he did briefly described. Then a different voice explains to the user that you can click on the compasses along the map showed. Each of the compasses, if clicked, has a brief description of what happened along the journey. An example would be Columbus sighting a volcano where there is a narration of the sighting, as well as a funny fish flying out of the volcano. Red arrows are used to show the path that the explorer took. For the three major explorers described in the beginning there are numerous options to explore in regards to their significance. When you investigate Cortes, the user can explore the palaces typical of the people that he conquered.

Explorers of the New World is yet another thorough software program. The information is presents in a very accurate way. The content is appropriate for the Social Studies curriculum that is commonly taught in the middle school grades from 6-8. The best feature of this program is the way that the explorers are depicted both with narration and vast information presented for each explorer. The options are endless: the user can explore each individual explorer extensively, or look at the timeline to find out what other things were occurring when the New World was being discovered, or discover the impact that the explorers had on the New World and the entire world. Unlike many history books that briefly describe the journeys of the explorers, there is a vast database of information on each explore including many that are unknown but important to the discovery of the Americas. This program is so extensive and accurate. The only aspect that I would like to see is the impact that women had on the exploration, like were there any female explores or did they just stay at home while the men explored? The content is easy to read and accessible at the click of a button. The software is free of bias and stereotypes that are not needed to either describe the explorer or the area they explored. For example, the accents are needed to have a feel for how the explorer may have sounded. It adds accuracy to the program, by not making all of the narration be in the English that we normally encounter.

The software is easy to install and use, with minimal computer expertise needed. With minimal instruction a student can use this program. The navigation systems are easy to use and understand. The road post includes links to a timeline, tour, database, and impact that the explores had. When the user clicks on the timeline, it shows what was happening in the world at the time of the explorers. The arrows to the right will take you further in the timeline, or to the left, which takes you backwards on the timeline. Each frame is 25 years and the entire timeline ends at 1625 when the Dutch founded the colony of New England. Each explorer is an icon that links the user to a detailed description of their particular journey.

The compass icon is always in the left-hand corner of the screen. The options shown are to return to the previous frame in case you missed an important detail, obtain help in running the program, index of explores, or quit the program. The user can also have a tour of what the program has to offer. The database lets the user search the index of explorers, see their portrait and see a brief text that includes when the explorer was born, died, and what they did as an explorer. The index also allows the user to type in the name of the explorer instead of scrolling down the long list of explores until you get to the one you are looking for. There is also a link to maps that visually show where they explored, and the option to print any info on the screen.

The graphics, sound and animation are very helpful to the user. There is an option in the journey to visually see the blueprints of the ship that the explorer used, as well as important events that occurred in their journey. The visual graphics are not merely for entertainment; they are also used to show the user visually what occurred like a volcano erupting or a tour of a palace. The graphics that are superior with the movement and narration of life-like, but computer generated explorers that talk as if this program was made just for you.

Explores of the New World allows the user to not only explore the numerous details of explores like Columbus, Magellan, and Cortes, but to find detailed information about other explorers as well. As a result, this program can be used as a valuable tool for a research project or information gathering activities presented by a teacher pertaining to the exploration of the New World. The software makes good use of multimedia and non-linear linking by having the icons assessable with a click of the mouse. For example, one could be using the index and, with the click of a button, obtain and print information on any number of explorers. Also, if there was some information that was covered in previous screen, one could go back to that screen within seconds. Most of the information in the program can be printed for research projects or information gathering activities. The ability to print the information is important because the software itself does not have the capacity for student tracking and/or management.

With this software and its multimedia framework students are empowered with the discovery of information they may not have linked to a particular explorer. The program allows the student to explore in an unhurried fashion any of the numerous explorers, their impact, and the timeline of that period in history, or to uncover specific information pertaining to the exploration of the New World. The software allows the student to work according to their learning needs. The student can explore and discover vast amounts of information about the exploration of the New World. The students are in control of running the software. The software also may empower the students to construct their own product. An example would be to construct a replica of the explorer ship or to write a report on a particular explorer, their significance to the discovery of the New World, and then have their product assessed by the teacher. The software promotes student and group interaction by allowing the students to explore the program as a class, in pairs, or individually and complete structured activities pertaining to the program. This program helps students to value their own critical thinking skills and learning processes by allowing them to discover new ideas and create numerous ways to explain to the teacher or others in class what information they received from this software program.

Explorers of the New World is a powerful reference to introduce, explore, and review the different explores of the New World. The program can be used in the classroom or at the school's technology center. There needs to be some teacher instruction in the beginning to familiarize the user to the program and its various features. Once the introduction occurs, the students should be free to explore. The teacher may want to monitor the students' progress by creating activities pertaining to the program. An example would be to have the students find specific information on an explorer, create their own blueprint of an explorers ship, or create a story describing their journey. The educational possibilities are endless. The package does not include teacher material, but there are numerous activities that a teacher can create. There are no internal management tools to help the teacher monitor student learning.

The software would be best used individually or in small group because it is an interactive program whose different feature may attract a user differently. The program can be used effectively in the classroom or in a computer lab in a small group setting or individually. There should be a time limit with this program that starts with the introduction of the explorers and concludes when the unit of study that includes the exploration of the New World ends, with the inclusion of the program intertwined with the curriculum. There should be usage sheets near the computer with a list of important usage tips that a student may need when interacting with this program. Because of the sound that is included with this program, headphones should be used. If used correctly, this program could be an important addition to any social studies classroom. The program should be used as a supplement to the curriculum.

Explorers of the New World in an innovative way to enrich the curriculum on the topic of explorers of the Americas. Instead of just reading about the different explorers in the textbooks, the students can have a hands-on discovery of different aspects of the New Worlds exploration. There are numerous ways that the teacher can use this to supplement the curriculum. The graphics are of superior quality, including the sound and the accuracy of the information. The program is technically strong and user friendly. The only addition that I would make to this program is to describe what impact the women of that time period had on the exploration of the New World. In a very stimulating way, this program engages the students in such a way that they discover new ideas and develop more critical thinking skills.

This software is very creative in its approach to teaching the students about the explorers of the New World. This software would be perceived as very interesting to most learners. Whatever the level, every student can take valuable information from this program and create numerous projects and ideas. No teacher guide is included, and maybe there should be so that some teachers can get ideas of how to incorporate this program into their classroom. This program can lead to projects that come from the suggestion and discovery of a student. There are many ways for a teacher to work with this program, but even though the creative ideas for student products may be endless, middle school students especially need specific guidelines for projects.