Title: New Kid on the Block
Overall Rating: B
Source: Random House/Broderbund Company
Playing Time: Aprox. 60 for all poems and some reviews.
Date: 1996
Cost: $ 28.95 (http://www.cdaccess.com/html/quick/newkiddr.htm)
Number of Players: 1
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed: CD Rom
Subject Area: English/Elementary Phonics/Reading
Objectives: To assist children in recognizing words by highlighting them and saying them out loud.
Brief Description: A game where children can be read to or they can choose what lines to be read and illustrated by the narrator.
Entry Capabilities Required: Some reading of basic words required for understanding.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 4 (Follows a very predictable path.)
Provides practice of relevant skills: 5 (The children can follow along with the story or choose what they want to read.)
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 3 (May be fun for lower grades but would not hold interest for students above grade three.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 5 (Easy to understand and follow.)
Technical quality (durable, attractive): 5 (Very good graphics and cute animation.)
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather than chance): 5 ( No winning is involved.)
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic, accurate depiction): 4 ( Accurate depiction of the poems-not really realistic though. That may be because of the silly nature of the poems.)
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test results): 4
Clear directions for play: 5 (No installation necessary, directions are very easy to follow.)
Effectiveness of debriefing: 3
Strong Points: Cute animation, very interactive and age appropriate.
Weak Points: The program has some sample books on the software but they are incomplete.
Reviewer: Sara Douglass
Position: Student
Date: 9.14.98
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.