This Biology program was by far the best of the three Chestnut Software programs reviewed. It presents a new way of demonstrating a number of tests making use of graphics and text.

The program has been thought out quite well. To begin with, you are presented with a series of options concerning the testing of starch, glucose, protein, and fats. One slightly annoying feature of the first part of the program is that if you chose certain options, you have to turn the tape over and load another program. Obviously, it would be much better if all the programs were to load at the start.

Once the option is selected you are given information about the experiment together with diagrams and listings of apparatus and then asked questions as to starch content and so on. At the end of this section you are given a percentage score.

I can see this program fitting in to a science project and being used in conjunction with a practical session and I like the explanation before the questions and the idea of showing some of the apparatus to be used.

A major weakness of a lot of educational programs is that they are in effect little more than electronic textbooks and it is necessary that software designers use the vast potential offered by computer graphics and technology. In my view, the Chestnut programs have done little more than scratch the surface where education thinking and technology are concerned.