This is the latest CD-Rom version of a traditionally very popular encyclopedia.  In this review, SchoolHistory will explain what the CD-Rom offers, its suitability for school use and our overall opinion of the product.

The best thing about the Hutchinson Encyclopedia is accessibility.  The large paper-based version always provides straightforward, easy to understand definitions, facts and information.  This CD-Rom version offers all the benefits of the paper based version together with a number of significant enhancements.

As with most CD-Rom based software the content is hyperlinked. This means that within a particular article further materials (such as images, sound clips, weblinks or additional articles) are merely a click away.  However, this version of the Hutchinson Encyclopedia is also organised around the National Curriculum of England and Wales.  This is apparent even from the opening screen:

For use in schools, this emphasis on the National Curriculum has immediate benefits.  Pupils can use the CD-Rom as a resource for looking up famous people or events, but - even more suitable - are also able to examine topics within the same framework that they are using at school.

For example, a Year 7 pupils studying the Norman Conquest can select 'Articles', and search for 'Battle of Hastings'.  However, they can also select 'National Curriculum', 'History', 'Medieval Britain', 'Norman Conquest'.  This approach allows pupils to research or read around the topic without actually requiring prior knowledge.  Simply knowing the their topic, they can find out additional information easily.  This is applicable across the school curriculum.

Offering multiple ways of reaching the information is key - and this CD-Rom makes a really good attempt to make the available information as accessible as possible.  The National Curriculum menu is comprehensive, but could perhaps benefit from a little more organisation - topics are listed alphabetically, whereas it would be even better to see them listed under yeargroups.  This is however, a small gripe.

The range and depth of information is excellent.  Everything fits onto a single CD-Rom, meaning no disc-swapping is required.  Once past the opening screen, every screen has an easy to follow menu at the top:

The range is options is too extensive to explain in detail - but the main functions are explained above.  Many of these are different ways to access the same information, but at all times material is presented in a clear and straightforward way.  Additional options, when available, are easy to follow.

For our example pupil looking up the Norman Conquest, they are presented with a detailed text based summary of the events.  Double clicking on any word brings up a dictionary definition.  Highlighting a section and right clicking presents additional options to search and copy.  As previously mentioned, specific words are hyperlinked to additional articles.

By selecting 'More' the pupil is then offered further options:

Even from this example, the benefits can be seen.  Accessible content that encourages independent research.  At home, this CD-Rom offers a first class resource to help with schoolwork - in significant depth to cover GCSE level.  Text and images can easily be copied - although pupils clearly need to remember copyright and the importance of doing the work themselves!

At school, this CD-Rom offers similar benefits. With some teacher preparation, pupils could carry out research tasks to stimulate their own work, follow suggested internet links to discover additional material or use some of the 'funfile' activities to help them improve subject based knowledge and understanding.  Even just the use of the CD-Rom builds up skills and confidence, helping foster cross-application ICT skills (through copying, pasting, retracing steps using 'back' and 'forward', minimising windows, making effective use of hyperlinks).

Overall this CD-Rom is highly recommended.  Little extra touches such as the fact of the day or the random selection when selecting 'articles' help foster a user-friendly and helpful format that is evident throughout the product.  In conclusion, the Hutchinson Encyclopedia is of immense use both at school and at home, offering high quality information at an appropriate depth.  Those that think they know it all should try the quiz - they'll quickly find out they don't!

© Mr Field, 2002.  www.SchoolHistory.co.uk