EPIE INSTITUTE

COURSEWARE REVIEW FORM

ANALYST PROFILE

Name: Dennis Sartoris

Date Assigned: April 97

Date Due: May 97

Home Phone: 294-2936

Best Time to Call: after 3pm


ESSENTIAL DATA ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Title: 123's Featuring the Counting Critters

Producer: Fisher Price in conjuction with Davidson & Associates


COMPONENTS

Everything inside the package:

Please describe any other components not listed above (ex: hardware interfaces such as a temperature probe):

The software is contained on a single CD-ROM disk that is both Mac and PC compatable.

Please clarify anything that you feel is not clear from the section above (ex: if the program comes with 3 program disks, 1 data disk and a management disk):

The program includes an on-line fun book with pages of coloring and counting activities to print and work on while not at the computer.

Please list all menu choices (content-related only, NOT utilities). Write them according to the menu path you must take to get to them (ex: "Practice, Addition, 2-digit numbers", assuming each one of these three items was a menu choice). Assign each one of these an arbitrary "section" number, e.g. "O1":

Section Number * Menu Title (This program uses different screens with Toolbars and Buttons)

01 The Bus Stop Choose a Counting Critter to play a game 02 Toolbars and Buttons Mode a)(Explore) & (Challenge) b)Help Hand Button c)Sing-a-long song d)Bus Button 03 Game Window Controls a)number pad, Plus sign & Minus sign b)Shape and color pad


CURRICULUM ROLE

Identify one or more from each group by writing an S if stated or an I if inferred next to the choice. If more than one are chosen in a group, specify the primary choice:

Group A

Group B

Group C

Computer and Model You Used: VIP GreenMotherBoard W/586 Intel 83MHz

Peripheral You Used: HP DeskJet 820Cse

Peripherals Recommended by the Producer or You: Sound Card


USERS SPECIFIED BY THE PRODUCER

Does the Producer specify in print who should use this? Yes

If you answered YES, quote exactly and cite page numbers.

Fisher Price 1-2-3-'s is a merry, musical journey for 3-5 yr. olds that will teach them all they need to know about numbers.

Age: 3-5 Year Olds

Page Numbers: This quote was taken from the back of the package

Grade: Pre-School to Kindergarden

Prerequisite Skills or Ability Level: Basic mouse skills, ability to listen and follow directions, and distinguish different shapes and colors

User Groupings: Single or group instruction


USERS RECOMMENDED BY YOU

If different than producers or if producer did not state. Give reasons:

This program could be used with Preschoolers but not in a Kindergarden class. The program may be to simple for children over the age of 4. However this may not apply to all levels of ability in each indivdual case. In addition the program requires the user the have exception mouse skills to have any amount of success.

Prerequisite Skills or Ability Level: Fine motor skills and ability to control and click mouse (Double click Click and hold)

User Groupings: Single user or Paired Users


CONTENTS

Describe the program structure: (ex: 10 games that provide practice in word attack skills at 3-5 difficulty levels, 15-20 minutes to complete a lesson) and give a two or three paragraph description of the program. Describe what the user actually sees on screen and does when using the program. Use as much space as necessary(use back of page for extra space).

Cite the page numbers(if any) in the documentation that contain a step-by-step description of what the learner sees and does from beginning to end.

The program starts at the Bus Stop where the user can click on many of the background settings to hear sounds or see animations. By clicking on one of the critters the Bus will take you to that Critters screen. The Snack Shop: In this game the user fills snack orders placed by customers that appear at the window. By using the mouse different snacks can be made by clicking on its dispenser. The number Pad can be used to make more or less of a given snack by using the plus or minus button. The Concert Hall: (Explore Mode) The user clicks a number button to make that many animals step into the spot light to play as the animals step foward they count out their numbers. (Challenge Mode) The conductor has the animals play a song then he asks you to count the animals that were playing. Post Office: The user sorts packages into proper sized mail bags. (Explor Mode) Try sorting the packages into the bages. Some will fit and some don't. The user can experiment with making and sorting different sizes and colors of packages. (Challenge Mode) The job gets a little tougher as only certain kinds of packages will fit in the bags. Penny the Critter gives special instructions to the user to help them along. There are also special emblems on the sides of the mail bags that depict that shape and/or color that goes into the bag.

*IMPORTANT

The following questions should be answered on a scale of 1-5 and N/A(not applicable). If a program LACKS some feature that would be applicable, it should receive a rating of N/A, with an (*) next to it.

APPROPRIATENESS FOR USERS SPECIFIED BY PRODUCER


ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS


CLARITY


SUPPORT MATERIALS


TECHNICAL QUALITY

Explain: It s very difficult to grab obects on the screen using the mouse without the proper fine motor skills and/or mouse skills



DOCUMENTATION


USER CONTROL


FEEDBACK


GRAPHICS


AUDIO


EVALUATION


RECORDS/MANAGEMENT


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

How many learner objectives are stated? Where are they stated?

6    1)How to count from 1 to 10 2)Number sequensing 3)Relationship of numbers to every day life 4)Shapes and colors 5)Number recognition in written and verbal form 6)Math readiness This information is printed on the packaging


APPROACH

In what follows, consider: adequacy and amount of information provided, instructional frames, educational activities, practice items, feedback, clarity, and accuracy:

Please add any comments you feel are necessary to explain or qualify any of the choices you expressed, above:

I found the program as a whole to be somewhat difficult for the age group it is intended for. Some of the screens are very difficult to work through especially the Post Office on the Challenge mode.


ANALYST'S SUMMARY

How much preparation time would an experienced teacher(experienced with both computers and the subject area) need to use this program? Explain:

All that is required is a few hours to learn all the aspects of this program and determine how it can be used to supplement the learning of basic number skills.

Please list the numbers of the statements above that best represent the major STRENGTHS of this program (maximum of 5). Address all areas: content, approach, etc. Add any additional explanations that you feel are necessary to clarify these statements (ex: give an example) OR to describe a major strength that does not fit into any of the statements above:

 1) CLARITY
2) AUDIO 3)APPROPRIATENESS FOR USERS SPECIFIED BY PRODUCER 4)USER CONTROL 5) ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS

Please list the numbers of the statements above that best represent the major WEAKNESSES of this program (maximum of 5). Address all areas: content, approach, etc. Add any additional explanations that you feel are necessary to clarify these statements (ex: give an example) OR to describe a major weakness that does not fit into any of the statements above:

1) RECORDS/MANAGEMENT 2) APPROACH 3) LEARNING OBJECTIVES 4)EVALUATION 5)DOCUMENTATION

In order of priority, list up to 5 tips that teachers will find most useful in using this program:

1) Before having student use the Post Office have them practice and develop mouse skills by using the Snack shop. 2)Before a student attemps to use the Post Office have the student sort objects similar to the program.


OVERALL RATING OF THE PROGRAM

Please CIRCLE the appropriate rating: [Highlighted in red]

The following categories should be used in determining your overall rating of the program. They are not exhaustive but suggest the areas you should consider in making your judgments. All items may not be appropriate to use in rating all programs. Consider the scope and intended purpose of the program (ex: it may be inappropriate to penalize a simulation that has no management system):


Please justify your rating: Without a record keeping system it is very difficult to track a students success using this software. In addition the methods that are used seem to be inappropriate when using the Concert Hall I cant't see what value that part of the program has when tring to meet the goals they have outlined.