Adi’s 4th & 5th Grade Mathematics

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Adi: The Ideal Math Tutor

A Review of Adi’s 4th & 5th Grade Mathematics

Judy Pozar

If you would like to supplement your child’s 4th or 5th grade math education, you need look no further than Adi’s 4th and 5th Grade Mathematics from Sierra. This multimedia product covers two full years of math curriculum in an orderly and engaging manner. In addition to the learning sections, in which children solve problems, this program contains video clips, creativity tools and games. All of this combines to form a comprehensive system suitable for average and gifted students, as well as those having difficulty with math. It is an excellent example of how good multimedia software can be when used for tutoring.

Adi, a goofy-looking alien, is your child’s onscreen animated tutor. He’s friendly and helpful (and much cheaper than a human tutor or educational consultant). Adi tracks your child’s progress and offers hints and encouragement appropriately.

The most important aspect of educational software is the content, and here there are two distinct modules, one for each grade. Each covers many mathematical concepts in depth. The Numbers and Calculation sections include fractions, decimals, reciprocals, estimation, factors and more. Many types of measurement are covered: length, volume, mass, time, temperature, perimeter, area, etc. Children learn about patterns and relationships, ratio, percent, exponents, logic, geometry, data analysis, and other subjects too numerous to list.

If a child has difficulty with a section, he or she can click on the Help button. The information you’ll see on the Help screen is related to the specific exercise you are in. There will be a text explanation, most likely some pictures, and perhaps an “Edumation” (an animated lesson). Possibly these will get the child on the right track, but if he or she is still having difficulty, an adult may need to step in and explain the concept.

Sierra wanted to create a comprehensive learning system with Adi. Therefore, the package contains more than the math exercises and help screens. The Creativity Toolbox contains a notebook, diary, calculator, paintbox and animation tools. For the most part, these are not related to the math curriculum, and Adi would still be an excellent program without them. Some children will enjoy using them, particularly if they do not have other software with which to write stories or create artwork.

In the Theater Lab, children view full-motion video clips and animated tutorials that relate to the lessons they’re studying.Finally, there is the Games Gallery. Children are rewarded for completing lessons in the Lesson Lab by earning points. After amassing 900 points, they earn the opportunity to play a new game. This takes a long time, since each set of exercises nets the child just 20 points.

Adi’s 4th and 5th Grade Mathematics is part of Sierra’s Comprehensive Learning System, which also includes English and Science at two grade levels (2nd/3rd and 4th/5th). The extensive user manual discusses the lofty goals of the system. I found the self-congratulatory tone a bit off-putting, but I have to admit that they did an admirable job, and none of the stuffiness of the handbook is evident in the program. It is an excellent way of keeping your child’s mind limber. I would especially recommend it for use over long summer vacations and as a useful tool for home-schooled children.

School House Scorecard

Product:	Adi’s 4th & 5th Grade Mathematics
Company:	Sierra On-Line, Inc. 3380 146th Place SE Suite 300 Bellevue, WA 98007 Phone: 800-757-7707
Cost:	$42.95

System Requirements:

486/33MHz or faster personal computer; 8MB of RAM; 2 MB available hard disk space; MS-DOS version 5.0 or higher and Windows 3.1x or Windows 95; double-speed CD-ROM drive; VGA display and video board, capable of displaying 256 colors at 640 x 480 resolution, Microsoft mouse or compatible; Microsoft Windows 3.1 or compatible sound board with DAC and audio speakers or headphones; printer (optional).

Breakdown:

Ease of Use 4
Learning Value 5
Entertainment Value 4
Graphics 5
Sound 5

Overall Score: