Computer Software Review

Name: Danielle Wozniak                  Day of Class: Mon/Weds 2:00-3:30                Computer Number: 4
Title of Software: Frankenstein's Helper
Author/Publisher: Robert Schenk
WEB Address:  http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/mac/frankenstein.html
Date produced or last modified: 1/27/96
Cost of full program: Free
Amount of intended class time use think you will use it. Be specific. Two to three class periods a week for about 30mins
Subject Area: Mathematics
Your intended audience I will be using it in my math class that I will be teaching in grades 3-6

Brief description: It is a program designed to help with skills of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing in fun ways.  It uses all four of these math properties to get kids interested as well as having fun trying to get to the end of the game.  

Objectives: To help improve and review the basic skills of math to students. 

Prior Knowledge Required: Knowing the basic elements of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.  The program uses all four, and there must be prior knowledge of these for the students. 

Rate the following 10 Criteria: (high, medium or low) and give reasons as to why you rated this way.
1. Matches with intended curriculum Medium, it does match the subject I teach, but there are a few elements that may need a little explaining before playing this game.
2. Ease of download High, it did not take long to download at all.
3. Clear and concise language High, the language of the software is easy to understand and get through.
4. Maintain student's interest High, it will maintain student interest throughout, because it does not follow the same paths throughout at all.  It changes what problems they are using as well as how they are asked.  It kept my interest throughout, and I get easily bored with math, because of it's simplicity to me.
5. Learner participation High, I enjoyed going through this software and learning how to play it.  It was fun.  
6. Evidence of effectiveness Low, no awards were shown for this software
7. Objectionable bias Medium, it does mention that it is for grades 6-9, but I went through it and it seemed that I had learned the information presented in elementary school.  
8. Documentation Low, there really was no documentation for this site what so ever.  It gave a brief description, but nothing more than that.  
9. Clarity of directions Low, there were no initial instructions to get going into the game.  I had t o click each button to figure out what it did, but it does give directions and hints throughout to show what you are suppose to do next, but the initial directions would be nice to have.  
10. Stimulates creativity Medium, since it has not been modified in quite a few year, I do understand why it looks so much like it is old.  It could be modified or redesigned to make it look a little more appealing to kids and everyone playing and get some more graphics and sounds in.  

Strong Points: The overall concept of the story it has with math is a good strong point.  I did like the software because of that.
Weak Points: It needs directions so people who want to use this software can understand what they are suppose to do and how to get out of it and such.
Recommended action: I would evaluate it further.
Minimum System requirements: Color or B&W Mac, System 7+