Software Component
Project #1

Stephanie Rottier
EDMT 380-002
Spring 2004

General Information
Instructional Design and Pedagogical Soundness
Numbers Undercover as Drill and Practice Software
Content
Documentation

General Information
Title: Numbers Undercover

Publisher: Sunburst
http://sunburst-store.com/cgi-bin/sunburst.storefront/4046d295093b112a2717d00b89320644/Product/View/8316

Cost: $89.95 per single copy/ $299.95 for lab pack of 10

Hardware Requirements:
Windows:
80986 DX/2 66 processor or better
Win 3.1 or higher
8 MB of RAM
Up to 70 MB of free hard drive space
Sound card
4x CD-ROM drive or faster
SVGA graphics card

Mac Components:
608040 or better processor
System 7.0 or later
5 MB of free RAM
4x CD-Rom drive or faster
640x480 monitor resolution or larger/256 color

Content Area: Math - Measurement, Time, Money, Counting, and Number Patterns

Intended Audience: Kindergarten-3rd Grade

Software Category: Drill & Practice

Short Summary: This software program includes five different specific math topics that students may learn and enhance their knowledge with. Those topics include: measurement, time, money, counting, and number patterns. The students are able to go to separate places to practice these different topics separately, or they can go and solve the mystery where they will put into use more than one of the topics. Each correct answer will provide the students with a clue to solving the mystery. The students will need to gather clues, eliminate suspects and solve the mystery by using their problem solving and critical thinking skills. Some examples of what the students will do in this software program can be seen below.

Instructional Design and Pedagogical Soundness

Content: This software program can and should be used as a supplemental to mathematical lessons that fall under the categories of time, money, measurement, counting, and number patterns.

Appropriateness: This program can increase in difficulty as the student begins to full understand, comprehend, and master the specific mathematical subject areas that are displayed in this software program. Because of the different levels of increased difficulty, this program can be used at multiple age levels.

Purpose of Graphics: The graphics are not only used as a means of visual enhancement to the software program, but they are also used as the primary way of knowing how and when to solve the mathematical problems. Many graphical objects in the program are specifically used to solve the mathematical problem presented to the student.

Instructional Objectives:
1. Students should develop a better understanding of time, money, measurement, counting, and number patterns.
2. Students should practice listening comprehension, and then the application of what the student has just listened to.
3. Students should develop problem solving skills.

Prerequisite Skills of both Teachers and Students: Both students and teachers will need to know how to load the CD-rom and click on it correctly in order to start the program. The students and teachers will also need some general knowledge of how to use a mouse and the computer speaker system. Finally, the students and teachers will need to have a general concept knowledge of the specific mathematical concepts that are presented in this software program.

Numbers Undercover as Drill and Practice Software

Degree of Learner Control: The software is conducive to keeping the students on task while still maintaining the form of a game so that students are learning while having fun.

Type of Feedback for Correct and Incorrect Answers: The student receives encouraging feedback whether or not he/she has answered the question correctly. If the answer is incorrect, the student is given multiple tries until they find the correct answer.

Provisions for Different Skill of Difficulty Levels: Numbers Undercover provides students with the opportunity to increase the level of difficulty and skill as their knowledge and understanding progresses. There are a total of three different levels that children can select from in this software, each one increasing in difficulty.

Any built-in Scoring or Grade-keeping Capability for the Teacher or Student: This program does not have a built-in scoring or grade-keeping capability. It only provides the student or teacher with positive feedback when answer the questions correctly, as well as the opportunity to solve the mystery of the numbers undercover.

Content

Accuracy and Timeliness of the Content: This program allows think time for the student in each of the separate math focus sections. Although, when the student does not answer quickly enough, the program will comment and encourage the student to try to answer the question presented. The program's length really depends on the steps the student takes to solve the mystery. If the student attempts to solve the mystery without any practice in specific math areas, the program may conclude more quickly than it would if the student chose to use the different practice options. The student can also save their specific and come back to it at another time, allowing the student flexibility in when they can play and accomplish their game.

Racial/Gender Stereotypes: This software uses multiple animals as the characters and guides throughout the program. Therefore, this program does not present any racial stereotypes.The male gender, on the other hand, is the primary gender use throughout the program, creating a gender stereotype.

Bias: This game enhances the students' math skills in limited math areas, creating a type of bias in the game. The students would benefit from having a more intensive and all around encompassing math curriculum, rather then the limited topics it includes. The game does allow for progress in students. It has a multilevel system allowing the student to increase in levels as they progress in their knowledge and understanding of their math skills.

Documentation

Installation Directions: The installation instructions are clear and concise and can be found in the software manual. There are installation instructions for both PCs and Mac computers.

Teacher Guide: This can also be found in the software manual. In the back of the manual, there is also a section of reproducible classroom worksheets and ideas for classroom lessons.

Value: This program is used as a good supplemental tool to a specific math lesson that falls within the limited math topics in this software, as well as provides a review tool for students who may struggle or need extra support in these mathematical areas. This software will provide me with a means of knowing where each of my students understanding lie, by having them do additional worksheets to prove to me, their understanding of each of the mathematical topics.

Built in Electronic Help within the Application: The help portion of this software is found to be very helpful. Not only does it explain what you are supposed to do, but it also shows you how to do the specific task you asked for help on.

Provisions for Special Populations: This software package would be difficult to use with both deaf students due to the spoken instructions. The instructions are not written out in text form, so if a deaf student were to play it, they would need some sort of translation aide to help them along. This software package is also all in the English language, making it difficult for ESL students to completely understand and comprehend what the software may want them to do. Finally, it would be nearly impossible for visual impaired students to use this software program due to the immense need to know were your specific task lies and whether or not you have completed it thoroughly.

Last Updated May 13, 2004
Questions or Comments? Contact: rottiesj@uwec.edu

| Home | UW-Eau Claire Electronic Portfolio | Web Instructional Strategies | Project #1 | Lesson Plan | Web Component | Software Evaluation | Portfolio Reflection | Project #2 | Draft Lesson Plan | Treatment | Storyboard and Script | Final Lesson Plan |