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ERIC Number: ED259838
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1984
Pages: 15
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Selecting and Evaluating Software for Use in a Preschool Classroom: From the Young Child's and Researcher's Perspective.
Vartuli, Sue; And Others
A 16-item evaluation form is presented to aid in selection of appropriate computerized game materials for preschool children. The form was derived from a 32-week-long study involving 66 children 3, 4, and 5 years of age who were allowed to play computer games during free play or work time while attending a modified Montessori preschool program. In the first phase of the study, children progressed at their own pace through some or all of 24 selected programs sequenced on the basis of complexity of motoric skill requirements, content, and variety of presentation techniques. During the second phase, children were also given the opportunity to attempt programming and problem solving in 18 additional games using the Logo language, a floor turtle, and a small robot. Information recorded each time the computer was used included (1) name of game; (2) who selected the game (child or teacher); (3) reason game was selected; (4) time spent with the game; (5) what the child liked best about the game; and (6) overall response of the child. Results suggest that the most popular game types were those in which children could press any key on the keyboard to get a response. Older children used the whole keyboard more frequently than did younger children and used games involving more than one motoric operation. Animation, color, music, getting to push keys, and a variety of images were game characteristics which were frequently liked by children who responded to item 5, above. (RH)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A