I Love Science!

• Platform:   Windows 98 / NT / 95
• Media: CD-ROM
• Item Quantity: 1

Each lab is set up identically. With Mo, Rosie, or Al to guide them, players perform simulated science experiments--seeing if a hockey puck will slide farther on ice, carpet, or wood, for example--and then answer a series of multiple-choice questions regarding their observations. The questions are broken into short bursts of five, ensuring that children will follow an activity with a short quiz, then return to a new exploration phase.

All educational software must strike a balance between fun and learning, and I Love Science! is tilted strongly toward its learning component. This is a game that expects players to work and think, one that comes with special sections to help teachers and parents get the most out of the player's game time; there is little in I Love Science! thrown in purely for the sake of entertainment. Children without some interest in the game's subject matter might, as a result, be resistant to playing.

The great strength of this program is less the wealth of information in its database (which is, in fact, extensive) but rather the way in which it teaches children the cornerstones of the scientific method. Rather than simply presenting information on friction or human anatomy, the experimental activities give players a chance to work out the dynamics of science for themselves. The quizzes then help them discover if the conclusions they have drawn are the correct ones. I Love Science! also comes complete with an understanding that there is no substitute for hands-on, real-life experiments... and when you complete a round of virtual games, you "win" a page, which details an actual experiment you can perform using inexpensive household materials.

For students eager to unlock the mysteries of the universe or anyone looking for a painless way to absorb the basic concepts of science, I Love Science! is an ideal choice. --Alyx Dellamonica

From Children's Software Revue®
When we saw this interactive science lab we hoped kids could do some scientific discovery without the muss and fuss. The problem is that the open-ended scientific thinking part of the program is missing. Three science labs, hosted by animal characters, contain over 30 activities each. In Al's Kitchen, for example, kids are introduced to chemistry concepts by reading scientific definitions and conducting experiments. Unfortunately, the text goes on and on and is written at a reading level too difficult for children at the lower end of the suggested age range. The experiments are disappointing, too. Free exploration is not possible and children can only experiment with the lab materials in a particular way. For example, kids test to see what will happen when materials like rice, salt and ground coffee are mixed with water and placed in a coffee filter, but they cannot include other ingredients found in the lab. After kids are done with their experiments they get a quiz that tests what they've learned. They can go back and visit any activity as often as they like, but each time they'll find the same experiments and the exact same five questions. Strengths of the program include easy navigation and clear directions. Experiments are plentiful (over 100 in all) and children can decide where and when they want to visit each of the labs. While testers enjoyed many of the experiments and liked earning the stars, they were disappointed that their rewards didn't culminate in a grand finale or some other end-goal. Although children found lots of science content, they tired of the repetitive activities. Overall, there's lots of interesting information presented, but as an interactive science lab the program misses its mark.
Teaches: biology, physics, matter
Age Range: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue

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