[MACEP] Edutainment Software

[mhochberg at comcast.net]

Hi, Tim!

As someone who wrote a weekly column on edutainment software, I can understand your expectations.  Some of the programs and suites coming out in the late 90s were amazing and I had high expectations for the future.

Unfortunately, the current state of children's educational software is abysmal. As companies began swallowing each other, "new" programs were really old programs with a new lead character and different packaging. 

The exceptions were programs that morphed into video games with no educational content. For example, compare the later "Dr. Brain Action Reaction," a shoot' em up action chase,  with the earlier "The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain," which was based on Harold Gardner's work on multiple intelligences. 

As high speed Internet became more readily available, more publishers migrated to the web, which decreased costs: no product to package and ship, less tech support needed, and the fees rolled in each month.

For a good summary of what happened to children's software, check out. 

http://jamesgames.com/ChildrensSoftwareSectionHead.asp?chapter=Childrens%20Software 

Finally, the old programs are still available and most run quite well under Windows XP.  If your library doesn't have them, check a local second hand store or electronic recycler. NextStep in Eugene has an excellent selection of edutainment software, including some for Macs. Of course, there is always eBay and online stores.

The future of children's software is now on the web. Surprisingly, much of it is not only free but it is darn good too. Check out  "Rainforest Maths" 

http://www.rainforestmaths.com/

Good luck in your search and please let us know what you find.

---Mary
"We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn."   Mary Catherine Bateson

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: tchase <edtech2020 at gmail.com>
> 
> > Tricia's on to something -- there are so many amazing sites out there, 
> >  one hardly needs to purchase software. 
> > Most public libraries have a plethora of computer games to check out - 
> > like Reader Rabbit and Freddy the Fish.  I think this is a better 
> > route for these types of programs.
> >
> > -Jennifer
> I like the idea of checking out computer games--that makes lots of 
> sense!  I don't believe that the Bend libraries do that, but I'll 
> check.  [Somehow I'm not surprised that a Gingerich boy spontaneously 
> began podcasting in the third grade!]
> 
> I think I am seeking, though, good edutainment software (that I need to 
> pay for).  I've used Starfall and PBS Kids and NLVM (and I did go check 
> out the flash games from Tricia's link--thanks Tricia!), but I just 
> don't feel they're on par with Reader Rabbit and the like.  This 
> terribly old version that I have for my first grader so impresses me . . 
> . they've rolled all the reading and math activities into a storyline 
> and my kid is learning to solve problems while practicing the essential 
> skills for grade level.  I think to myself "if they had software like 
> this in 1998, what leaps of improvements must have happened in the 
> decade between times?"
> 
> ~Tim
> __________________
> Tim Chase
> Bend La Pine Schools
> <edtech2020 at gmail.com>
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