"PsychQuest: Interactive Exercises for Psychology," a newly-released CD-ROM learning aid authored by Tom Ludwig of the Hope College psychology faculty, has received the Silver World Medal in the College Division of the New York Festivals' "International Interactive Multimedia Awards."
"PsychQuest: Interactive Exercises for Psychology," a newly-released CD-ROM learning aid authored by Tom Ludwig of the Hope College psychology faculty, has received the Silver World Medal in the College Division of the New York Festivals' "International Interactive Multimedia Awards."
It is the second time that Ludwig has received
international recognition for his work on a computer-
oriented psychology supplement. His earlier "PsychSim II:
Interactive Graphics Simulations for Psychology" won a "Best
Psychology Software" award in the 1990 EDUCOM/NCRIPTAL
Higher Education Software Awards competition.
Released in September by Worth Publishers Inc.,
"PsychQuest" was developed for Worth Publishers by Ehrlich
Multimedia Inc. as a team effort. Ludwig authored the
exercises, and Ehrlich Multimedia's graphic designers, video
specialists and programmers created the CD-ROM presentation.
The New York Festivals, established in 1957,
organize international media competitions that attract more
than 14,000 entries each year from communications
organizations in 64 countries. Festival competitions
recognize excellence in film and video, advertising in all
its forms, marketing excellence, health care communications,
television programming and promotion, radio programming and
promotion, and interactive media.
The International Interactive Multimedia Awards
were held in Washington, D.C., at the Academy for
Educational Development's National Demonstration Laboratory
for Information Technologies. The entries were evaluated by
a panel of judges from the Smithsonian, the Library of
Congress and other Washington, D.C., institutions.
"PsychQuest" contains eight modules that focus on
psychological topics related to life issues faced by high
school and college students. The program features
animation, still photographs and video clips. Students can
explore research topics, participate in experiments and
simulations, quiz themselves on content and even link to the
World Wide Web for additional information.
The eight modules are "How Do Athletes Use
Perceptual Cues?," "How Do Psychoactive Drugs Work?," "How
Do We Control How Much We Eat?," "Can You Rely on Your
Memory?," "Why Do We Feel Depressed?," "How Does Chronic
Stress Affect Us?," "How Do We Pick Our Mates?" and "Why Do
We Form Social Stereotypes?"
"PsychQuest" is designed for introductory
psychology students. "It is not a substitute for a
textbook," Ludwig said. "It is intended to be a
supplemental learning aid. Most instructors will use the
modules as self-paced, outside-of-class activities or as lab
activities."
He noted that "PsychQuest" was also designed to be
expandable, so that new modules can be added in the future.
Ludwig holds a Ph.D. from Washington University,
St. Louis, and has been a member of the Hope faculty since
1977.
His "PsychSim" software for introductory
psychology is now in version 4.0. "PsychSim" is used at
several hundred institutions nationwide.