Download Instructional Software Evaluation

Opportunity for students to learn both knowledge and it's application to real problems
Students are able to discover and construct knowledge rather than just receive it
x
x
Comments (REQUIRED): The software is very in-depth. A teacher would have to spend a great
deal of time outside of the classroom learning how to set up and manipulate the experiments.
(But in all fairness, it would take quite a bit of time to set up similar “real” experiments too, and
once the computer experiments are set up the variables can be more easily manipulated.) The
user manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up experiments, test questions and
to use the graphics. So, even though it would be time-consuming to learn how to use the
software, the instructions are clear and useful. It looks pretty detailed and cumbersome up front,
but like any software, once you become more familiar with it, it looks like it would be easy
enough to use. Perhaps the best in-class use of the software would be for demonstration
purposes, where the experiments are already set up and loaded on the computers, and the
students would just manipulate the variables so they can see the results when they run the
problem in 3D and graphical mode. The testing feature seems to be a useful option. This is
absolutely not gaming software, so I wouldn’t rate it very high in the motivational category. But
the problems and topics are those that the students will have to learn in physics class, so I would
think that it would at least be a bit more interesting to see it on a computer screen in 3D versus
just plugging away at problems on paper or using a calculator.
Section 2. Content
Yes
No grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors on the screen
x
All content accurate and up-to-date
x
No racial or gender stereotypes; not geared toward only one sex or to
certain races
Exhibits a sensitive treatment of moral and/or social issues (e. g.,
perspectives on war)
Content matches required curriculum objectives
No
n/a
n/a
x
Comments: (REQUIRED) This is strictly science software that provides the opportunity to set up
and run Physics experiments. As such, there is nothing that in any way would present any
issues with social, moral or otherwise sensitive subject matter.
Section 3. User Flexibility
Yes
User normally has some control of movement within the program (e. g., can go from
screen to screen at desired rate; can read text at desired rate; can exit program when
desired)
x
Can turn off sound, if desired
n/a
Interface is easy to use (e.g., similar format from screen-to-screen for forward and back
movement in program)
x
No
Comments: (REQUIRED) When I played with the program on my home computer, I did not hear
any sound so I don’t believe there is any. The user has the ability to save any file at any time, but
it’s not like paging backward or forward from one screen to the next in a gaming or MUVE type of
environment. It’s more like creating a document in Word or a Paint program, where you are
building a file (experiment) and you can save it at any point and go back to it later.