Software Teaches Hard Facts About the Planet : Computer games raise children’s environmental consciousness.
Kids are interested in being masters of all they survey--and they have been jumping on the computer bandwagon, using programs to realize their schemes. And makers of computer software--who know that school kids are being told it’s no longer cool to get your way with the planet the old-fashioned way, such as by nuke-ing it--have been making new pro-environment programs.
Ventura County software stores report a growing number of inquiries for titles like “SimCity 2000”--which hasn’t even been released yet--spurred by the success of the original “SimCity,” which has kids fighting smog and leaky sewers as part of the computer game. The new game is reported to be even more environmentally rigorous than its predecessor. It challenges kids to “compete with neighboring cities, which will lure away citizens and industries if the city’s business environment and quality of life decline.”
Sometimes called educational software but often found on shelves alongside regular computer games, these items are so popular they sell nearly as well as the non-environmental sales champ Carmen Sandiego, according to Edward Haverly of the Egghead Software store in Ventura. “They’re constantly calling in for the new ‘SimCity.’ We’re selling more (‘SimCities’) than (best-selling kid’s title) ‘Reader Rabbit.’ ”
This trend has not been lost on savvy parents who are looking for a way to get Junior away from television and into an activity that will improve his grades or give her a head start in the competitive job market.
Enter Futurekids, the private after-school computer classes. This franchised operation started out to be a sort of American answer to juku , a Japanese intensive private tutoring program.
According to Larry Carillo, owner of a Futurekids site in Thousand Oaks, environmentally themed material is what children most often ask for during the part of the session when they choose what to practice on. “It’s really popular,” he said.
Early next year, the company’s basic curriculum, now laden with dinosaur-related material, will expand beyond that craze, much to the relief of James McDonald, who has another Futurekids franchise in Thousand Oaks.
“I’m dinosaured out,” he said.
Beginning after Christmas, a curriculum with the clever name of Megabyte Zoo will be offered, involving exercises such as this: The tyro computer whiz must “properly define the type of food, plants and temperatures the animals need to survive and remove any trash or pollution from the animal habitats. If they correctly deal with each animal’s habitat, the animals appear for the student to see.”
In other words, the child, while pursuing computer mastery and at the same time playing God, must do everything perfectly or no cute little animals show up for the party. They learn how environmental good works can produce delights--refuting the cliche that virtue is its own reward.
Richard Kahlenberg, who writes the weekly Earthwatch column, has been reporting on the environment since Earth Day I. Nowadays he recycles everything. You can write to him at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura 93003, or fax 658-5576.
* FYI: Futurekids computer schools in Ventura County can be found in Janss Mall in Thousand Oaks, on Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks, and on Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley.
The environmental computer programs they use are also sold at Egghead, Software City and Computer Village. Among the titles children enjoy most are “Zookeeper,” “Zug’s Dinosaur World,” “Nigel’s World,” “Ecoquest” and “SimCity.”
