Instructional Software Evaluation Forms and Reflection
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Instructional Software
Evaluation Form
Evaluator: Sara Abtahi Date Evaluated: 10/17/05 Software Title (include version): Let’s Discover Nevada Publisher: Gallopade International Recommended 1 Age or 0 Grade Group: Ages 7-14 Detailed Description: Students are to assist two aliens, Combat and Star, with essentially “discovering Nevada”. Through four categories- FUN-damentals, geo-scan, discover, and time warp- the players learn the state’s facts, such as the capital city, flower, and bird, history, landmarks, and geological features. Students must complete selected-response and matching trivia questions, reinforcing the information stated above. After completing these quizzes for each category, they earn “commander crystals”, ultimately being awarded a commander first class medal. The information to be discovered is supplemented with pictures, music, and positive feedback from Combat and Star. Fun Factor: 0 Extremely Fun 1 Pretty Fun 0 I’d Play It Again 0 Pretty Boring Subject Area: 0 Math 1 Social Studies 0 Science 0 English 0 Other Main Curricular Goals Addressed: Students not only learn Nevada’s history, essentially how it became officially recognized, but also the state’s geography, cities, landmarks, government, monuments, nicknames, flag, seal, tree, flower, bird, etc. System: 0 MAC 1 PC Minimum System Requirements: Mac08 or newer, 2x CD-ROM drive or Windows 95/98, NT4 or 2000, Pentium processor or newer, 2x CD-ROM drive. Ease of Use: 1 Easy to Learn 0 Takes Awhile to Get It 0 Had to Read the Manual Potentially Problematic for Students with (describe): 1 Learning Disabilities: Those with reading disabilities may need additional time to read all the information covered. They may want to complete only one category per session. 1 Mental Disabilities: As with individuals with learning disabilities, students with mental disabilities will need additional time and perhaps fragmented sessions. 0 Physical Disabilities 0 Emotional Disabilities Inclusion of Bias: 0 Obvious 0 Unclear 1 Not Noticeable Includes Statistical Results for each Student: 0 Yes 1 No Additional Comments: Although the program states it is directed toward children from the ages seven to fourteen, I believe it is more appropriate for nine years and above. The reading level and format in which the quizzes are presented may be too difficult for first or second graders. Generally speaking, this software is much more appealing, interactive, and stimulating when presenting history/social science than merely reading from a textbook. The feature which allows students to refer back to information they have not quite grasped while taking the quizzes is an important tool in ensuring they truly master the material. Instructional Software
Evaluation Form
Evaluator: Sara Abtahi Date Evaluated: 10/17/05 Software Title (include version): Math Blaster for 2nd Grade Publisher: Davidson & Associates, Inc. Recommended 0 Age or 1 Grade Group: 2nd Grade Detailed Description: Students complete mathematical activities through “high energy game-play” such as destroying meteors while selecting the correct answer to addition and subtraction problems, throwing fraction pies at characters holding the fraction in which it correlates, and collecting the correct amount of coins in a piggy bank without being “hit” by incorrect coins. After completing each activity students ascend towards earning an intergalactic trophy. Fun Factor: 1 Extremely Fun 0 Pretty Fun 0 I’d Play It Again 0 Pretty Boring Subject Area: 1 Math 0 Social Studies 0 Science 0 English 0 Other: Describe Main Curricular Goals Addressed: Practice addition and subtraction, read and analyze charts, identify number patterns, recognize simple and equivalent fractional parts, manipulate shapes to complete puzzles, and tell time. System: 0 MAC 1 PC Minimum System Requirements: Windows 98/95 or higher; 4x CD-ROM. Power Macintosh; 4x CD-ROM Ease of Use: 1 Easy to Learn 0 Takes Awhile to Get It 0 Had to Read the Manual Potentially Problematic for Students with (describe): 0 Learning Disabilities 0 Mental Disabilities 1 Physical Disabilities: The software requires a constant, face-pace use of the mouse and arrows on the keyboard, which could potentially be an obstacle for those who have difficulty with fine motor skills. 0 Emotional Disabilities Inclusion of Bias: 0 Obvious 0 Unclear 1 Not Noticeable Includes Statistical Results for each Student: 1 Yes 0 No Additional Comments: I very much enjoyed playing Math Blaster, never growing bored when completing a variety of mathematical problems. I was surprised at how entertained I was while playing with number patterns, fractions, puzzles, and adding and subtracting, especially being an individual who tends to shy away from this subject. The program was not only user friendly, but had an appealing graphical user interface. All the characters were interactive, providing encouraging feedback and tastefully humorous comments. Additional attractive features included are students can track their progress throughout and as they grow more comfortable, increase the level of the content. Instructional Software
Reflection
Math Blaster for Second Grade and Let’s Discover Nevada’s ability to present curriculum typically viewed as boring or complicated in an appealing manner, provides students with ample opportunities to reach their greatest potential. These fast-pace, interactive programs not only allow N-Geners to learn with the digital media they are so accustomed to, but gives less fortunate students experience with technology. As I was evaluation both pieces of software, the benefits of using these programs within my future classroom began to quickly flow though my mind. Math Blaster for Second Grade was not only the program I preferred playing, but is the one I believe students will find the most appealing. In this present age, the majority of children spend a large amount of time playing a variety of video games and computer multimedia. Math Blaster is very similar to today’s video games, with an attractive graphical user interface and the ability to interact and simulate the characters. For instance, the player destroys meteors while simultaneously selecting correct answers to addition and subtraction problems. I particularly enjoyed the activity in which you must identify number patterns by hitting the correct bull’s eye, resulting in a character to fall into a dunk tank. Additional features which I also found important were the programs ability to track player’s progress, allowing him or her to increase the content’s level of difficulty. Also, the positive feedback the characters provide encourages children to continue playing, further developing their mathematical skills. I intend to use this software throughout the school years, as it touches upon addition, subtraction, fractions, number patterns, analyzing charts, telling time, and manipulating shapes. Students will be given the opportunity to use this program at least twice a week in groups and individually, reiterating the course content in an exciting way. It is especially beneficial as a means for reviewing for an exam or quiz. Although not as visually appealing and entertaining as Math Blaster, Let’s Discover Nevada assists students in learning not only our state’s facts, but its history. Exploring geographical features, cities, landmarks, and monuments through pictures and icons is much more stimulating than reading from a textbook. I would like my students to experiment with this software as an introduction to Nevada’s history, erasing the notion held by many that it is dull, boring. As they revisit the program throughout the unit, they will complete stimulating quizzes, alongside music and positive reinforcement from the aliens Combat and Star. I believe this should be done in collaborative groups, as students can aide one another in completing the sometimes challenging trivia questions. I found it disappointing that Let’s Discover Nevada did not have the important feature of tracking the player’s progress. It is imperative for a student’s intellectual growth to monitor his or her progress while learning. Within our classroom I briefly evaluated Arthur’s Teacher Trouble and Maya Quest. Although Maya Quest is not as user friendly as Arthur, they are both beneficial in helping students learn about the Mayan civilization and how to read, respectively. Arthur’s ability to highlight words as they are spoken is especially helpful when young children are beginning to read. Anytime a teacher has access to instructional software, such as Math Blaster for Second Grade, Let’s Discover Nevada, Arthur, or Maya Quest, that is not only appropriate, but coincides with the curriculum, it should be utilized. It allows students the opportunity to review the material in a less-traditional, entertaining manner. This no only ensures they gain as much of an understanding as possible, but provides a dynamic learning environment. |
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