Anatomy and Physiology
Chemistry
Marine Biology
Weather and Climate
A number of CD-ROMS appear to be filmstrips that have been transfered onto a CD-ROM. Some include "enhancements" such as quizes. Many are static and do not use the power and capability of computer to render animations. The "filmstrip-to-CD" software often includes the sound track with those wonderful male voices that lulled many a student to sleep in the sixth grade. Only the "beeps" to tell you to move to the next slide have been removed. I refer to this type of material as "filmstrip."
A number of CDs use talking heads at various points. I'm not sure why having Dr. Talkinghead read a generic introduction (or whatever) is more effective than if I simply stood up at the front of the class and said the same.
Some CD presentations are more akin to Powerpoint, a slightly more dynamic environment than a filmstrip, but still navigated fairly linearly like a slide show. With appropriate use of animation, hyperlinked definitions of words, and videos, these CDs can rise to the level of being an effective use of the technologies available.
Other niche categories include CDs built for exploring a topic using a simulation engine of one sort or another. Some use simulation modelling engines such as STELLA under the hood, other use their own proprietary simulation software. These are often capable of delivering material in a way that cannot be delivered in either a classroom or a laboratory. Done well these can provide immersive and enriching experiences, done poorly these can be horribly confusing to navigate and use.
All CDs are a single CD unless otherwise noted.
Benjamin Cummins/ADAM
This nine CD set covers the following topics in detail:
The navigation in basically linear, but the presentations are filled with animations and interactivities. The artwork is well done and the CDs appear easy to navigate.
CyberEd
This is narrated slide show, although the "traditional" male narrator has been replaced by a female narrator. The drawings are a cut above the grainy images that are often seen in run-of-the-mill filmstrip CDs. Although there are obvious opportunities to use animation, this series appears to be 100% static images. The core material has no interactivities.
Queue
Pure filmstrip. Excellent for insomniacs. No climate material discernible. A waste of plastic.