Evaluation Outline
Title of Software: Mindtwister Math
Producer: Edmark Corporation
Target students (e.g., age or grade-level of students): Grades 1-5
Proficiency level (e.g., beginning, intermediate, advanced): advanced
Description:
Provide a brief description of what the program is, what it does, how it looks, how the user interacts with it, etc.
This program is designed to help students review basic math skills such as rounding, addition, subtraction, measurement. Students are presented with a game where they are to answer whether a number is missing such as “4”. A numbers sentence is then flashed on screen and students are supposed to “chime” in if the sentence is missing a “4” in it. The number sentence stays on screen for approximately 3 seconds. In addition, while the narrator enunciates when she gives directions, she speaks rather rapidly; therefore, it would be difficult for beginner and intermediate students to understand.
The producer of this software also provides a link to its website where anyone can buy software for any given subject, (language, reading, science, and math). In the language section, Edmark, provides software that helps a student learn how to read, and learn about phonics. There are also other products that you can buy in purchase in the basic subjects of math, science, and reading.
Language skills targeted:
The language that it targets is the content vocabulary in math. In addition, questions are worded as they would be on a “high stakes” math test.
Evaluation:
The strengths of this program is that it covers the basic math skills that are covered on a standards-based test. I don’t feel it would be effective tool for helping ELLs to learn in English. If anything, the program would help reinforce vocabulary that has already been taught. The purpose of this program is not learning language, but to reinforce math skills. Another feature I like about the program is that like many video games, it keeps the scores of the players. It fosters competition among students. This program follows the behaviorist approach. The student is drilled on different math skills. The student is conditioned to understand the concept and to follow a method for to solve the problem.
Since my classroom is mixed, I would like to use this program my classroom. It would help prepare my students for the upcoming test!
2 comments:
HI, Lizardo. Good luck on your comps, my friend. See you on the other side!
Okay, speaking of The Other Side, have you ever heard the song "Wave," by Alejandro Escovedo? It's a sad, but true, story about two kids who get on a train to find their father, who has moved to the U.S. as a migrant worker, and their grandparents hear about it and get to the train station too late to stop them; they can only Wave goodbye to their grandkids who "made it to the other side." Hmmm, I think I'll have to play it for you next time I see you. Remind me.
Lizardo,
Nice review. You're right, this isn't a program for helping ELLs learn English, but it sounds like you feel its supportive enough to help ELLs learn the content area of math.
-Dr. Wright
Post a Comment