The Graph Club
Tom
Snyder Productions
1-800-342-0236
Grade
Level: 2-5
Subject
Area: Mathematics
Reviewed
by: Deborah Gartley
SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION
This software covers graphing in the following formats: circle, bar, picture, line, and table. Students choose between exploring and experimenting with two different graphs side-by-side, matching a graph of their choosing to a differently formatted one created by the program, creating their own graph, and guessing what a graph created by the program may be used for. It begins with a short cartoon series starring Martina and Fizz as they invite the student to join their Graph Club. An optional CD provides the student the opportunity to follow the two characters on a graphing adventure.
ACCURACY OF CONTENT
The content is completely appropriate for both an introduction to graphing as well as for creating graphing across several grade levels. The K-4 designation seems appropriate. It is easy to use, although using some options requires students to know how to use the menu bar at the top of the screen. The software is free of gender and ethnic bias, using male and female characters, as well as both genders and multiple ethnicities as graph icons. It even includes Spanish letters as optional icons along with the traditional 26-letter alphabet.
TECHNICAL QUALITY
The software is self-installing, requiring no computer experience other than the knowledge of how to open the CD drive. Using the software requires the knowledge of a menu bar and a mouse. The help button is constantly onscreen in the form of a question mark enclosed in a quotation box. There is no music in this program, merely a male voice counting as the student creates a graph, and one of the cartoon characters occasionally congratulating the student. The colors are varied, and the student has the option of changing them as they choose.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY
The program makes excellent use of the available technology in allowing students to create, compare, and explore graphs of many different types at the same time. Students immediately see the consequences of changing a quantity or graph type. Students can print out not only the graphs they created and compared, but award certificates for correctly re-creating a graph in a different format. Graphs can be created various sizes, form a single 8½ x 11 size to a 9-page poster size for hall and classroom display.
ROLE OF STUDENTS
The software does not limit students; time and their imagination does. They can work completely within the confines of the program’s guessing and matching modes, or they can create and explore whatever types and sizes of graphs they choose. The program can easily be used as an assessment tool through the creating mode. Groups of students can create a single graph, and students can interview their schoolmates for topics and quantities to graph.
ROLE OF TEACHER
Although the teacher is unable to modify the program, she can utilize it as an introductory tool, an assessment tool, or as an independent activity throughout a graphing unit. It can also be used to create graphs from information gathered in other subjects, such as social studies and language arts. The accompanying teacher’s guide offers many resources, including ideas to introduce a graphing unit, use a variety of manipulatives, print graphs, and assessment student understanding. It also includes a large section of classroom reproducibles (grids, icons, and awards) and an extensive bibliography.
CLASSROOM USAGE
This software can effectively be used in many different manners in the classroom. Students can work independently, in pairs or small groups, or even whole class groups. Once the students learn how to work the program, they should be able to work with minimal teacher assistance in gathering information and creating graphs.
CRITICAL SUMMARY
There are few, if any, shortcomings, in the program. Perhaps the only section that may be unclear to students is the "Guess" section, where students are given a graph, and then must guess what it means. Otherwise, The Graph Club should prove to be an exciting addition any graphing activity.
OVERALL RATING: 10 of 10
EXPLANATION OF RATING:
The student-computer interaction is high, with the students actively engaged the entire time they use the program. Directions are clear, activities are varied, and students can create colorful and interesting graphs to share with their class and school community.
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