"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.