Super Radio Addition with Mike & Spike
Reviewed by Cynthia A. Sorrels
Published by Learning Ladder/Panasonic Interactive Media

Age Group: Age 2 to 5, Age 4 to 8 Type: Math Price: $ 34.95 US

PC version requires:
486-66 8 MB RAM, 2x CD-ROM, Windows 95, also on Windows 3.1, 640x480x256

Mac version requires:
Included on hybrid disk.

Description:

Super Radio Addition with Mike & Spike is from Panasonic Interactive's new Learning Ladder series. These interactive music videos teach skills in counting and addition. Mike and Spike are dinosaur disc jockeys who'll present 11 animated music videos, 14 sing-along teaching tunes in several musical styles - country, rock and reggae. After the video presents a concept, a game appears to allow the application of the skill. The "games" are more drill than entertainment but are presented in ways that minimize the "pain" of a drill of the facts.

Features:

• 11 progressive lessons
• 8 original teaching tunes playable on a CD audio player
• 11 arcade-style games
• Recognition in the Super Radio Addition "Hall of Fame."
• Parent/teacher guide includes suggestions for designing math activities around Mike and Spike.
• Presents addition concepts visually, reinforces it with music.

Reactions:

Our four year old daughter has had a great time with this title! The first day, she progressed through counting and got into simple addition. I was very impressed with her genius, as usual. The second day, she was clearly bored and I noticed that in the activities, she just clicked around until she happened upon the correct answer. She's really enjoyed the music, though, and has been humming the tunes around the house.

Our plan is to also use this title with our 12 year old daughter, who needs to do some remedial work in math. In particular, more confidence in her math skills would make a big difference in her attitude. Mike & Spike fit the bill quite nicely. We recommend this product to those introducing their children to math, as well as to those who are looking for remedial tools.

Interestingly enough, Super Radio Addition ran more smoothly on our 486/66 than on the Pentium system, so the system requirements stated on the box appear to be correct. We didn't have any technical or installation problems on either computer.

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