Program Description:  The Magic School Bus educational software is designed for children ages 6 to 10.  This software includes many interactive games that take children on a journey throughout the human body.  Many of the games help develop language skills, reading skills, and memory skills.

Documentation and Supplementary Materials:  This program was not available to me in its original packaging and no instructions were available for installation.  However, I had no difficulty installing this program onto my computer. 

Program Content: This program takes children on a scientific journey throughout the human body.  The user can navigate through the body to various parts while "driving" the school bus.  When entering into different parts of the body, characters present different facts about each part.  Activities and games are available at various challenging levels.  There are interactive puzzles, memory games, and phonics games.  One game I especially enjoyed was Chatterbox.  During this game, a word is spelled out on the screen.  There are three to four picture boxes of a mouth formed in different ways when saying the word.  To solve this puzzle, the user drags "point of articulation"  pictures of the mouth they think is in the correct order to pronounce the word.  The word is then spoken in the layout the pictures are in.  This was a really enjoyable activity that integrated phonics.  All information was current and accurate.  Various learning styles and intelligences are respected by allowing the user to choose from various levels of difficulty.  This software is free of stereotypes and biases.  There was a mixture of multicultural characters throughout. 

Presentation:  The software presentation is developmentally appropriate for its intended audience.  The graphics in this software are phenomenal.  All illustrations and graphics are relevant for the intended learning.  There is appropriate variety in each screen display.  The user "sits" in the driver's seat of the school bus to navigate around the body.  Clicking and dragging the steering wheel can take the user to new activities.  Inside the glove department, there is a map of the human body.  The map blinks in the area of the body the user is in.  Also, fun facts fall out from the visor when pulled down.  Each screen is distinguishable and the user knows where he/she is at all times.  The text is appropriate for the intended audience.  All words are printed in a type which is easy to see and read.  The instructions are told from one of the characters for each activity.  There is a very helpful lizard who gives instructions and/or suggestions on what to click if needed.  This lizard has a cute sense of humor that engages the user.  Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct throughout the software.

Effectiveness:  Students are able to recall/use information presented in the software following program use.  Many of the facts are science based and give students a solid idea of the importance of the human body.  For example, in one activity, students learn about bones and the order in which they make up the human body.  Also, the student learns the importance of recycling while he/she is in the classroom screen of the program.  In order to open up a desk to retrieve other activities, the user must sort through materials such as cans and old fruit and sort them into either a trash can or a recycling bin.  

Audience Appeal & Suitability:  The program matches the interest level of the indicated audience.  This software provides enjoyable songs and sounds throughout.  It engages the child to continue on working through the program.  Required input is appropriate for the indicated audience.  The user maneuvers through the games and the program by dragging and clicking the mouse. 

Practice/Assessment/Feedback:  Feedback is immediate and varied.  The characters eagerly express glee with each correct answer and encourage the user to try again for any wrong answers.  With each response from the character, the student is urged to try again in an encouraging manner.

Ease of Use:  The user can navigate through the program without difficulty.  Each activity has clear directions which are easy to follow.  There is a pair of sneakers with arrows used as the back and forward buttons.  On other screens there are clear "Exit" and "Quit" signs to allow the user to exit from any screen or end the program.  There is a quirky lizard readily available for help if the user was to get lost.  The user can control his/her own pace and sequence throughout the program.

User Interface and Media Quality:  Interface provides the user with an appropriate environment.  The colors used are brilliant and bold!  The pictures are detailed and extremely engaging.  The graphics, audio, video, and/or animations enhance the instruction.  The user is engaged in the software through the use of fine detail. 

Overall Evaluative Comments:  I really enjoyed this software.  I feel that it is appropriate for the intended age level and offers challenging and engaging activities.  The use of audio and animations used throughout this software are detailed and enjoyable to listen to and watch.  I would definitely use this software in my classroom to enhance my science curriculum.