What a trip, the software from: EDMARK. Educator's Choice: Math & Science excelerator, a set of 4 disks was mind invigorating, capturing the attention for the duration of the simulation. Inserting the data storage CD into the diskdrive sparked my curiosity, as the program uploaded and immediately a virtual narrator began verbally setting the scene. On the monitor the space ship docked onto the landing platform as the simulation from inside the ship began . The automatic navigation features in the program prompted for the insertion of my name, acquiring a cadet code for playing the galaxy game, exploring the planets of the universe from in the virtual spaceship. Selecting the inserted name opened the next phase for the selection of an activity platform from four choices. Navigation throughout the game was simple, as four virtual crew members guide, offered encouragment to complete each task in learning about the planets and explained the answers or suggested correction of errors made. The program's reference guide was an interactive glossary of terms with 3D images which are selected from the drop down menue with a vertical scroll bar accessing a wealth of solar and planetary information. Through this first disk the child is exposed to the concepts of space, gravity and thrust, astronomy, math, science and even role play as an astronaut and the other three disks are equally informative and exciting as learning occurs through interactive game playing truly to "ignite the curious mind" additional information is available at www.edmark.com.
