Digital Frog ~ Digital Field Trip Series

Do you live in a Rainforest, a Wetland, or a Desert?  No?  (Don't worry, I don't either.)

However, I have been introduced to a way for you to travel there....  without needing a passport, without airline tickets.... all from the safety of your home. Go grab a cup of coffee and let me tell you about it.  Go on.... get the coffee.... I'll wait...........................


Welcome to the world of Digital Frog.
Digital Frog's mission is to bring the world of natural science to your door, and in my humble opinion, they have done a wonderful job. They have created a unique product:   The Digital Field Trip Series.  It contains three separate field trips: The Rainforest, The Desert, The Wetlands.

 Each trip is unique, and comprehensive in the information it provides. The product appeals to all grade levels, there really is something for everyone.

In our homeschool, we have devoted about and hour a week to this Series, and I really feel that we have barely begun to scratch the surface of the information that is contained within.

The Series comes in either CD or DVD format.  CD format is compatible with both Windows and Mac.  It is completely user friendly.  I took the CD out of the case, put it in the computer.... and we went to the Rainforest....  it was that fast.  Above is a screen shot of what you see when you have selected The Rainforest as your destination.  Each item in green, is it's own interactive learning area, crammed full of things to learn.

I mentioned it was interactive.... didn't I?  Well it is.  You can use the small screen on the upper left to obtain a 360 degree view of The Rainforest.  There are items hidden within that screen that will take you to learn more about the plants that grow, and the animals that live there.  You can also click on each outpost number, or on the colored text in the notebook, to learn more.

When you find a specific item to learn more about, you will come to a screen that looks like this.  Each shadow picture is linked to a new plant or animal.  There are several pictures of each item, along with informational text printed on the side of each photo.  Some items like the water vine, contain a narrated video.  My son, who is an auditory learner, really enjoyed this feature.  He was able to learn on his own through this option, and frequently would spend the rest of the afternoon narrating back to me the information on all the plants and animals he saw.
I would have enjoyed seeing more videos through out the disc.  Much of the information on the disc is to be read. While the on screen text can be easily read by a parent, or older sibling, I think that having more videos would make the product more interactive and independent for younger learners.

At the start of every field trip there is a quick map drill.  You click through a series of labeled maps to find the area you are going to be studying. All the areas are labeled, and come up on the screen so you are learning about the names of other countries, just by scrolling over them.

Now on to the science of the matter.(pun intended) This is really an area that Digital Frog has excelled.  They have taken complex topics, and made them interactive and easy to understand.  When we used the CD with my youngest son, we did not delve much into these areas of study, but I know will get to it eventually.  The resources in this Series are what make it worth the investment.  In my personal exploration of the product, I see how it compliments our study of Botany ( 3rd grade ) and Biology, and Physical Sciences in High School.  The presentation of the field trip as a Ecosystem Study, and not just a virtual tour, is what truly make this product unique.

Now for the important stuff......  How much does it cost, and how do you get your own.

Digital Frog is a Canadian based company.  They have a direct ordering website, or they sell through distributors.  Click  for a list of their U.S Distributors.  I would recommend ordering direct through their website....  I clicked on a few distributors to see what Digital Frog products they offered, and the pricing I ran into was much higher than what the company makes available for their home licenced product.

The Digital Field Trip Series ( the complete item reviewed here ) Retails on the direct order website for $125.00.  This product is the home license version.  It allows you to use the product in your home, for as many students as you have in your home. This version is not licensed to view publicly. (ie. share with your homeschool co-op)  There is different pricing for use in a school, or with a co-op.
The disc contains workbooks that can be printed as needed.  These workbooks provide direction for the student as they view the CD, as well as all the needed quizzes.

Now, before you choke on your coffee at the price.... lets do some math.  There are three field trips, .... that breaks down to $41.66 per destination. (That is $20 less than if you purchased the trips independently)  I happen to have 4 kids, who will all be visiting these destinations at some point in time during their school career.... A family trip to the movies is $60.00 (without the popcorn) .... and that is just for 2 hours of entertainment.....  you tell me which is the better value...

Don't forget to see what other TOS crew members have to say about this product.


***disclaimer***
I received a copy of The Digital Field Trip Series in exchange for my honest opinion of their product.  No other compensation was given.