Rainforest Development: The Amazonian Experience

This product might look like a CD-ROM to the untrained eye but on closer inspection it becomes apparent that it's a 'TV-ROM'. The difference? This is a disc based upon a Channel 4 television series called Places and People: Amazonia.

The bulk of the disc provides good quality video of the series and covers the devastation of the Amazon rainforest from various related angles. Initially, the series takes a look at local tribespeople and their historic relationship with the environment they live within. It then explores the logging, mining and ranching industries that threaten their very survival.

The 40 minutes of video footage relates to Key Stage 3 and 4 of the National Curriculum and links to a variety of interactive activities to enhance the learning experience.

There are some well-crafted maps and diagrams of various settlements and regions in the Amazon basin, for example, which lend a further perspective to the video footage.

However, the disc falls down a little on the activities. Although there's a good spread of these interactive and educational exercises, half of them are too simplistic and short-lived to make the most of the subject matter.

Similarly, some of the website links are good, but half of them are outdated or lead to blank pages, which is a real shame. The developers could have made real use of the links as inspiration for further, smaller projects.

In short, Rainforest Development does provide thought-provoking film but could have achieved much more with adequate multimedia features. As a result, it has to be marked down, especially considering its price tag.

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