Software Evaluation

Title:  Disney’s Math Quest with Aladdin

Publisher:  Disney Interactive, Inc.

Platform: Mac and Windows

Content Area:  Addition, Subtraction, Estimation, Geometry, logical reasoning and problem solving

Range of Grade Levels:  Grades first through third

Content Description:  This software will send your students on an adventure to save Jasmine, Abu, and Aladdin from the evil genie, Bizarrah! To do this they must use their knowledge of addition, subtraction, geometry, and logical reasoning to pass through eighteen challenging activities. Robin Williams is the voice of Genie and he gives easy to understand directions to the game. This software is appropriate for the instructional level of first through third grade in all aspects, from the explanation of directions to the activities.  For example, the first challenge is The Spider Web. The educational objective for this activity is sorting and classifying. There is a Momma spider and her three babies and they are hungry. However, they are picky and will only except a certain type of bug. The player has to sort through the bugs and find out which one they like according to particular characteristics. The player will then proceed through these challenges:
· Yazoul’s Number Wall:  Educational Objectives include mental computation, addition and subtraction
· Wacky Wakeem’s Trading Post:  Educational Objectives include problem solving
· The Mosaic Artist:  Educational Objectives include geometry and symmetry
· The Magic Potion of Very-unkammen:  Educational Objective includes logical reasoning, addition and subtraction
· Lost in the Dark: Educational Objective includes problem solving
· Square Up:  Educational Objectives include geometry and logical reasoning
· The Magic Number Card Name: Educational Objectives include addition and subtraction
· Missing Numbers:  Educational Objective includes number patterns
· Rebuild the Temple:  Educational Objectives include addition and subtraction
· Geonim:  Educational Objectives include geometry and logical reasoning
· Bug out: Educational Objectives include multiplication and division
· Triangle Keys:  Educational Objective includes geometry
· Guardians and Jewels and Lizards and Jewels:  Educational Objectives include addition and subtraction
· Guardian’s Necklace and Lizard’s Necklace:  Educational Objectives include patterns, sorting and classifying
For each of these activities, there are three different skill levels to meet the needs of the different ability levels in the classroom. Also, Genie and Lago frequently appear on the screen to provide help and hints. If a child want to practice a particular room, they can go to Genie’s Recreation Room and play the activity as many times as they want.  For each of these eighteen activities, I would recommend independent work. It would be more beneficial for the students to work by themselves because there is too many little decisions to make so it would take up more time and may cause arguments.

Instructional Type:  Drill and Practice, Simulation, Problem Solving, Tutorial, Game and Tool

Strengths:
· Easy to understand directions for the children
· Beautiful and exciting graphics
· Activities that offer three ability levels
· Software is accurately designed for the instructional levels intended
· A goal to keep them motivated—save Jasmine, Abu and Aladdin
· Printable certificates are available after successful completion of an activity (provides encouragement)

Weaknesses:
           None found

In the Classroom:  This software is wonderful accessory to your math lessons on addition, subtraction, number recognition (1-100), patterns, and geometry to name a few. This software also shows children that math is fun and it can be something to look forward to doing.  I would use this software as additional practice to my lessons. For example, if we were working on addition and subtraction, I would have the students do the activity that works with that, such as Yazoul’s Number Wall.

I would use this software with my students because it is a fun way to feel comfortable and confident in math. It also reviews and gives additional practice to the lessons I have taught.

Rating:  10 I rated this software as a ten because it is beneficial to the teacher as additional review and practice for the students. It is also beneficial to the children because it incorporates their math lessons with exciting activities that set them up for success.

User Comments:  This parent was completely satisfied with the software.   “This is a game that has grown with my daughter from the age of 5 to 7. It re-enforces math learned at school.”--- Alison King from McHenry, IL

Links:  www.epinions.com/cmsw-Software-All-Disney_Brand  This link gives reviews on this software and to other Disney software that you might be interested in using.