Educational Game Evaluation 2018

Game Title Sight Words Learning Games and Reading Flash CArds

Game Type ______ Web-Based Game __X____ App-Based Game

Educational South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards – English Language Arts grades prek-
Standards 4th grade

When choosing a game to be used in the classroom, many things need to be considered in order for the game to be an effective
classroom tool. The game play, navigation, interface tools, educational content, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Thoughtful Education
strategies, differentiation of instruction, teacher guidance, and resources must all be considered. The following rubric can be
used to evaluate games and simulations for use in the elementary classroom.

Explanation of Points

19-27: Game has value on multiple levels and can be used in the classroom for student learning enhancement. The game uses
teacher resources, Bloom’s taxonomy, current and proven research -based education practices. It also has teacher resources and
supplements to help integrate the game into the classroom. This game also scaffolds and differentiates play for all learners
including ELL students, Exceptional Education learners, below grade level, on level, and above level learners including Gifte d
Students. It also requires the student to use a variety of strategies and skills in order to complete the goals and objectives. It is
also user friendly, tracks student progress, and engages students on multiple levels.

10-18: Game meets at least 5 categories of criteria. It can be used in the classroom as a supplement but not as the main lesson.
It uses some research-based education practices and provides some material to be used in lesson plans and game play. The
teacher may still need to bring in additional material to int egrate the game in the classroom. It engages students’ on a few
levels and is mostly user friendly. Tracks some student progress but does not gather data. Game may differentiate for some
students, but not all students. Students may use 1 -2 strategies in order to complete game play but not a variety of skills.

0-9: This game should not be used in the classroom or for learning purposes.

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Educational Game Evaluation 2018

Evaluation Rubric for Educational Game

1 2 3
Criteria Score
Needs Improvement Satisfactory Exemplary
Game is not age appropriate. There is Game is age appropriate for majority Game is age appropriate. There is no 3
questionable language or action. The of target demographic. There is no questionable language or action. The
story is not simple and easily questionable language or actions to story is simple and easy to
understood. Goals and objectives for be taken by students. The story is understand. Goals and objectives for
the student are unclear or not somewhat simple and easy to each level are explicit to the student’s
displayed. The game demographic is understand. Goals and objectives for learning abilities. Storyline and
not the student’s age level. There are each level are clear and attainable for character interaction is easily
too many choices and the student the student to achieve. Game understood. There are limited choices
does not have control over their path. attempts to integrate different levels and at least two-three different
Dialog is not simple or understood of learning and student ability levels. outcome paths. Students have control
between the students and the Graphics and sound mostly go with over which direction and path their
characters in the game. Instructions game play but may have a few character can take. Dialog between
Game Play are hard to follow or not easily “empty” screens and sounds. Sounds students and characters or
understood. Graphics and sounds are do not always match up with screens instructions are simple for student to
not aligned with the game or the story or may be slow in loading. Some game understand. Graphics and sound work
of the game. There is not an easy way screens may have “extra” items but with the game and there are no
for a student to recall information does not interfere in game play. There “extras” unless needed in the levels of
needed for game play. There is no is a place for students to collect and game play or the simulation. There are
tutorial mode or instructions given for store items and can easily recall places for students to store tools and
game play. information needed for game play items collected or a place to drop
throughout. There is a short tutorial items no longer needed. Students
mode that explains most of the have the option to go through a
navigation and game play. tutorial mode to understand game
play and navigation.
Sight Words Learning Games app receives a 3 for game play. The game is definitely age appropriate for the early childhood
Summary of
classroom. There is nothing questionable about this app at all. The character interaction is on point for little children; colorful and
Game Play animated. Directions given through the app are very simple, clear, and easily understandable.
The student struggles with navigation Navigation is somewhat intuitive for Navigation is intuitive to the age 3
which does not allow for easier game the student or age group. Tools and group. Tools and buttons are within
Navigation play. Tools and buttons are not within buttons are simple but may not be easy reach of students. Minimum
easy reach and so students cannot easily reached by all students. There is thought required by students to use
navigate easily. There is no audio some thought required by students to tools to navigate their Avatar through

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Educational Game Evaluation 2018

option available to read students navigate but it does not interfere in game screens and interact with game
dialog or other game information if game play. Students have more than characters. Audio available for lower
needed. Students are given a generic once choice if the Avatar is a generic level learners and ELL students. Tools
avatar to play game. Too much one. They can customize the Avatar and buttons are intuitive to the
thought is required to navigate game somewhat. Audio is available only in student playing so as not to interfere
pathways causing interruption in some parts of the game. Tools and in game play or thought process.
game play for the student. buttons are somewhat intuitive and
do not interfere in game play.
Navigation receives a 3 for Sight Words Learning Games. Buttons are easily located and navigable. There is minimum thought
Summary of required for navigation purposes. Audio is available for all players, not just ELLs. Adding audio to this game only enhances it
Navigation educational value. Not only can students see sight words, but they also hear them. This works well to enhance word association
with what the word looks like and sounds like.
Keyboard and other navigational tools Medium difficulty in keyboard and Easy keyboard or mouse controls to 3
are complicated or hard to use mouse controls. Allows some point move through screens and levels. Uses
through the screens and levels. Uses and click action to move through point and click and indicator arrows
keyboard letters or keys that are too screens but may need the keys such as for important information and has a
spread out interfering in game play W, S, A, D in order to move forward, “hint” box students can use to prevent
and natural flow of the game. There backward and left and right. May frustration and allow students to stay
are no hints or ways to indicate to require the student to practice more engaged in game. Hint box needs
Interface Tools students’ important information. with the controls in order to navigate specific types of items collected to use
the game. There is a hint box available which are indicated in the game
in some parts of the game such as tutorial. Hint box must “reload” in
new levels or new quests. Tutorial can order to use.
be repeated but may interfere in
game play.

I rated Sight Word Learning Games a 3 for Interface Tools. Because this is an app based game, everything is touch screen. Screens
Summary of
and levels are easy to move through with a simple touch on the arrow or object. There is no hint box, but students are encouraged
Interface Tools to keep trying through the use of answer choices being eliminated.
Game has no educational content or Game has some educational value and Game is clearly aligned with 3
concepts that integrate into teachers’ can be identified as a useful tool in educational standards. Teacher can
planned curriculum. Game is not some content areas. Game may be easily integrate game into lesson plans
Educational aligned with Educational Standards. somewhat aligned with educational and classroom activities.
Content standards. Teacher may need to pull
supplemental material in order to
integrate game into lesson plans and
classroom activities.

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Educational Game Evaluation 2018

Summery of Educational Content receives a rating of 3 in the app Sight Words Learning Game. This game is clearly aligned with the South
Carolina College and Career Ready Standards for early childhood. Sight words in this app based game are divided by levels
Educational according to grades. I believe that teachers would welcome the use of this app based game into their classrooms, as it would be
Content super easy to integrate into lesson plans and classroom activities.
Only the lower levels of Bloom’s Some higher level Bloom’s taxonomy The higher order thinking skills of 1
taxonomy are used. These include is addressed but game is mostly Bloom’s taxonomy are required for
remembering, understanding, and middle to lower level Bloom’s. These students’ to play the game. These
applying. include applying, remembering, include evaluating, synthesizing, and
understanding, and some evaluation analyzing multiple pieces of
Bloom’s and analyzing of game situations in information and multiple parts of the
Taxonomy order to solve problems and combine game in order to solve problems.
multiple pieces of information in order Allows students to create items
to complete game. Does not allow including their Avatar to engage
students to create items or completely students.
customize their Avatar.

Summary of Sight Words Learning Games receives a rating of 1 for Bloom’s Taxonomy. However, I do believe that sight words only require low
level skills, such as memorization, to learn. Even though the rating for Bloom’s is low, I would still expect teachers to be
Bloom’s enthusiastic about using this app based game because it is very engaging and motivating for young children. Students are allowed
Taxonomy to create an Avatar, which is always engaging and motivating.
There are no thoughtful education Some thoughtful education strategies Thoughtful Education strategies and 2
strategies integrated into game play are used and integrated into the game other researched based criteria are
and other research based strategies play. May introduce students to new subtly integrated into game play such
are not used concepts such as word relationships as being introduced to new concepts
Thoughtful but does not allow comparison and ideas using comprehension
Educational between relationships. strategies in relation to Bloom’s
Strategies taxonomy. These may include new
vocabulary concepts, word and
situation relationships and comparing
a new situation to a previous
situation.
Summary of I rated Sight Words Learning Games a 2 for Summary of Thoughtful Educational Strategies. I think that there are some educational
Thoughtful strategies integrated into the game. Some word relationships are introduced in this app based game, but it does not allow for
comparison between relationships.
Educational
Strategies

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Game play only has one level of play Game play has two or three levels of Game play allows for students to work 3
and does not allow for multiple or play and allows for some multiple or on multiple levels and platforms to
diverse groups of students the ability diverse groups of students the ability solve problems and resolve situations
to play. The levels may be defined as to play. Levels may be defined as Easy, in the game. There levels may be
Differentiation of Easy, Medium, and Difficult but does Medium, or Difficult but there is very defined as Easy (below grade level and
not allow students to move between little scaffolding or difference in all simple directions); Medium (on grade
Instruction them based on performance. three levels. Does not allow for level); and Difficult (above grade level
movement between levels based on and challenging) in order to engage
performance. students on multiple levels of
performance. Scaffolding allows
students to flow between difficulty
levels based on their performance.
Summary of Differentiation of Instruction receives a rating of 3 in this app based game. Sight words are divided by grade levels. The levels are
not designated as easy, medium, or hard. They are designated with the respective grade level according to the Dolch Sight Words
Differentiation of List. However, this would still allow for students to move between grade levels and be engaged in activities that are appropriate
Instruction for them. It would be possible for a first grade student to be working on the fourth grade level and vice versa.
No teacher interface allowing teacher Interface allows teacher to look at Interface allows cloud navigation to 1
to track student progress or get progress of students but does not track student progress through game
statistical information on students’ provide strategies or mini-lessons in play and present teaching strategies
comprehension of game concepts. No order to help students through a to help a student through a difficult
mini-lessons or the teacher interface difficult part of the game. Does not task or situation in the game play
interrupts game play and disengages allow students to practice problem while still allowing the student
Teacher Interface
student in game. solving. The teacher needs to pull in opportunities to practice problem-
additional information and create own solving. Shows teacher the specific
lessons based on student trouble- mini-lesson that can be used to help a
spots in the game. Teacher may have student at a particular level.
to watch student play game in order
to identify trouble-spots.

Sight Words Learning Games receives a rating of 1 for Teacher Interface. There is nothing to allow teachers to track student
Summary of
progress or get statistical information on students’ comprehension of game concepts. There are no mini-lessons or additional
Teacher Interface activities/ strategies offered for the teacher to extend the learning.
Game has no teacher resources to be Some graphic organizers for student Includes thoughtful education graphic 1
used with students in the classroom to usage during gameplay. Instructions organizers students can use during
Game Resources
help integrate game into lesson plans. or Teacher Resource book included. game play and mini-lessons that
May not include lesson plan activities teachers can use to help students
for integration into classroom and through a particular difficult concept.

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 Educational Game Evaluation 2018

teacher may have to pull in and create Supplements include videos and
own resources. activities that can be used to integrate
game into classroom lessons.

Summary of Summary of Game Resources receives a rating of 1 for this app based game. The game has no teacher resources to be used with
Game Resources the students in the classroom to help integrate the game into lesson plans.

Total Score 20

Points: Summary of Evaluation

[Comments on Strengths, Weaknesses, Improvements, and Effectiveness go here]
Strengths:
The overall score for this app based game was 20 points. Although this is not necessarily a high score, I still believe that it could be a
valuable learning resource for some students. This app may be more based for home use than classroom use.

When playing the Word Machine game, I really liked that there was praise for correct answers and “uh-oh’s” for incorrect answers. If you
answered incorrectly, that choice was eliminated and you were left with the remaining choices. I think that this keeps the children
engaged and motivated to answer correctly.

The graphics and animation are colorful and appealing to young children. Audio is also available in this game. This proves to be beneficial
as students are not only exposed to what the sight words look like, but also what they sound like.

I also think that the students being able to create their own avatar is engaging and motivating to them.

Weaknesses:

This app based game ranked very low on Bloom’s Taxonomy. I believe that this is appropriate for a game involving sight words. Sight
words are mostly learned through memorization. I also ranked low the teacher resources. There are no resources offered for
teachers. Again, I would say that maybe this app based game would be better suited for hom e use than classroom use.

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Improvements:

If I could make any improvements to this game, I would start with a teacher resource center and a data tracking center. I th ink that
teachers would love to use this app in their classrooms if there were more options offered for them. When we, as teachers, use any
sort of game with our students, we want to know how it affected them and what they took away from it. This app based game do es
not provide this information for teachers. I would add some sort of cloud-based teacher resource center so that teachers could track
student progress and also have access to resources to extend student learning.

7 EDIT 670: Educational Games and Simulations | Dr. Corey Lee (clee@coastal.edu)