Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust

Reviewers: Brenda Hester and Linnie Calland
Teachers at Mason County Middle School
Maysville, KY
EMail address: lcalland@mason.k12.ky.us

Software: Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust
Simon And Schuster-Knowledge Adventure, 1999
http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/home/
Comes on 2 CD-ROMs that work on either Mac or Windows
Evaluated on an Accent Pentium II
Date reviewed: October 1999
List price: $50.00 for teacher editions; lab packs for 5-$120.00; site license $325.00 for 15 users
Rating: 8 on a scale of 1-10, Cool.

o Briefly describe what the software does: This two-CD program is a lengthy testimony of the Holocaust from four of its survivors. There are video clips of the survivors themselves talking about their memories. It includes the pre-war years and continues through the end of the war. There is a chronological timeline which adds other information about WWII related to political and military struggles in Europe, events in Asia and the Pacific, civilian life in Europe, and other events happening in the U.S. and the world. Maps are incorporated throughout the program to give a visual frame of reference to the information. An index includes definitions of all terms used in the program.

o What do you like about the software? The software is very easy to navigate.

o What makes this software Way Cool? Students think that because it is hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio it is special. We are more impressed that Steven Spielberg's work with the Shoah Visual History Foundation was instrumental in developing this program.

o Is there anything you don't like about the software? The coloring of grays and browns, which were used presumably to set the mood of the subject, makes it difficult to read the print. Not all text on screen is read aloud. Low level readers might have trouble with some of the text.

o What age students would like to use this software? Middle and high school students, ages 12-18

o Additional comments: Should appeal to both visual and auditory learners since there is a good mix of both mediums.

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