HIT: First Connections: Golden Book Encyclopedia CD-RIM (Buy

["Shelley A. McCoy" <SMCCOY@UTKVX.UTK.EDU>]

For those who expressed an interest, here is a summary of what I found out
about First Connections:  The Golden Book Encyclopedia on CD-ROM.  I have
edited responses in the interest of saving space.  I apologize for not
including the entirety of each mes
sage, but it printed out at almost 5 pages!


   We like First Connections. It is much, much easier than Grolier's or
Encarta so serves a different audience.
_____
I reluctanly bought this one, inspired by a good review.  THe "golden
book" name really put me off. But I absolutly LOVE it.  We are a K-5
mostly Hispanic ESL/Bi Lingual school and most of our kids don't have the
reading level for the COmptons and Groliers
___________
First connections is not comprehensive but what it does cover it covers
well. You just click on the letter your topic starts with and scroll down
to find the article so no typing or spelling skills are needed (great for
the little ones).  It's got lots of audio accompanients.
________
It is hands down my favorite and most used CD-ROM ency.  Buy it! You
won't regret it.
___________
 We have First Connections and Grolliers.  Our school population
is K only - 400 students, 21 classrooms.  The teachers use Grolliers for
their thematic research.  They use First Connections with the students.
Kindergarteners cannot use it by themselves to find specific information
but
second graders should be able to.
_______
I THINK IT IS AN EXCELLENT FIRST ENCYCLOPEDIA.
_____
 I've used it to introduce reference skills to the little ones and to
reinforce A-B-C order. Having this reference CD makes me feel as though
I've now got something for everyone in the electronic area.
If you need more information, please feel free to e-mail me.
Marilyn Nehring, Media Specialist nehrinm@centmail.sw2.k12.wy.us
_____
This CD-ROM has been purchased by some of the Elementary schools in our
district and has some good features, but the information on the edition
that we have is dated. The last time that I asked the distributor about an
update no date was given.  A good r
eview is in Wilson Library Journal, Jan 1994.
_____
Absolutely, get it!  My little kids love it...and so do my less-up-to-snuff
big kids.  We do all kinds of notetaking with it with the notepad...so from
kindergarten on, they are learning that you don't copy the whole thing.
Attractive format.  Easy to use.
________
The version I have has synthetic speech for the text, and some real speech
in a few areas.  I gather they've added real speech in the new version,
which is a big improvement.  I think you can probably get it for less than
$110.  Try Educational Resources
 Catalog.  I think I paid about $79, and it should be cheaper now.
klaffert@pen.k12.va.us Patrick Henry Elementary School Alexandria, VA
_____
A resounding YES, buy it.  I bought five for my primary classes.  It is
organized in a different way which makes kids have to think and see
relationships.  It also has larger type face and allows teachers to put
bookmarks in so kids can follow a path.  It has major advantages for
younger students or those with reading problems.  The one down side is
the voice quality when it reads the passage to you. Very mechanical
sounding.
Ellen Jay
________
This one fills a necessary space.
_____
Actually has fairly complete info tho it looks rather "babyish" when you
begin the search.  We  use it for animal reports in 2nd and 3rd grade and
for our 4th grade state reports.
______
It is a wonderful encyclopedia.  I just heard the price is down to 45.00
and a lab pack 225.  However a new version will be out in March.From: Linda
Peterson <petersli@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
_____
The Golden Book First Impressions is for very young children.  It is
really an introduction to finding in formation, so much a means to find
information in any depth.  Grolier and Encarta are good for the older
kids, but for K and first grade this might be one way to introduce them
to information on computers.  Nice graphics.  If all you can afford are
the two other encyclopdias, however, I wouldnt be too upset about living
without this one.  I have a version several yars old and  I have to
decide whether or not to get it updated if possible, the way I try to get
the older encylopedias updated every year or so.  Hope this is at all
helpful. Janet Rawdon  rawdon@meol.mass.edu
_____
Yes, FC is very different.  It is designed for younger students (grades
1-3) and it uses the "ask a question" approach.  World Book Multimedia is
a must also.  It is much better for elementary than either Encarta or
Groliers.  There is a special price on it til Nov of $99.  Ihave All four
of the above mentioned CDs plus microsof Bookshelf and Comptons in my
Elementary LMC and WB is my first choice!   Cathy Roach croach@tenet.edu


By all means buy First Connections--Check Educational Resources for a
cheaper price. Joanne Troutner Director of Technology & Media
jtroutne@jupiter.esc.k12.in.us
_____
We have a stand alone copy and are currently trying to get a networked copy
that is not controlled by the management system Jostens.  It is a wonderful
resource for primary students.  The reading level is much lower than
Grolier
or Encarta. It even has a hear function that will read the entire text of
the article.  I recommend it highly.Absolutely buy First Connections.
Reading level and complexity of articles are perfect for elementary,
especially grades2-4.  Good photos. Will read aloud with (only problem) a
robot voice.  Easy to use.
Carol Newman  cnewman@bvsd.k12.co.us
_____
Hi.  We just received a copy of First Connections.  Looks great, so far.
Designed for primary grades.  Attractive interface,easy to read
articles.  Has function that reads articles aloud (in a robot-like
voice).  Recommended.From:   IN%"zelikow@meol.mass.edu"  "Paige Zelikow"
_____
YES, buy it. We have two and they are in use all the time.  We are a K-5
elementary building with a 50% Hispanic population and all grade levels use
it.  We also have 4 others,  Groliers, World Book, Compton's and Encarta
95.
 I begin with lessons on First Connections and then show them the
similarities and differences with the others.  We require at least 3
sources
for all research.  The students love the notebook feature and it really is
simple and helps them to understand the concept in the other encyclopedias.
Really you won't be sorry.  Connie Hunter, LMS  (C27HUNTER@aol.com)
_____
Great for those kids that are beginning chapter readers to
those that have a bit of trouble reading. Good basic articles, pictures on
a
wide variety of topics.  Highly recommended from:
Georgia Lundquist glundquist@st.ccsd.k12.wy.us

Hope this helps.
Thanks to all who responded.
Shelley McCoy
Dogwood Elementary
Knoxville, TN
smccoy@utkvx.utk.edu