Tool #1: World Detective
Content
- This game does accurately represent content because it is showing location of countries on a map. Cognitive - The game does not require much thinking from students in my target area. The questions that are asked are not very thought provoking and they don't really challenge the students at all. I think it would be more productive if the game asked questions like "The country is North of Mexico" or some type of questions that had more to do with geography or even info about a country. For example "The official language is English". There is also not anywhere for teachers to track progress. Pedagogical - There is not much distraction within the game. It is pretty straightforward, but I would probably not use it in my classroom. The tool might be more useful for younger kids, but I think it gives students too much help and does not really challenge students. |
Tool #2: World Geography Games at Seterra.com (My laptop wouldn't let access the games at Sheppard Software)
Content
- The content of all the games are accurate. Cognitive - I like this website because of the variety of games it offers. Some of the games are very specific, so I think that could be useful and this is a website that you could use in your classroom throughout the year. One thing that I do not like about some of the games is that once you answer a question correctly, the answer disappears from the map quickly. Pedagogical - I think most of the games challenge the students and allows students to see what they do know, and what they still need to work on. The games do not have any distractions in them and most of them are pretty straightforward. |
Tool #3: World Geography Games
Content
-Some of the games on the website are better than others, but I like the variety of games the website offers. The pictures to the right is from the game called "straits". I like this game because it shows a picture of the location after each correct answers. I also like how the past answers from the questions stay on the map. Cognitive - Once again, this game is straightforward. The student will either know the answer, or not know it. There is no feature that hints the right answer or gives any additional clues. Students are allowed to keep answering until they get it right, or they have the option to skip it. I think it would be more useful if students were shown the correct location after the second or third incorrect guess. Pedagogical - The game allows students to test their knowledge, and I do not think any of the games have any built in distractions. The games test student knowledge about specific country locations or other land features. However, none of the games show the correct answer if a student answers incorrectly, so I think this website is more useful for testing knowledge rather than trying to learn content. |
Tool #4: Where Is That?
Content
- The game is very accurate and straight forward. Cognitive - This game mostly focus on students memorization of states and countries. I don't think it promotes much thinking beyond that. While there is different levels that you can choose from at the beginning of the game, I think it would be nice if the software asked multiple questions, or some type of scaffolding aspect. For example if a student was able to successfully locate a country, then it could immediately ask if they know the capital. There is also no way to see student progress as a teacher. Pedagogical - While the actual game does not have many built in distractions, I think the layout of the website is a bit distraction. The website itself is filled with ads and other links to click on. This distracted me when I played, so I am sure that it would also distract students. |
Tool Comparison
My favorite tools are tool #2 and tool #3 because of the variety and content offered. I think these tools are better for older students, but that is the age group I will be working with in the future. I prefer tool #2 over tool #3 because I think it is more polished. Tool #2 offers a variety of versions, which I think could be useful.
If the students are younger, then I think tool #1 might be most effective because it aids students more. Since all four tools are dealing with maps and country locations, I think all the games are accurate and none of them have any built in distractions.
If the students are younger, then I think tool #1 might be most effective because it aids students more. Since all four tools are dealing with maps and country locations, I think all the games are accurate and none of them have any built in distractions.