|
|
|
Software Review |
|
JumpStart Preschool Published by: Knowledge
Adventure WWW.KnowledgeAdventure.com
<http://WWW.KnowledgeAdventure.com/> (800) 556-6141 Grade/age: Preschool/ 2- 4 year olds Subject areas: Math
and Pre-reading Skills Software
Description JumpStart Preschool addresses math and pre-reading skills through
games. The student enters into a
lively, animated schoolhouse with 9 sections, each focusing on a different
skill or set of skills. The
skills that students work with are:
number and letter recognition, color recognition, listening, matching,
phonics, quantity, shapes, size, and similarities and differences. There are 5 different animal friends
who help the student play the games.
A friendly yellow train helps the student navigate in and out of the
software. He also takes the
student on a reward trip to different skill lands. The student has a passport to keep
track of each land he visits. The
software is set up so a nonreader can use it. The only writing that needs to be done
is entering the student’s name.
Directions are stated very clearly by the characters in the program. Accuracy
of Content The games in Jumpstart Preschool are accurate
and are appropriate for the preschool level. No errors were found in the
games. There is not any theory or
text given in this software. The
software has a gender bias. There
are 6 characters including the train.
The train is male and so are 3 of the 5 animals. However, there is not a bias as to what type of
game a male or female character plays. Technical
Quality JumpStart Preschool is very easy to use and install. The software is installed instantly
and does not require computer experience. A teacher can easily figure out how to
work the games and tracking system. The tool bar used as
a navigation system has pictures such as a question mark for help and an
arrow to go to a previous screen.
There is a blue arrow dragged by the mouse that turns yellow when the
student reaches a spot to click on a game or movement. The arrow will not turn yellow if
directions are being given. The
software’s graphics appeal to 2-4 year olds. The characters are cute and
colorful. It is a very bright and
interested looking program. The
use of sound and animation guide the student throughout the software. As a reward
for doing well, the student collects train tickets. When the student gets 4 train tickets,
he/she can take a train ride to a skill land. There is an animated song video at
each land. Some of the lands are
measurement, the four seasons, and “shape-up.” The videos promote learning in that
the songs are engaging and the only way to see them is to play the games. Students can watch their favorite
songs over and over again.
However, they must collect 4 tickets for each ride. There is a merry tune playing in the
background which is decorative but pleasant to listen to. Use of
Technology JumpStart Preschool is a software designed to use technology for the
sake of learning. Each game is
engaging and has a skill goal in mind.
The are 3 difficulty levels for each game. The software has a progress book for
each user. The teacher can easily
track the games students have played and their success rate for each
game. The progress book has a
section for each skill with the student’s attempts and successes
tracked. The student can also use
the progress book as a glossary to explain each skill. Role of
Students Students have complete control running JumpStart
Preschool. They can easily
navigate in and out of games.
Each game has initial instructions told to the student by a
character. If there is a large
lapse between actions, the character will give the student helpful
hints. This software should be
used as a reinforcement of skills the students are learning in class. One downfall of this software is that the student is
free to pick the same game over and over again. The student may stay with games he/she
feels comfortable with. He/she
might not branch out into skills that need more reinforcement. Role of
Teachers The
teacher’s role in this software is to monitor the student’s
progress. Most games are self
explanatory. As stated before, a
student may play the same game over and over again. The teacher needs to make sure the
student is getting full use of the software. The teacher’s edition of JumpStart
Preschool comes with a
pack of worksheets that can be copied for student use. It is this reviewer’s opinion
that worksheets are not
appropriate for a preschool setting and should not be used. Classroom
Usage JumpStart
Preschool is best suited for
a 3 ½ - 5 year old classroom.
The software is designed for and can be used successfully by one
student. However, two students
can work together by taking turns with the games. Caution should be used if the software
is used with partners. The
teacher tracking system is set up to track one student at a time. This
software should be used independently at a computer center or as a reward for
a student on a behavior modification program. Critical
Summary JumpStart Preschool is
a high quality, useful software.
It is fun and engaging for students. It covers most pre-reading and math
skills for 2-4 year olds. The
software’s strengths are that it is easy to use, has excellent graphics
and will hold a preschooler’s attention. Its only weakness is that a student
might not work the entire program and stay on one game. This is a weakness in that students
will not work on all skills the software has to offer. Overall
Rating On a scale of 1-10, this reviewer gives JumpStart
Preschool:
9 Explanation
of Rating Preschoolers will enjoy using this program. No matter what game a preschooler
chooses, he/she will be working on a skill. This reviewer thinks this is a very
good and worthwhile piece of software. |
|
Homepage | Review
of Clifford’s Thinking Adventures | Lesson Plan
for JumpStart Preschool
| Color PowerPoint ppt | Color
PowerPoint htm | Webquest | |
|
@ Linda Casasanta | last revised 4/5/06 |