Title: Alphie
Overall Rating:
B
Source: http://www.download.com/mac/software/sites/0,330,0-53318-s,00.html?st.dl.tdtl.txt.sites
Playing Time: open ended; 5-30 minutes
Date: July 31,1998
Cost: $ 49
Number of Players: 1-4
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: none
Subject Area: Reading/Language
Objectives: to recognize letters of the
alphabet
Brief Description: Students click on a
letter of the alphabet, and choose various activities using the letter.
Entry Capabilities Required: system 6-3-233
64 MB ram
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 5 - This activity
is very focused on the alphabet letters themselves.
Provides practice of relevant skills:
4 -The alphabet letters are well reinforced through activities.
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 4
-There is alot of interaction with this software.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 4 -The
outcome of student interaction is immediate- good feedback.
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
-3 -The graphics in this are nothing special.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): 3-Sucess could
be experienced by chance, which is not necessarily a bad thing with younger
students.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): 3-Depictions
are not lifelike, but instead are cartoonlike.
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test results):
unknown
Clear directions for play: 3 - the directions
are unclear.
Effectiveness of debriefing:unknown
Strong Points:
Does not require any knowledge of the alphabet;could be used by a pre-schooler
Weak Points:
unclear directions as to how to use the game; might not hold child's interest.
Reviewer: Cindy Rotman
Position: education student, Head Start
teacher
Date: June 7,1999
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh
PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.