Soft Flash

School's Still In!

by Anise Hollingshead
March 1998

 

Heads up, students! Whether you're in elementary, middle, or high school, there is sure to be something here for you this spring!

Edmark has just released another title in their Thinkin Things collection: Sky Island Mysteries, a critical thinking and problem-solving game for kids aged 8-12. On Sky Island, kids must solve 14 mysteries using logic, prioritization, sequencing and categorization to uncover the culprits, with each mystery increasing in difficulty. As the problems are solved, important clues to each mystery are discovered as they help Detective Joe Cluestoe solve the mysteries!

Sky Island's base of operations is Clue Central where kids use search techniques, recognize attributes, and deduce the wrongdoer from a database of 3000 suspects. On Air Show Island, kids direct aircraft in a fun environment where they must follow detailed directions as well as prioritize tasks. While making a flight plan, kids must analyze, prioritize, and make trade-offs while identifying relevant information and managing resources.

On Stadium Island we meet the Fripples! The Fripples each have their own set of work attributes, and when arranged just right, they will work together. At Rebus Island kids will play an energetic game of Rebus, where they can solve puzzles containing letters, pictures and animation. Kids can also make their own Rebuses for others to solve. Available now for a retail price of $29.95

If you have a high school student who needs additional math instruction, there will be a new addition to The Learning Company,Inc's College Prep series: Success Builder: Math Library. This title offers core high school math subjects-- Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Calculus, along with a Math Review CD-ROM. These subjects are presented in an easy-to-use format with step-by-step instructions. There are over 200 math topics, which have three different levels of instruction, allowing the student to move in deeper into each math concept. Hundreds of math problems reinforce concepts, and there are interactive examples that allow the student to tinker with math elements for themselves. A Single home use version is available this spring for Windows and Macintosh at a price of $39.95; a school version will be available later this year.

There will soon be a new programming tool for middle school students from Interplay, titled Learn to Program Basic, Jr. High Edition. Features include 10 1/5 hour animated lessons, over 50 exercises and 10 special projects that will utilize games to practice skills. Students will be designing paint programs, solving math problems, making video games, and creating animated scenes with tons of art and audio files, including Interplay characters and sound effects. They can also add their own audio and art files. The lessons are presented in easy step-by-step instructions and examples with Media Man as their guide. There are over 150 BASIC commands and a 200-word glossary, and students will also be able to use a free-style mode where they are the creators! Available this spring , price unknown.

 

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