Artifact # 7
This is a software evaluation of The Magic School bus Explores In the Age of Dinosaurs.
Context
I evaluated this piece of interactive children’s software as an assignment
for my Curriculum in the Elementary School class during the block experience
in spring, 2001. In addition to the evaluation, I looked at two other software
reviews and determined whether I would buy that software based on their
content and why or why not.
Impact
This assignment familiarized me with a specific piece of computer software
and with the process of locating reviews of other software. It also gave
me ideas about what I will look for in a piece of software when making
purchases for my classroom. I have developed a personal standard for these
materials which reflects my teaching style and my ideals about learning.
Alignment
I discovered that The Magic School bus Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs
is an educational game with a choose-your-own adventure theme. The
freedom of choice in destination as you navigate through the screens and
the various activities that the user may choose to participate in allow
for students with varying skill levels to enjoy the game (Tech.
Competency 13.1). I located the software in a campus computer
lab and evaluated it according to a set of criteria specified by my professor.
I then made a decision as to whether or not I would purchase that software
for my own classroom (Tech. Competency 10.6).
The assignment gave me the software knowledge that I was previously lacking,
which helped me grow as a professional because I am now equipped to make
good decisions regarding software for my classroom. These decisions affect
the learning of my students, and therefore my knowledge in this area is
very important (INTASC #9). In addition,
I can now include educational software use among my repertoire of instructional
strategies in the subject areas of both science and computer skills (Tech.
Competency 11.4).