Rivers: Landform and Management

This is another 'TV-ROM' from the 4 Learning geography range and again boasts 40 minutes of good-quality video footage, drawn from four different Channel 4 programs that examine rivers and issues related to them. It's slightly broader in scope than Rainforest Development - any secondary student up to GCSE level will find relevant syllabus material in this one.

The CD is actually divided into two separate parts, one of which studies rivers and landscapes (specifically two UK rivers - the Tees and Usk) and a second that looks at China's Three Gorges Dam, a massive building project.

Each section is broken up into different subjects relating to rivers, dams and the environment. They are all illustrated with images, the occasional map diagram and some excellent video, which includes scenes shot from helicopters and some smart computer graphic representations of what the Chinese dam will look like when completed.

Along with each piece of video, questions are presented for the student, the answers to which are contained in the commentary and the related 'info' section. This latter feature expands upon the details given in the video and many of the terms used here are linked directly to the program's glossary where they are defined.

There are also links to other websites with every topic and unlike the Rainforest CD, almost all of these are functional. The only inferiority to the Rainforest disc is that this one only boasts four interactive sections, which is far less than its rival.

None of these are poor throwaway activities, however. One, for example, allows you to make your own decision about whether the Three Gorges Dam should be built, based on the arguments presented in the information section.

Contact: 4Learning 0870 124 6444
www.channel4.com