Crystal Rainforest V2, The
© 2005 Tool Factory, Inc.
Designed in the UK, this is the second update to the Logo training package, first released in 1994. Logo is the geometric programming language created at MIT in the 1980's that uses a turtle and involves entering commands like RIGHT 90 and FORWARD 200. This edition was created by the same teacher/author (Simon Hosler) using Macromedia Director, and it has much-improved graphics. The goal is to solve a variety of challenges, such as stringing a rope or figuring out how to cross a pond, to win crystals and save the Rainforest. Solving the challenges involves successfully creating short Logo programs. The main improvement is called Tallking Logo, which lets children hear the commands as they are executed. We noticed that typing is rarely required to enter commands, thanks to a menu system. In the story, the king of Azon has been poisoned and students must solve programming challenges to find crystals and save him. This is a nice improvement to the original program and is loaded with higher-order problem-solving opportunities. This program is published in the UK by Sherston Publishing Group (www.sherston.com) and sold in the US by the Tool Factory.
$89.95, Windows 98, Mac OSX, Windows XP
Teaches: Logo, problem solving, math skills, logic, angles, geometry
CTR Rating: 88%