By Odvard Egil Dyrli

Multimedia encyclopedias are hotter than ever in 1998. Here, we look at the newest versions of six major players in the market.

For generations, multiple-volume sets of printed encyclopedias were the reference mainstays of schools. They were (and are) expensive, voluminous, quickly outdated, and, well, flat. Today, for a tiny fraction of what a three-foot line of books on a shelf would cost, you can get a CD-ROM with the same content that will fit in the palm of your hand. And, for a price comparable to the most expensive bound sets on the market, you can even throw in a computer system to run the program.

More important than the economics, however, is the fact that electronic versions of encyclopedias offer students an educational edge by transforming the ways in which they acquire and shape information. Multimedia references can include speech, music, sound effects, film clips, interactive activities, and virtual reality experiences--all at fingertip access, and all easily integrated into classroom reports and projects. And, with Internet links now standard fare, information can be updated regularly and extended even farther beyond the classroom walls for a depth and breadth of content not previously associated with this type of reference.

Although some publishers were quick to recognize the potential of the CD-ROM to provide an easily searchable reference with the "bells and whistles" users had come to expect, the earliest multimedia encyclopedias were not always up to the task. Content was often incomplete and inaccurate, the media selections limited and disappointing, and interfaces could be cluttered and confusing. But things have changed. Streamlined screen designs, more powerful technology and higher-level content (due in part to the backing of major corporations and encyclopedia companies), and a lower price point for both hardware and software have made this multimedia reference better and more available than ever.

Each of the six electronic encyclopedias we look at would be a worthy addition to a school media or resource center. While they appear to have much in common--all offer multimedia, built-in dictionaries, timelines, atlases, on-screen help, and Internet links--their styles are very different. The depth of content, topic focus, and use of multimedia elements vary significantly, and each one offers its own unique features. In making a selection, therefore, it is a good idea to "try before you buy," and also to spend the extra money (usually about $20) for the "deluxe" version with the maximum multimedia content. At the same time, you might also consider buying more than one for different uses or student reading levels.

For this roundup, we look at the deluxe, multi-CD editions of the 1998 versions.

Comparing Multimedia Encyclopedias

Odvard Egil Dyrli, a columnist and contributing editor for Technology & Learning, is Professor Emeritus of Education at The University of Connecticut, and an education technology consultant throughout the United States and abroad (dyrli@uconnvm.uconn.edu).