Software Evaluation

Choices, Choices:  On the Playground

I chose to evaluate the educational software Choices, Choices: On the Playground.  This educational lesson concept was published by Richard Abrams and the software compiled and copyrighted in 1997 by Tom Snyder Productions, Inc.  The system requirements are a computer which is IBM-compatible 486 or higher and an operating system of either Windows 3.1, 95, or 98 with at least eight (8) Megs of RAM. The monitor must have 256-color with a monitor resolution of 640 x480 or higher; if using the CD version a double-speed or higher CD-ROM drive is required.  The large-screen projection device and external speakers are optional.  The software can be utilized efficiently with the monitor only as the documentation binder that accompanies this software product is excellent in that it contains everything needed for teacher narration of the software simulation.

Choices, Choices incorporates a simulation mode in order to teach a “Five-Step Critical Thinking Process” which addresses the social issues of peer pressure, acceptance or rejection of someone new on the playground, and children deciding what their interactive behavioral morals will be.  This program invites the classroom to participate in the steps of understanding the situation, setting goals, talking about the options, making a choice, and thinking about the consequences of your choices. The scenario is one of morning recess where a student and her friends are going to play a special game with her new ball. A new student has come to the school and his presence brings up the question of being friends with him or ignoring him and playing only with her friends. This software simulation which presents this scenario is colorful and is age-appropriate for the children who will utilize this program in their classrooms. The simulation is aided by “Picture Cards” which will portray the opening scene, the goals set for this simulation, and the consequence cards which ask questions about what might happen as children make decisions which correspond to their goals. These "Picture Cards" can be displayed such that each different simulation will portray a comic book scene. 

The above mentioned documentation and accompanying supplementary materials are excellent in aiding the teacher and the students to utilize this software to its fullest potential.  The instructions are clear and allow for a variety of goals, decisions, and consequences to be used in order to create dozens of different simulations.  The lesson plans extend the scenarios in order to allow students many opportunities for enrichment and separate instruction for each of the five critical steps. 

The effectiveness of this software will depend in large part on the teacher’s ability to promote students’ classroom discussions; while at the same time allowing them freedom to make trial and error decisions about the actions of the friends in different recess simulations.  The teacher’s presentation and participation when utilizing this software will ultimately decide how well it will enable her students to make difficult decisions concerning actual lifetime choices moral behavior and creating friendships.  This social concept is one that all children need instruction and guidance in at different stages in their childhood.

I feel Choices, Choices: On the Playgrounds will attract and keep students’ interest, and can easily be extended to other social domain issues as the accompanying lesson plans given in the binder demonstrate.  The software, picture cards, and lesson plans were effectively created to keep the audience age groups’ attention and suited to their developmental level as well.  All of the materials beginning with the CD installation to the binder documentation are very easy to use. The “help” information is easily accessed and understood as well.  I feel the social skills lessons which can be taught using this educational software are crucial and as a future teacher would appreciate this being available to my classroom.