Computer Learning Foundation
1066 West Evelyn Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408)720-8898
FAX (408)720-8777
http://www.computerlearning.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMPUTER LEARNING FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES CHIP & FRIENDS™ CD-ROM
TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN TO USE TECHNOLOGY RESPONSIBLY

SUNNYVALE, Calif., (August 23, 1999)--Parents and educators now have a fun and interactive way to help their young children, ages 3 to 8, learn to use computers responsibly with the new Chip & Friends CD-ROM announced today by the Computer Learning Foundation. This interactive CD-ROM, produced by the Atterbury Foundation, will be available separately, as well as in kits that include the popular, Emmy-nominated Chip & Friends video released earlier.

"Children begin using computers at very young ages today, and the earlier we introduce children to the proper care of computers, privacy and security issues, how to prevent viruses, the importance of not copying software and other ethical issues, the greater the likelihood that children will grow up to use technology responsibly," says Sally Bowman Alden, executive director of the Computer Learning Foundation. "The Chip & Friends puppet characters on the video have been a popular way for parents and educators to introduce these important topics with their children. We're very excited to be adding the interactive CD-ROM to help reinforce these concepts."

The new interactive CD-ROM includes fun, interactive learning games based on the puppet vignettes in the video of Chip & his friends plus new material about the Internet and privacy of information. Also included on the CD-ROM are lesson plans and supplemental materials that teachers can print out for classroom use. The CD-ROM has been tested by both children and teachers and meets most of the newly published National Educational Technology Standards released by the U.S. Office of Education.

The Chip & Friends CD-ROM will begin shipping this fall for Macintosh and Windows computers for $29.95. The Chip & Friends CD-ROM will also be included in Chip & Friends kits for home and school. Each kit includes the Chip & Friends video with two 20-minute presentations featuring a cast of delightful puppet characters that children love. Chip and his friends, Silicon Sylvie, Sandy Software, and Gooseberry, and their encounters with video villain, Dirty Dan, captivate young children as they learn important lessons about how to be responsible users of computers. Each kit also includes a Chip hand puppet, a Chip poster and a Student Activities Guide.

The Chip & Friends Classroom Kit (Item No. CLD9940-X) includes the Chip & Friends video, Chip & Friends CD-ROM, a Teacher's Guide, 25 Student Activities Guides, a Chip poster and a Chip puppet for $119.95 (plus $13 shipping and handling). The Chip & Friends Home Kit (Item No. CLD9941-X) includes the Chip & Friends video, Chip & Friends CD-ROM, a Parent's Guide, one Student Activities Guide, a Chip poster and a Chip puppet for $59.95 (plus $8 shipping and handling).

More information can be obtained at the Foundation's Web site <http://www.computerlearning.org> or by writing for Computer Learning 2000, the Foundation's free annual publication (P.O. Box 60007, Palo Alto, CA 94306-0007).

The Computer Learning Foundation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is an international nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to bringing businesses, schools and communities together to improve the quality of education and preparation of youth for the workplace through the use of technology. Founded in 1987, the Foundation serves as a clearinghouse of information for parents and educators on using technology effectively with children. In addition, the Computer Learning Foundation hosts Computer Learning Month each October, a major national grass roots educational effort, and motivates and recognizes innovative uses of technology through annual competitions for children, educators, community groups and schools. The Foundation's newest initiative, Our Town, provides schools with an innovative way to involve students in learning about the Internet, their community and other academic studies by working with others in their community on the development of a Web site for their town. The Computer Learning Foundation is funded by corporate and individual donations and is endorsed by and collaborates with 56 U.S. State Departments of Education and Canadian Ministries of Education and 26 national nonprofit organizations.

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