The Animals! 2.0

Publisher: Toolsworks

Reviewed by Kim Preuss

SCHOOL SUBJECTS: science

GRADE LEVEL: 2nd - 5th

PLATFORM USED FOR EVALUATION: Mac PowerPC

HARD DISK OR CD-ROM?:CD-ROM

TIME TO PLAY: unlimited

RATING: 10

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM:

When you first arrive at the program it immediately opens up with live footage of animals and background music. This program is presented by the San Diego Zoo. The first screen that is available to you explains your options with the program. You can either use the help overview if it is your first time or go to the main menu. As you run the arrow of the mouse over the zoo map labels appear that explain what each icon does.

The map of the zoo has many centers to the zoo that you can visit. The library offers movies of animals, pictures, maps, and animal sounds. It gives narrative action footage and reports that explain what is happening in the footage. The reports also give background information to the particular animals seen. The library also provides texts for kids so they can better understand through a level designed specifically for them. The nursery can be visited and one can learn all about baby animals and their care. The research center is a place where one can learn the zoo's mission and what they do for research at the San Diego Zoo. The tropical rain forest is a center that gives information and pictures about the tropical rain forests of the world. The kid's corner was designed specifically for children. It explains everything about working with animals and how to care for them. Inside the Zoo is another center that welcomes you and shows what happens in the morning to get the zoo ready. The story theater allows one to see transcripts and play narrations. You have control to pause, rewind, and fast forward at any point. I watched a story on Endangered Species. It illustrated with pictures what animals are endangered and why they are. It also told me what is being done to help those species. One can also catch a tour of the zoo, and has a choice of visiting any biome.

EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM:

Throughout all of the activities available there is the option of help. It does not leave you anywhere to become lost within a center and be stuck. In some of the centers one can print. With the visual effects there are controls to alter them to your discretion.

The information and content of the program are clearly presented. This program uses graphics, pictures, mini movies, stories, reports, and narration to creatively bring across the information. It is highly motivational with the messages it sends across.

This program would appeal to a wide variety of cultures and races, because it is about the animals that are found all over the world. Males and females are equally represented on this program. It mostly concentrates on the animals and things the San Diego Zoo is trying to accomplish to help the animals of our world.

The material is presented through all the different techniques as stated above. With so many choices this program appeals to the different learning styles. This program is a wonderful experience for the animal lover. It is informative in a fun way. There is always choice throughout the entire program as to what you want to be doing.

APPLICATION OF THE PROGRAM:

It is not a program that can be completely looked through in an hour. It will be useful for a long time. It is a great reference for reports. This program can be used at a young age for the child to watch the movies and look at the pictures. When older the child can comprehend the information being given. I recomend this program with flying colors. This program could be used in any science lesson or to be viewed in the students free time. I would use this program in my classroom.