Title: The Clue Finders' Math ages 9-12
Overall Rating:
5. This CD is highly interactive and teaches offers many different
types of problems for the upper elementary student
Source: The Learning Company
Playing Time: Half an hour or more
depending on how many levels the student wants to go.
Date: 1998
Cost: $ 29.95 http://www.shoptlc.com/produc
t.asp?pid=1150
Number of Players: 1.
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed:
Windows
Version-runs on : IBM PC and compatibles-486DX/66 MHz or better.
With: 16 MB RAM, Hard disk with 12 MB of free disk space, Quad-speed CD-Rom
drive, Windows 3.1 or higher, sound card and mouse. Mac runs
on: PowerPC Mac-66MHz or better. With: 16 Mb RAM, Hard
disk with 12 MB of free disk space, Quad-speed CD-Rom drive, System 7.1
or higher, mouse.
Subject Area: Math
Objectives: To teach the basic concepts
of upper-elementary Math (Whole number computation; fractions; geometry;
and Charts, graphs, and tables) through a combination of interactive conceptual
manipulative puzles and skill-building arcade-style puzles.
Brief Description: By solving math
puzzles a player collects clues about the mystery of the missing
treasures.
Players use logic and deductive reasoning to systematically exclued possible
suspects, objects, and locations. As the player progresses the problems
get more difficult and the clues are as straight forward.
Entry Capabilities Required: Must
be able to use a mouse.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 5.
The game is trying to teach upper elementary math and it concentrates on
that and achieves it.
Provides practice of relevant skills:
There is a practice mode which allows the student to practice his math
without any penalty from the game.
Likely to arouse/maintain interest:
4. The game is interactive and colorful and has good sound quality.
You can however, waste a lot of time watching the characters walk around.
Likely to be comprehended clearly:
4. The game is pretty straight forward, however there were a couple
of places where it took a little time to find out what had to be done.
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
4. The graphics are nice and simple. The animation is good and it
looks like a cartoon.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): 5. The game
is completely dependant on the players action. The player could guess,
but the chances of solving the mystery are very small.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): 4.
The game is fairly realistic. The math problems pertain to things
someone would encounter on a farm, for example.
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results):
N/A There are no field results as of yet because the product is so new,
but I imagine they would be positive.
Clear directions for play: 4.
There were some places where it was difficult to figure out what the game
wanted.
Effectiveness of debriefing:
5. At the end of the game it shows the player how he or she did and
returrns the stolen object back so the player can begin again
Strong Points:
The game was very relevant to the grade levels. It was easy to
load.
The game keeps the player interest and it gets more difficult as the player
improves.
Weak Points:
There were a few points that it was difficult to solve the puzzle becuase
it was unclear what the purpose was. No other real weak points.
Reviewer: Stephen Colón
Position: Graduate Student-State
College at Potsdam
Date: March 23, 1999
Computer System Reviewed on: PowerMac
G3 233 with 64 MB RAM.