Title: Reader Rabbit's
Math 1
Overall Rating:
A
Source: The learning Company
Playing Time: 45 to an hour, player may
stop playing and continue later using the save option.
Date: 3/20/99
Cost: $ 29.95 http://www.learningco.com/
Number of Players: 1 person or players
can play in groups
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed:
I. Windows version runs on:
A. IBM PC and compatibles 486DX/33 MHz or better
B. With:
1. 8MB memory (RAM)
2. Hard disk with 40Kfree disk space
3. Double-speed or higher CD-ROM drive
4. 256-color SVGA monitor
5. DOS 5.0 or higher, window 3.1 or higher (including Windows 95)
6. Windows ?compatible sound card
7. Mouse.
II. Macintosh version runs on:
A. Macintosh computers-68030/25MHz or better, including the following
models: LCII or greater; I Iic or greater; Centris series; Quadra series;
Quadra AV series; Power Macintosh series; Performa 410 or greater; Powerbook
145 or greater.
B. With:
1. 8MB memory (RAM)
2. Hard disk with 40K free disk space
3. Double -speed or higher CD-ROM drive
4. 14 inch or larger 256-color monitor with 640x 480 screen
resolution
5. System 7.0.1 or higher
6. Mouse
Subject Area:
Students
ages 4-7 or grades Pre K- 1
Objectives: Reader Rabbit’s
Math 1 builds early math skills and encourages children to discover
higher-level
math concepts and to develop an awareness of mathematical relationships.
1. Enhances a child’s appreciation for numbers
2. Children explore basic number concepts by playing a series of
imaginative
games
3. Children develop skills in counting
4. Children develop skills in addition
5. Children develop skills in subtraction
6. Children learn to recognize number relationships and pattern
Brief Description: Reader Rabbit’s setting
is the Circus of Numbers. The Circus of Numbers has five attractions
to visit- four math activities (the Calliope Counting Game, the Tightrope
Show, the Sea Lion Show, and the Balloon Matching Game) and a Prize
Center.
As you play the activities, you’ll earn prize tickets that you can use
at the Prize Center.
Entry Capabilities Required: The
player must have the skills and knowledge to manouver the mouse to the
correct location. The skill needed increase with the level.
The player will need to be able to identify numbers and recognizes simple
number relationships at the lowest level. The matching of objects
to target numbers is also at the lower levels. At the higher levels
the player will need to less than and greater than, associate numbers with
their written names, adding and subtracting numbers from 0-99, and adding
and subtracting two-digit numbers.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 4
The player has to master the objectives of that level or/and game to
receive the prize ticket.
Provides practice of relevant skills:
5
Each level of the program provides practice for each goal of that stage
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 4
The goal of winning prize tickets and winning bonus tickets motivates
the player to continue playing. Tickets are only given out if the
player answers a high percentage of the questions right. The larger
and more desirable prizes at the prize center can only be attained with
a large number of tickets.
Likely to be comprehended clearly:
4
The player can play every game and level without the manual.
If the player has a question on how to play the player can click on the
Math Rabbitfor help at any time during the game.The Math Rabbit is always
on the screen.
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
3
The scenery remains constant through out the game. If you choose
to play a different level at the same game the scenery doesn’t change,
the numbers or numbers of objects change but the background does not.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): 5
The player doesn’t receive prize tickets without correctly answer
all the question at some levels and if not all the question correctly than
only missing one. If the player guesses the wrong answer the right
answer is given and a new question appears. The old question may
reappear later in the same game. If the player misses a high percent
of the question in area the game will replay the same area again the next
time played.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): 4
The games setting is a cartoon. The animation is age
appropriate
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results):
2
Field-test: Reader Rabbit’s Math 1 has won more than 50 honors
and awards and is used by more families and schools than any other reading
software. Since 1984, their proven approach has helped more than
3,000,000 children learn essential reading, math, and thinking skills.
Clear directions for play: 4
The player can play every level and game without using the
manual.
If the player has a question on how to play, the player may click on Math
Rabbit for help at any time during the game. The math rabbit is always
on the screen.
Effectiveness of debriefing:
4
This program meets all of it's learning objectives and provide practice
at every level of learning for a adverage player from the age of 4-7, or
a player at the learning level.
Strong Points:
This program reinforces the student for the right answer. The element
of luck or/and guessing the answer is replaced by immediate feedback.
The children receive visual and auditory feedback as they practice and
learn to identify, add, subtract, and build basic math skills. Another
strong point of this program is the use of positive reinforcement for the
right answer. The use of prize tickets gives the player the motivation
to work on answering the question correct and also completing the stage
of the game. The player receive prize tickets for completing one
stage of the game. The player is then able to spend the prize tickets
at the prize center. The prize center has a variety of prize so the
player have larger prize to work for along with small prize for early
satisfaction.
Weak Points:
The program in my eyes is very strong in all areas. One area that
I though could have been improved was the scenery. Not the animation
but the screen do not change from level to level at each game. I
thought if the screen had changed to a higher tightrope or smaller balloon
would have influenced and emphasized the change in difficulties.
Reviewer: Anita Bessette
Position: Graduate Student
Date: 3/23/99
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh
PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.