Julia Sherrill
August 30, 2001
Software Evaluation
 
 Reviews:
 Author:  Brenda Prefling
 Source:  http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/reviews/mathadv.htm
 
    Based on the review I would be interested in trying out “A review of The Great Math Adventure.”  This games sounds very entertaining and educational for children.  Just like most other math software, you travel by correctly answering math problems.  The software also contains more than one game; the game includes Blasteroids work on comparing numbers and Ice Cream Machine works on numerical order.  Each game also has 5 skill levels, therefore, adapting to a wide variety of children.  This game software sounds very well organized and could be helpful to children.

Author:  Jackie and Kristina Wheeler
Source:  http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/reviews/mathadv.htm

    “Adventures with Edison” is software that contains three games, Mystery at the Museums, Wild Science Arcade, and Rock and Bach Studio.  Mystery at the Museums and Wild Science are the games that include math in them.  The Rock and Bach Studio is a program that deals with music.  Each game has different playing levels that can accommodate a child.  The reviewers gave this software a 3 out of a 5, but by the review you would have thought they would not have liked it at all.  The software sounds worthwhile, even the reviewers did not give it a very high scoring.  The software includes logic thinking and I would like to see how they do this.
 

Author:  N/A
Source:  http://www.edutainment.com.au/mathmys.html

    “Math Blaster Mystery:  The Great Brain Robbery,” sounds like wonderful software that I would be interested in.  The reviewer comments on the good plot, nice graphics, and tantalizing problems that reel the children into it and gets them hooked.  The game is focused on children 10 and up and works on pre-algebra skills, logical thinking and word problem skills.  Like all other math software you have to rescue someone by traveling through rooms and answering math problems correctly.  I would love to interact with this software and see what is all about.
 

“Disney’s Math Quest with Aladdin”

 
    Aladdin, Jasmine, and the monkey are kidnapped by an evil genie and the game player with the help of the good genie solves math problems to save them.  The game player moves from place to place by solving math problems, also saving Aladdin, Jasmine, and the monkey by correctly answering math problems.  One example, to get out of the dungeon the game player has to match concrete blocks with numbers on them to the sum of another concrete block.  If player answers correctly the blocks move back from the wall and the player and genie are free.  The game is divided up into three skill levels, therefore, making the software very versatile. With the software being so flexible it can be used for grades first through third.  The math skills vary from addition, subtraction, estimation, geometry, logical reasoning, and problem solving.  It would depend on the level of the game player in how much time would be needed to complete the game.  I would estimate anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.  As a teacher I would feel that this software would be best used on an individual or partner bases.
    The game is very friendly user and I feel students would enjoy using it.  The theme to the software motivates students to answer the math questions correctly.  Also, the software gives very encouraging reinforcement throughout the game.  The software also includes printable certificates that you can give to your students upon completing the game.  The only thing I did not like about this game is that it moved somewhat slowly.  The game might seem slow to me, because I am adult.  To a student it might be just the right speed.
    I would not use this software in my classroom as a tool to teach a lesson.  I feel this software is used more for entertainment.  It would be nice to use as an extra tool for students to use during their free time, to reinforce their math skills.  I feel on a rating from 1 to 10, I would give this game a 7.  I know students would love the interaction and the story behind the math.  I know this game would draw students in and have fun while practicing math.

Link:  http://disney.go.com/Disneyinteractive/flashindex.html
     The link to Disney Interactive would be a great resource for students and teachers to visit.  This sight has games and a catalog place to buy more Disney software.  If a child enjoys Math Quest with Aladdin so much, this would be a great website to visit to find what else the child would like.