Journal Main Page Theory and Review in Psychology
An Electronic Journal

Responses to Authors Internet Site Review

Hundreds of Hands-On Projects now Available on Line for K-12 Students

Contents









CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WORLD'S TOP 1000 LIST!









"We are thrilled about this milestone," said PCS Edventures! Executive Vice President Robert Grover. "A lot of dedicated people have worked really Hard to make this happen, and we hope our program will enrich the lives of millions of children on the Internet."

Following months of intense programming, testing, and preparation, PCS Edventures!, the online learning division of PCS Education Systems, Inc., has opened its electronic doors to students and the general public. Students may sign up for a free, no-obligation 10-day trial of PCS Edventures! by visiting the website at http://www.edventures.com.
PCS Edventures! is a full curriculum of hands-on projects that offers K-12 students a variety of activities in subject areas including Mechanical Engineering, Art, Internet, Physics, Chess, Architecture, Electricity, and Programming. In addition, dozens of new subject areas are under development with new projects for virtually every skill level being added daily.
The program works like the pyramid that is its symbol. Knowledge gained at each ascending level of the PCS Edventures! program supports the next higher level. This results in a broad-based body of study in several different related areas. All projects involve relevant, real-world, hands-on activities that allow students to learn by doing.
PCS Edventures! students literally get their hands on some really interesting projects. They build and design everything from LEGO gear trains to fully functioning robots, from multimedia sculptures to actual buildings from information right on their computer screen.
Along the way, students get tips on how and why things work from "Team Edventures!," a wacky troupe of helpful characters created by a 16-year-old cartoonist. While they are working on projects, thousands of concise definitions and real-world examples of technical terms are always just a mouse click away, along with helpful graphics and illustrations. This on-demand learning system takes complex concepts and breaks them down in a common-sense manner that students can easily understand and absorb.
PCS EDVENTURES! IS DESIGNED FOR FLEXIBILITY
PCS Edventures! is designed to be used in a wide variety of applications. For homeschoolers, it offers an instant curriculum serving up a wide variety of subjects that allows students to work at their own pace. PCS Edventures! empowers students to create works of art, design buildings, write to pen pals in other hemispheres, and visit websites for research. "Any room with an electric outlet and a phone jack is now a classroom," said PCS Edventures! Vice President of Sales and Marketing David Englund.
PCS Edventures! may also be applied as a supplement to regular school curricula. Teachers will appreciate the many ready-to-use activities it offers, most of which may be completed with common household materials or inexpensive items from the grocery or hardware store. The program's database is set up to help educators stretch budget dollars by identifying projects that utilize available materials.
In addition, the PCS Edventures! program makes a great after-school supplement to regular schoolwork. The program allows students to explore many subjects that may not be currently offered in their current schools. PCS Edventures! also allows students to learn at their own pace and develop real-world skills from typing and using the Internet to engineering. "In a world where keyboarding skills are learned before handwriting, this approach makes incredible sense," Grover added.
PCS EDVENTURES! WAS CREATED BY PARENTS TO HELP CHILDREN (AND THEIR PARENTS)
PCS Edventures! was designed by a group of people who are not only highly skilled technicians and accomplished educators, but who are also parents raising their own children. That's why safety and security features have been added to those areas where students are most at risk from undesirable elements on the Internet. Access is strictly controlled and monitored to the program's online forums, email, and especially chat rooms. "We want the Internet to be a safe and fun place for children," said PCS Edventures! Vice President of Curriculum Development Pat Mitchell, "a place where they can learn and grow in safety and confidence."
That is also why from the very beginning PCS Edventures! has always encouraged students to interact and discuss projects with their parents, guardians, other students, and now live experts online. Every time a student completes a project, work must be reviewed by the student's designated responsible parent, guardian, or instructor. In addition, all purchases made through the company's online store, IDEAS, must receive parental approval.
Because PCS Edventures! was developed by parents, it's priced so that most families can afford it, too. If a household has the appropriate computer and Internet access, PCS Edventures! costs only $7.95 per month for the first child, and additional children may be added at a discount. There is also a one-time setup fee of $10.00 per household to cover administrative costs.
A free interactive online tour of the PCS Edventures! program is available on the Internet at http://www.edventures.com. In addition, for a limited time students may sign up to use PCS Edventures! for a free 10-day trial. For more information, please contact David Englund at (208) 343-3110.


SUBSCRIBE
to Theory and Review in Psychology