Artifact # 2
This artifact is a mathematics Software Evaluation. It gives a detailed description about the mathematics software program, The Graph Club. The evaluation includes information regarding the publishing company, authors of the software, and a description of the product. The evaluation also includes reviews from other professionals, myself as well as reviews from other mathematics software.
Context
I evaluated The Graph Club in the Fall
of 2001 in my Curriculum and Instruction class at Appalachian State University.
I chose to evaluate The Graph Club in order to sharpen my mathematical
concepts and ideas skills. I inserted The Graph Club CD into the
computer and used all of its functions. I read articles about the
publishing company and then wrote the software evaluation using Microsoft
Word ME.
Impact
According to the North Carolina Standard
Course of Study, beginning as early as kindergarten, students are required
to learn about graphs. Graphs of every variety are available for
students to enter data and create the type of graph appropriate for the
data. One such goal in the NCSCS is Competency
Goal 4, in the first grade curriculum.
This software evaluation can be used
by my colleagues in order for them to get an idea about how it can be used
in their classrooms.
Alignment
This software evaluation meets the
National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers Goal
IIB. It meets this standard because it certainly applies research
to planning activities for students. In reviewing the software, I
had complete research about the software as well as write how it would
be useful. It displays that one of my goals as a teacher is to be
reasonable in my choices of activities for my students, in that I research
appropriate technology resources for the students.
This software evaluation also complies with Goal IIC. I identified the software as a possible tool in teaching graphing to children to give them a technologically based lesson. Then, I evaluated the software and gave it a rating for accuracy.
A software evaluation of this sort is also indicative of my reflective practice as a teacher. Within the evaluation is a short review of my feelings as well as colleague's opinions on The Graph Club software for use in the learning process in our classrooms (Goal VB) and (INTASC 9).