students through the latest in computer imaging and sound, recently won a prestigious Golden Apple award in the United States.

And Bermudian, Mr. Spencer Critchley was a member of a 65-man team that spent over a year harnessing up-to-the-minute digital technology to create the novel package now sold to high schools across the US.

Mr. Critchley, who works for Computer Curriculum Corporation, a California-based multi-media educational software publisher, was responsible for sound effects on the award winning programme.

Aimed at getting anti-drugs and violence messages across to kids by engaging their attention with dramatic scenarios, street language and modern music, the 17-disk CD ROM package is considered "groundbreaking'' in its field.

"Its aim is to teach youth at risk to make good life choices. It was aimed at students likely to get into drugs or drop out of school,'' said the former Warwick Academy and Mount St. Agnes student.

He said 12 hours of exciting graphics, animation and sound engaged the attention of children who dislike being told what to do and have trouble concentrating.

"The video and animated high quality sound can be very exciting and a lot of fun,'' he said. "It was produced using entertainment that would catch the attention of kids turned off school.

"Kids really respond to it strongly. We tried it with kids with low attention spans and they loved it.'' Much of the technology used became available just six months ago.

Of the eight modules that make up the "Choosing Success'' package, two were entered in the recent National Education Media Competition. Both came away with Golden Apple awards, said Mr. Critchley.

The awards are given for excellence and creativity in use of the media for educational purposes.

Computer Curriculum Corporation, the Viacom subsidiary for which Mr. Critchley works, used the enormous information storing capacity of CD ROM disks and combined it with exciting graphics and sound.

The package is tailored to the experiences of US teenagers by broaching problems of drugs, gangs and family abuse.

But Mr. Critchley said it could do well in other countries like Bermuda.

Kids who tap into the system take on the role of a television reporter.

They are presented with a fictional character -- a teenager who has problems in school, is a member of a gang or is facing difficult choices to do with sex or drugs, and asked to resolve the situation.

They then interview the characters and make investigations through newspapers and articles to find a solution.

After collecting the information, they use an editing tool to put it together and add music before presenting it to their peers.

"The whole point is to model how to make good decisions about life,'' Mr.

Critchley said. "It gives them an opportunity to work out alternatives and make decisions by themselves. These are kids who don't want to be lectured.

They won't listen so instead we let them work it out.'' Mr. Critchley once worked for local TV and radio stations and played guitar in local bands (Home Grown and The Happenin).

The "Choosing Success'' project required a lot of work but Mr. Critchley said he was thrilled with the award.

"It was great,'' he said. "So much work went into it so it was great to get that kind of recognition.''