Software Evaluation
Title:
Kid Pix Studio Deluxe
Publisher:
Broderbund Software INC
Date Published:
1998
Platform:
Windows or Mac (I used the windows version)
Range of Grade Levels:
The software is appropriate for kindergarten through fifth grade and
beyond. This program will prove fun and useful even beyond the fifth
grade.
Content Area:
The main content area for this program is art, although it can be use
in any content area requiring some imagination.
Content Description:
This software is broken down into six main areas. From the start
up screen you can make a selection from these six areas.
1. Kid Pix- In this area you can draw and paint your own pictures.
Here you can use a multitude of different tools to customize your picture.
You may edit your picture, add text, or other pictures from a different
source
2. Wacky TV- This option is an on screen digital movie player.
Here you can choose to watch movies provided on the CD or moppies, stampimator,
digital puppets, and slide show projects you have saved from other options
in the software. Options are provided to enhance your movies.
Here you can add special effects to your wacky TV movie.
3. Moppies- Moppies is Kid Pix’s special name for moving pictures.
Moppies work similar to the kid pix option. The only difference is
in this option your drawings come to life with animation.
4. Stampimator-This option brings rubber stamps to life. Here
you can create a background for your stamp actors. You can animate
your stamp actors and create scenes.
5. Digital Puppets- In this option you choose a puppet you would like
to work with. You may animate the puppets by using the keyboard.
You can even add background and sound to your puppet.
6. Slideshow- In this option you put everything together. Everything
you have saved as a slideshow option can be put together to tell a story
or just to show off your work.
Instructional Type:
-Simulation
-Tool
-Game
Strengths/Weaknesses:
This software is fairly easy to use. The youngest to the
oldest of users should not have a problem navigating through this program.
The tool options are self-explanatory.
If trouble arises in using the program a simple method of exploration
can be used. Trail and error is the simplest way to learn most of the tools.
As far as I could tell there is not a help option besides the instruction
booklet.
How would you use this software to add to a lesson or a classroom?
This software program has a multitude of uses in the classroom:
-Instead of just having the students illustrate a story they have written,
you could have them write and illustrate their story using this program.
The students would have a much better time with the program instead of
the standard paper and crayons.
-The stampimator option can be used to create graphs by using the rubber
stamps. This might be a good activity to introduce the graphing concept.
The teacher’s manual for the program suggest using this option to graph
favorite foods. Some students that are visual learners could greatly
benefit from this idea.
-This program can also help students respond to a story. They
can make visual images of the characters or setting in a story. Again
the students would possible enjoy this more that the standard paper and
crayons.
-An ABC book lesson plan is include in the teacher’s manual.
I think this would be a wonderful activity to help children learn their
starting sounds. I think it would prove more beneficial to use this program
for this activity. The students can work on their own and you as
the teacher could check for understanding.
This program can be used in a number of ways for many subjects. The
slideshow option can be used to create many things. For example the
class could create a slideshow for different scenes in a story, the plants,
or an animal slideshow. The text options in Kid Pix could be used
for writing a story, classifying, or naming objects. The Kid Pix
option or the rubberstamp option could be used to make number representations,
graphs, and classification.
-This program can make many lesson plans more interesting. I
think it is important to offer children many tools and different learning
styles. Instead of showing the students information, let them explore
it on their own.
Would you use this software with your students? Why or why not?
I would use this program in my classroom. It offers so many different
ideas and can enhance about any lesson plan. It is easy to use and
very beneficial. I think any student would like using this program.
Anything that offers use of the imagination is a plus to any activity.
I think students should have the option of being creative in content area.
Rating:
9- This is a great, easy to use, and fun program. It would be
an added plus to any classroom.
User Comments:
- Everyone in the household (including Great Aunt Agnes who has extended
her visit by another week) is begging you for something new and fun to
do on the computer. However, your budget will only allow for one new software
program. Just how do you please your brood from ages 2 to 92? Buy Kid Pix
Studio Deluxe, that's how. Everyone in my household loves this software
game. It would be an added plus to any household, with or without
children!!
Source: http://www.thefamilycorner.com/Parenting/Reviews/Software/KidPixStudio
- My six year old neighbor Dustin loved the
program. He sat at my house for about two hours just drawing different
things. Every five seconds he was yelling for me to come and look
at what he had done. The program was easy for him to use. At
first he had several questions, but as the time progressed he started figuring
things out on his own. He asked me if he could come up and play on
my computer everyday. I told him that the program had to be taken
off my computer and brought back to school and I think it hurt his feelings
slightly. I wisk I could afford to buy this program for him.
I asked him if he thought his friends would like it and he said yes they
would.
Links:
http://www.learningco.com/Product.asp?OID=4143107&SC=0110056030
This link provides product information, ordering information, and ideas
and suggestions for use for Kid Pix Studio.
Review #1 Grammar Rock
1. Source:
http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/reviews/grammar.htm
2. Who is the author of the review?
Rich Cunningham
3. Based on the review, would you be interested in trying this
software? Why?
I would like to use this program in my classroom. When
I was young the Grammar Rock videos were great. I think this program
will make English fun. Students can see English in everyday life.
The games seem to be simple and fun and help foster understanding of grammar.
4. Actual Review:
Conjunction Junction, What's Your
Function......
A Review of Grammar Rock
Rich Cunningham
For those of us growing up in the 60's and 70', the words "Conjunction
Junction" usually bring a smile, and a whistle of the tune to that song.
I
can remember seeing School House Rock on television during those
years, but, heaven forbid, I was too old to watch (but I did peek a bit).
The best way to describe these series of short programs and cartoons, is
to have one imagine MTV for little kids, with the intent of teaching
English in a non-threatening way using current (for that time) music
trends. I've
often wished that my children could see these programs, and enjoy them
and
maybe even learn a little. Well, much to my surprise, School House Rock
has
been turned into a computer program, and a multimedia one to boot. It captures
the spirit of the original programs, and does so by using all the familiar
locations
and songs.
The purpose of the program is to help young children from 6 to 10
understand English in an entertaining and fun way. This is accomplished
by creating a village for the user to explore, and has many locations to
visit,
including a bank, a music store, a school, and a tent in the woods.
Each location has a game that the user plays to
gain an understanding of the subject for that
building. For example to learn about adjectives, one must go to the tent
in the woods, and verbs are the subject of the movie theater (NOW
PLAYING: VERB!!). The games are simple and non-threatening. By
that I mean, there are no severe penalties or chastising if one gets the
answer wrong. The instructions are given both
verbally and written, and are easy to
understand.
A lot of the fun comes from just exploring the
village and visiting the locations. But when you
get to the arcade, you find that in order to play
the games, you must get Rocky coins. These are acquired by
successfully completing the various levels in
the games in the other locations. For level one
you get 1 coin, for 2 levels you get 2 coins, etc.
Level 1 is geared to 6-7 age group, level 2 to
7-9 and level 3 for 9-10 age group. You can
check on your balance and progress in the
options screen, by looking in the vault.
There are 23 games located throughout the game, and range from
Conjuction Hook-up, where you learn to link up trains by finding
conjuctions, to Franklin's Football Game,
where you help Franklin score a winning
touchdown by finding interjections and
advancing him 5 yards every time you do. The
games that are offered are quite imaginative,
and fun and colorful to play. There is also
enough variety to ensure that a child should
never become bored.
Technical notes: The installation was flawless. It installed under
Windows 95 in less than 5 minutes, and ran with not a glitch. The videos
that are viewed are jerky, but I think that is because they are not using
every frame to present smooth cartoons. It
would also probably require more than 1 CD to
hold it all. The sound was excellent, and
brought back a lot of memories.
I would highly recommend this program. It is
well written, has no bugs or glitches that I could
uncover, and is fun to play. My children (9, 11, and 7 going on 8) enjoyed
the game. My oldest was impressed that I knew the words to
"Conjuction Junction," and my youngest
daughter was aware of the characters, because
they are using this subject matter in school
now. You could do a lot worse for your kids by
not buying this game, but I'm not sure how.
School House Scorecard
Product: Grammar Rock
Company: Not Available
Cost: $49.95
System Requirements:
IBM: 486SX-25 or faster with 8 meg of ram minimum, 1 meg hard drive
space, Windows 3.1 or greater (installs and runs under Windows 95), 2X
CD Rom drive, windows compatible sound card, SVGA w/256 colors,
Quicktime 2.0 or greater (included with program) MacIntosh: IICi or
better with 2.5 meg of free ram, System 7.0 or greater, 2X CD Rom,
Quicktime 2.0 or greater (included with program)
Breakdown:
Ease of Use 4
Learning Value 5
Entertainment Value 4
Graphics 4
Sound 5
Overall Score:
4
Review #2 Math Munchers
1. Source:
http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/reviews/mathmun.htm
2. Who is the author of the review?
Tina Velgos
3. Based on the review, would you be interested in trying this software?
Why?
I would like to use this program in my classroom. I have played
with this software. Its fun and entertaining. It helps the
students practice their math skills. The games offers many levels
and helps children challenge their knowledge. The review mentions
the sound effects. I think this is an important aspect of the game.
It keeps the student’s attention and lets them know how they are doing
and when they make a mistake. I think this would be a plus in any
classroom.
4. Actual Review:
Your Kids Will Eat Up Math Munchers
A Review of Math Munchers Deluxe
Tina Velgos
Visit any elementary school computer lab and you'll find that one of the
most popular titles among kids ages 8 - 12 is MECC's Muncher series.
Math Munchers Deluxe, hands down, is the most entertaining and
motivating kids' math title yet!
Meet the zany green Munchers as they dance their way around a boffo 3-D
game
board. Look out for the terrible Troggles, like Doggle, Slimey and the
crazy
Crumbley sisters, though. They'll eat the green Munchers, if you're
not quick
enough! Of course, if you want to seriously concentrate on the math, you
can
choose an option to play Troggle-free! The sound effects are hilarious,
so get
ready for some rip-roaring fun!
Kids also polish their math problem solving skills, as the Munchers rely
on kids' math skills to help them trounce the Troggles. A great
interactive way for kids to build confidence in mathematics.
Math Munchers Deluxe lets kids select multi-level play capabilities for
grades 3
through 6. Although disguised as a zany game, this hot software really
tackles a
wide area of mathematics. Kids will be exposed to expressions, multiples,
factors, primes, equivalents, mixed numbers and simple geometry. This software
allows kids to review familiar math concepts they've learned in school
and either
practice at a comfortable level or challenge their abilities as they race
around the
board, helping their Munchers conquer the troublesome Troggles. Talk about
Muncher mayhem!
Stefanie, a fifth grader, fell in love with Math Munchers Deluxe in less
than five
minutes flat. She liked experimenting with the different levels and
agreed that
the sixth grade level was a challenge. Math Munchers Deluxe kept her at
the
edge of her seat for hours. Stefanie told me she liked the hip audio and
hot
animation, while she thought that adding her name to the Munchers Hall
of
Fame screen was "really awesome".
Another interesting feature for kids was the ability to play the CD-ROM's
audio
track off a regular CD player (Track 2 only). Make sure you buy your kids
a
good set of headphones unless you don't mind hearing the song over
and over again!
Even though the battle between the Munchers and the Troggles is going
strong in our house, the real winner is Math Munchers Deluxe for
proving that math can be a blast!
School House Scorecard
Product:
Math Munchers Deluxe
Company:
MECC
6160 Summit Drive North
Minneapolis, MN 55430-4003
Phone: 1-800-215-0368, ext. 348 or
Phone: 1-800-685-MECC (6322), ext. 529
Phone In Canada: 1-800-663-7731
Internet: www.mecc.com/
Cost:
$29.95
System Requirements:
Windows:
IBM PC or compatible, 486/50 MHz processor or greater,
4 MB RAM, 8 MB RAM recommended,
(8 MB RAM required for Windows 95), SVGA color monitor,
256 colors, Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher,
MS-DOS 5.0 or later, Hard-disk space,
Mouse or other Windows-compatible pointing device,
Double speed or faster CD-ROM drive
and a Windows-compatible sound card.
Macintosh:
Apple Macintosh 68030 required (LC III or greater),
68040 required (LC, Performa 575 or greater), System 7.1 or later,
5 MB RAM required, 8 MB RAM recommended,
13" or larger monitor, 256 colors at 640 x 480 resolution or higher,
Hard-disk space and a double-speed or faster CD-ROM drive.
Breakdown:
Ease of Use 4
Learning Value 5
Entertainment Value 5
Graphics 4
Sound 4
Overall Score:
4
Review #3 Thinkology
1. Source:
http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/nov98/elem1198.htm
2. Who is the author of the review?
Susan W. Hixson
3. Based on the review, would you be interested in trying this software?
Why?
I would like to use this program in my classroom. Thinkology
will help students to learn to be clear when making a choice or giving
a description. This is important and sometimes over looked.
Critical thinking skills are important in any content area. According
to the review it is a richly entertaining program and will prove to be
an added plus to the classroom.
4. Actual Review:
Company: Heartsoft, Inc., 3101 North Hemlock Circle, Broken Arrow, OK
74012; Customer
Service: 800/285-3475; Fax: 800/285-4018; http://www.thinkology.com
Price: $80–hybrid Macintosh/Windows 95; $150–lab pack; $450–site license for 25.
Audience: grades K-4.
Format: CD-ROM: text, graphics, animation, music.
System Requirements: Macintosh requires System 7.0, 8 MB RAM, a 640x480
monitor
with 256 colors, and 2x-speed CD-ROM drive. IBM/compatibles require
Windows 95, 8 MB
RAM, a 640x480 monitor with 256 colors, and 2x-speed CD-ROM drive.
Description: Thinkology: Clarity is a multimedia presentation of interactive
stories and activities that are designed to help students recognize what
it means to be clear when making a choice or giving a description. The
teacher’s manual is a rich resource that
includes extensive suggestions for curriculum integration. Suggestions
are divided by grade level, and specific skills are featured in the classroom
activities. Many blackline masters are available to copy and use at classroom
workstations to reinforce the concept of clarity. I am reviewing the Spring
1998 Macintosh release of Thinkology: Clarity. Two new editions, Thinkology:
Evidence and Thinkology: Relevance, are scheduled for release in the fall
of 1998.
Reviewer Comments:
Installation: Installation of the CD-ROM on the Macintosh involves inserting
the disc and selecting the program. Windows users will
find that this is an auto-launching application that will start when
the disc is inserted into the drive. If at first the program does not
open, you will be prompted to check that DirectX has been loaded as
a part of Windows 95. Installing or reinstalling DirectX will not
affect other software or system functions, and the Thinkology software
will take you through the installation process step by step.
Installation Rating: A
Content/Features: Thinkology: Clarity is a multimedia program that introduces
students to the important concept of being clear.
Focusing on this critical thinking skill will help students in many
areas, including reading comprehension and writing proficiency. The
program contains two multimedia stories with clever animations that
feature two children and a variety of talking animals.
To begin the program, students first sign in by name. Then, they listen
to a story and practice clarity with one of the activities that
follows. Each activity screen presents a challenge, and after the problem
is stated, the student selects the clearest response. If an
incorrect answer is given, the student is prompted and the question
is repeated. In addition to deftly conveying the concept of clarity,
the activities incorporate a breadth of vocabulary and require students
to listen carefully. The software will record their scores, which
can be displayed and printed out at a later date.
A class of students played with the software to help with its evaluation
and were fascinated with the animations. They greatly
enjoyed the cheery background music and clever animations in each activity.
When interviewed, they easily explained the purpose of
the program and expressed an eagerness to play it again. The only frustration
they cited was not being able to stop a story if they
did not want to listen to the entire sequence again. Content/Features
Rating: A
Ease of Use: Clarity opens with a click of a button, and students can
then choose from the main menu. Trixy, the narrating sunshine
that serves as a virtual teacher, appears in the corner of each screen
offering tips on what to do next. This makes it easy for
first-time users to get into the stories and proceed through the interactive
activities. Ease of Use Rating: A
Product Support: My call to Customer Support was answered quickly, and
I was immediately forwarded to the appropriate person.
Product Support Rating: A
Recommendation: Thinkology: Clarity is a sound educational program that
gives students the opportunity to work independently as
they learn to think and speak clearly. Although the characters are
a little juvenile in their appeal, the concepts are certainly
appropriate for students throughout the elementary years. The program's
ease of use and colorful animations make it appropriate for
the very young, while the many multimedia features and quality graphics
extend the age appeal to older students. I can envision this
program being used in a lab for group practice or set up as a workstation
in a single-computer classroom for independent work. I
highly recommend this product as a tool to reinforce the teaching of
critical thinking in oral and written work. Outstanding—a "must
buy!"
Overall Rating: 5 stars
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