Minimum Criteria Checklist for Evaluating Instructional Courseware
Adapted from: Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, M.d.
Roblyer and Jack Edwards, Merrill, 2000, p 108.
Title: Equivalent Fractions
Publisher Sunburst Communications
Content Area Math
Grade level K-3
Hardware Required: Mac or pc with sound, CD, mouse, 256 color, SVGA
Where software can be used:
___X_individual __X__small group __X__whole
class
Instructional Goal for which the Courseware is being considered
Teach the CONCEPT of equivalent fractions using concrete examples and funny
stories.
Courseware functions:
__X__ Drill and practice
__X__ Tutorial
__X__Simulation |
____Instructional game
__X__Problem solving
____Other: |
Enter a Y for yes and a N for no when considering the features below.
Instructional Design and Pedagogical Soundness
- __Y__Teaching strategy appropriate for student level and is based on
best-known methods
- __Y__Follows recognized standards for academic area
- __Y__Presentation on screen contains nothing that misleads or confuses
students
- __Y__Readability and difficulty at an appropriate level for students who
will use it
- __Y_Comments to students not abusive or insulting
- __Y__Graphics fulfill important purpose (motivation, information) and not
distracting to learners
Criteria specific to drill and practice functions:
- __Y__high degree of control over presentation rate (unless the method is
timed review)
- __Y__Appropriate feedback for correct answers (none, if timed; not
elaborate or time-consuming)
- __Y__Feedback is more reinforcing for correct than for incorrect
responses
Criteria specific to tutorials:
- __Y__High degree of interactivity (not just reading information)
- __Y__High degree of user control (forward and backward movement,
branching upon request)
- __Y__Comprehensive teaching sequence so instruction is self-contained
and standalone
- __Y_Adequate answer-judging capabilities for student-constructed answers
to questions
Criteria specific to simulations:
- __Y__Appropriate degree of fidelity (accurate depiction of system being
modeled)
- __Y__Good documentation available on how program works
Criteria specific to instructional games:
- __Y__Low quotient of violence or combat-type activities
- __Y__Amount of physical dexterity required appropriate to students who
will use it
Content
- __Y__No grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors on the screen
- __Y__All content accurate and Up-to Date
- __N__No racial or gender stereotypes
- __Y__Exhibits a sensitive treatment of moral and/or social issues
User Flexibility
- __Y__User normally has some control of movement within the program (can go
from screen to screen at desired rate; can read text at desired rate; can
exit program when desired)
- __N__Can turn of sound, if desired
- __NA__User can stop program and restart close to ending point in any
scenarios or activities.
- __NA__Optional exploration of related content/issues
Technical Soundness
- _Y/N___program loads consistently, without error
- __Y__Program does not break, no matter what the student enters
- __Y__Program does what the screen says it should do
Decision
- ____is recommended for purchase and use by
teacher:________________________
- _Y___is recommended for purchase of _5___ copies for grades__K-3__
- _Y___is recommended for purchase of __1__ for library or learning center
- ___is not recommended
Training
- ____teachers install and use without training
- __Y__instructional technologist (or learning recourse person) helps were
necessary
- __Y__one or more teachers present program and help others use
- ____afternoon workshop for for adopting teachers, ____grade teachers,
____content teachers
- ____summer workshop for adopting teachers, ____grade teachers, ____content
teachers.
- ____release time for training needed
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