Basic needs
Using educational software is a requirement for almost all children. Most CD-ROM packages cost no more than standard textbooks and the learning experience gained from them can be much more exciting than reading from plain pages.

However: ‘Don’t imagine these packages will avoid the need for textbooks,’ says one teacher I know. ‘Even though children find the software fun to use, they can’t take their computer to bed. Most children I know do their last-minute revision snuggled up between blankets with books in hand.’

Encyclopaedias
Even so, educational software clearly has tremendous benefits. Online encyclopaedias are especially useful. In the past, you needed a hefty bank balance and a reinforced steel bookshelf to store multiple printed volumes. Now you can get the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica – and more – on a single CD-ROM. It’s a fraction of the price of the printed version, and you can update the CD online via the website.

Other leaders in the field are Microsoft’s Encarta, and Grolier who produce more concise encyclopaedias. For less than £100 you can equip your children with a huge library of information filled with colour, animation and rich sound effects. Books are often part of the package, so you get a total multimedia experience in the bargain.

If you don’t want to spend much money, you’ll find many computer magazines with promotional cover CDs, which often have encyclopaedias on them. Some of the disks will be out of date – i.e. newer versions are soon to be published, hence the free giveaway. But the information they contain will still be relevant – historical facts and basic general knowledge will be accurate. Some sections, such as current affairs, will be a bit dated but hey – it’s free.

Personal best
My favourite is Encarta. It incorporates a Research function that allows children to compile their own documents and summarise their searches. It’s fully compliant with the needs of the National Curriculum and has a Study Centre where children can check they’ve understood the set subjects at every stage. It’s an excellent feature, especially for self-sufficient children.

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Educational software for children