Zoombini Isle is the jumping-off place for the journey. Here, students recruit groups of 16 Zoombinis to make the trek, which consists of four trails with three challenges each. Each group member can have one of five different styles of hair, eyes, nose, and feet. Users can select each Zoombini's features or let the program choose. The challenges revolve around these features. To pass a challenge, a Zoombini must have a certain combination of features or be arranged according to its features. It is up to the student to figure out the appropriate combination or arrangement. For example, the first challenge consists of two bridges across a chasm. One bridge may only allow blue-nosed Zoombinis to cross, while the other accepts everyone else. By watching who is allowed to cross or not, students can form and test hypotheses to determine the rules of the bridges. Note: the rules never stay the same from group to group.
As each group of Zoombinis completes a trail, the difficulty of the trail increases for the groups to follow. Higher difficulty levels increase the complexity of the rules such as "blue noses and sneakers, or those with hats." The trails are separated by rest areas, or base camps.
The four trails focus on the following areas: 1) logical relationships, grouping and comparing information; 2) strategic thinking, linking information, and problem solving; 3) organizing, graphing, and mapping information; and 4) sorting, comparing, and using algebraic thinking. These concepts are taught through challenges like Captain Cajun's Ferryboat, where Zoombinis can only sit next to someone with a similar feature; Hotel Dimensia, where students use the Zoombinis' features as X and Y coordinates to place them in their proper rooms; and the Mirror Machine, which uses filters to alter two Zoombinis' features to make them match.
This title is more challenging than it appears. Though its cute characters may suggest mindless entertainment, students must apply logic and clear thinking to work their way through its challenges. It is especially suitable for small group play. Watching two or three students work together to solve the challenges is very interesting. Every aspect of this CD-ROM causes children to hypothesize and think. Even the instructions for the challenges are purposely vague to force students to use observation, reasoning, and trial and error to determine how to operate the challenge. Users are told what they need to accomplish, but not how to accomplish it.
It will be some time before kids grow tired of this title because it generates new solutions each time they reach a challenge. They can save their progress at any point to come back to it at a later time. There is even a hidden Practice Mode that allows children (and parents) to try out any challenge without completing the challenges or levels below it. The documentation also contains an excellent parents' section.
Broderbund has always been known for innovative titles, and this one certainly continues their tradition. Logical Journey of the Zoombinis breaks new ground by focusing on logic, data analysis, set theory, graphing, and algebraic thinking skills. All keys to understanding advanced math concepts and a nice alternative to other CD-ROM titles. So tell your children to put down their Plasma Cannons, grab their thinking caps, and join the Zoombinis on their logical journey.
Dustin Kassman writes and reviews software in Corvallis, OR.
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