Lessons in Picking Software to Learn By

• Published in: The New York times
• Main Author: Sims, Calvin
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, N.Y New York Times Company 02.08.1987
• Edition: Late Edition (East Coast)
• Subjects: CHILDREN AND YOUTH; DATA PROCESSING (COMPUTERS); EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS; MATHEMATICS; READING; SIMS, CALVIN; SOFTWARE PRODUCTS; WRITING AND WRITERS
• ISSN: 0362-4331

Although educators agree that some software programs can improve a child's reading, writing and arithmetic skills, among others, they say most parents fail to get their money's worth from educational software. Some of the problems, they say, arise from the overwhelming welter of products available today. But parents also fail to consult with school experts first. ''In many cases, the programs do not address the child's educational needs, nor do they reinforce subjects the child is studying at school,'' said Kenneth Komoski, executive director of the Educational Products Information Exchange, a nonprofit group that publishes the Education Software Selector, a yearly review of software packages for school and home. ''And many of the programs are just plain boring and no fun.'' Experts say that trying out a program is the best way to make sure it is right for the child, and many computer stores selling software have demonstration copies for customers to use in the store. At the Computer Factory in New York City, Thomas Moore, the store's software manager, advises parents to bring in their children to see which programs they actually like. ''Once the child uses the software in the store, the parents can tell right away if they should purchase it,'' Mr. Moore said. ''If it's no fun, there's no way the kid will continue to use it when he could be playing in the park on a Saturday morning.'' In addition to school computer coordinators and teachers, parents can also consult the many review guides now available. Particularly useful are ''Only the Best: The Discriminating Software Guide for Preschool-Grade 12,'' published by Education News Service; ''Education Software Preview Guide,'' from the Educational Software Evaluation Consortium, and ''Family Computing and Electronic Learning,'' both from Scholastic Inc.; ''Classroom Computer Learning'' and ''A Plus Magazine,'' from Davis Publishing.