Document text
Thinkin� Things All around FrippleTown By Pam Gleichman Tribune Media Services Thinkin� Things All Around FrippleTown is a collection of brain-building activities that allow children to explore and practice several thinking strategies. The main screen is a picture of FrippleTown. On this screen, children select from among four activities. At Fripple Deliveries, children deliver special packages to the Fripples around town. At the loading dock, the program tells the user, aloud, the delivery destination. Children move forward, backward, left and right. They also learn to use cardinal directions (north, south, east and west). As they maneuver around one-way streets, dead ends and detours, they gain the understanding that there is more than one way to solve a problem. At the Skate Park, children explore the relationships between number patterns and visual patterns as they program Flo, the skating Fripple. Flo performs geometric designs from number equations, colors and shapes that children choose. Thinkin� Things All Around FrippleTown features "Grow Slides" that automatically increase as children succeed and complete levels. Some of the learning opportunities include creativity, deductive reasoning, exercising the "Guess and Test" approach to problem solving, rule determination, distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant information, navigational skills, directions and more. There is also a "What Kids Learn" section that describes the educational intent behind each activity and provides examples of practical applications for new skills. Initially, our testers enjoyed playing the activities. After a while, however, they became bored and wanted to play something else. Like many of the Edmark titles (for example, Millie�s Math, Bailey�s Book House, the Mighty Math series and Zap), rewards do not exist. For most children in this age bracket, the lack of rewards for achievement results in a lack of interest. The program has great educational value; unfortunately, children do not stick with it because it lacks the "motivators" necessary to keep their interest. This program probably works best in a classroom setting where the teacher can provide what the program does not offer. Publisher : Edmark, P.O. Box 97021, Redmond, WA 98073-9721, (800) 362-2890, http://www.edmark.com Category : Critical thinking. Age : 4 to 8 Installation : Easy. Use : Easy. Graphics : Very cute. Written Materials : Written materials are included on the CD jacket. System Requirements : Windows 95/98, 486 Pentium or better (66 MHz or faster), hard disk with 10MB free, 8 MB memory (RAM), 16 MB recommended, 640x480, 256-color monitor, Double-speed (2X) or faster CD-ROM drive, Windows-compatible sound card. Macintosh, System 7.0.1 or higher, 68040 or PowerPC, 8 MB memory (RAM), 16 MB for PowerPC, 640x480, 256-color monitor, Double-speed (2X) or faster CD-ROM drive. Tested Version : Windows 95/98/Macintosh Cost : $ 29.95. School Version $59.95 for two users plus teachers� guide that includes lesson ideas and activity sheets, $159.95 for six users plus above items, $599.00 site license 30 users plus above items. Overall Rating : Two and one-half stars. Thinkin� Things All Around FrippleTown is a good program for classroom use. For home use, however, the educational value does not outweigh the fact that children will not want to use the program. DEAR PAM : Do you know of a Web site that lets you e-mail "flowers" to someone? DEAR READER : There are many sites from which you can send "virtual flowers." My favorite is Virtual Florist. Their Web site is http://www.virtualflorist.com. They offer many "flowers" to choose from, and you are able to send a 50-word greeting. E-mail "flowers" are lots of fun to send and receive! WEB SITE OF THE WEEK ArtMuseum.net http://www.artmuseum.net ArtMuseum.net is an in-depth, interactive environment that helps visitors to learn about art. Visitors gain unique curatorial perspectives through preset thematic navigation, customized tours and learning activity centers. The site also allows access to blockbuster art shows and, in this regard, provides an excellent substitute for people who cannot attend the actual events. RATING KEY : ***** — Outstanding; **** — Very Good; *** — Good; ** — Fair; * — Not Worth Purchasing. Pam Gleichman welcomes questions/comments from readers. Write to Pam at Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, Ill. 60611. Send e-mail to [email protected] . � 1999 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Techno file index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA