Title: The San Diego Zoo Presents...The Animals!
Overall Rating:A-
Source:The Software Toolworks,Inc.
Playing Time: Over 1 hour of material
Date: 1992
Cost: $39.95 http://volvo.gslis.utexas.edu/~reviews/sandiego.html#top
Number of Players: 1
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: CD-Rom
Subject Area: Animals and the San Diego Zoo
Objectives: This multimedia tool allows you to see and hear over 200 exotic mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is all presented in over 60 minutes of video clips, which gives a multimedia look at the San Diego Zoo.
Brief Description: Allows you to explore the San Diego Zoo and its animals, regions and research facilities. The main menu has a map of the Zoo in which you may click on any region and explore that section of the zoo, the animals and the people that work there. There is also an alphabetical list of the animals that are located in the zoo. This allows someone to look up any animal that you want, and the related topics
Entry Capabilities Required: Prior subject -matter knowledge/vocabulary of zoo animals and the San Diego Zoo. With a Reading ability of at least middle school level.

Rating: (1-5)

Relevance to objectives

Provides practice of relevant skills

Likely to arouse/maintain interest

Likely to be comprehended clearly

Technical quality (durable, attractive):

4 (Loads of video clips and audio segments along eith synchronized sound)

Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather than chance)

: N/A

Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic, accurate depiction)

: 5 (Realistic and accurate depiction of the animals)

Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test results):

N/A

Clear directions for play:

3-4(One must watch the Overview of the program prior to using it.)

Effectiveness of debriefing

:2-3(Let's you know where you are, but not where you have been)

Strong Points: It has an excellent narrated walkthrough of the program that is called and OVERVIEW. It gives you directions as to how to "walk your way through the zoo." Also the option ot go back to the main menu or back to where you had just come from is always available.
Weak Points:The age appropriateness of the program is in question. It says that it is for grads K-12, but it really is suited for 7-12 or even 9-12.
Reviewer: Heather Marie Kenney
Position: Graduate Student, MST-Chemistry
Date:3/24/98
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.

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