Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Game Title LetterDanceParty PBSKIDSGAMES

Game Type ______ Web-Based Game X App-Based Game

Educational
SCCCRStandards OnePagerKindergarten ELA.pdf
Standards

When choosing a game to be used in the classroom, many things need to be considered in order for the game to be an effective
classroom tool. The game play, navigation, interface tools, educational content, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Thoughtful Education
strategies, differentiation of instruction, teacher guidance, and resources must all be considered. The following rubric can be
used to evaluate games and simulations for use in the elementary classroom.

Explanation of Points

19-27: Game has value on multiple levels and can be used in the classroom for student learning enhancement. The game uses
teacher resources, Bloom’s taxonomy, current and proven research-based education practices. It also has teacher resources and
supplements to help integrate the game into the classroom. This game also scaffolds and differentiates play for all learners
including ELL students, Exceptional Education learners, below grade level, on level, and above level learners including Gifted
Students. It also requires the student to use a variety of strategies and skills in order to complete the goals and objectives. It is
also user friendly, tracks student progress, and engages students on multiple levels.

10-18: Game meets at least 5 categories of criteria. It can be used in the classroom as a supplement but not as the main lesson.
It uses some research-based education practices and provides some material to be used in lesson plans and game play. The
teacher may still need to bring in additional material to integrate the game in the classroom. It engages students’ on a few
levels and is mostly user friendly. Tracks some student progress but does not gather data. Game may differentiate for some
students, but not all students. Students may use 1-2 strategies in order to complete game play but not a variety of skills.

0-9: This game should not be used in the classroom or for learning purposes.

1 EDIT 670: Educational Games and Simulations | Dr. Corey Lee (clee@coastal.edu)
Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Evaluation Rubric for Educational Game

1 2 3
Criteria Score
Needs Improvement Satisfactory Exemplary
Game is not age appropriate. There is Game is age appropriate for majority Game is age appropriate. There is no

2
questionable language or action. The of target demographic. There is no questionable language or action. The
story is not simple and easily questionable language or actions to story is simple and easy to
understood. Goals and objectives for be taken by students. The story is understand. Goals and objectives for
the student are unclear or not somewhat simple and easy to each level are explicit to the student’s
displayed. The game demographic is understand. Goals and objectives for learning abilities. Storyline and
not the student’s age level. There are each level are clear and attainable for character interaction is easily
too many choices and the student the student to achieve. Game understood. There are limited choices
does not have control over their path. attempts to integrate different levels and at least two-three different
Dialog is not simple or understood of learning and student ability levels. outcome paths. Students have control
between the students and the Graphics and sound mostly go with over which direction and path their
characters in the game. Instructions game play but may have a few character can take. Dialog between
Game Play are hard to follow or not easily “empty” screens and sounds. Sounds students and characters or
understood. Graphics and sounds are do not always match up with screens instructions are simple for student to
not aligned with the game or the or may be slow in loading. Some understand. Graphics and sound work
story of the game. There is not an game screens may have “extra” items with the game and there are no
easy way for a student to recall but does not interfere in game play. “extras” unless needed in the levels
information needed for game play. There is a place for students to collect of game play or the simulation. There
There is no tutorial mode or and store items and can easily recall are places for students to store tools
instructions given for game play. information needed for game play and items collected or a place to drop
throughout. There is a short tutorial items no longer needed. Students
mode that explains most of the have the option to go through a
navigation and game play. tutorial mode to understand game
play and navigation.
The game is very age-appropriate. It is simple for kids to use, especially Kindergarten age students. Kids can easily understand what
Summary of to click and what to do next. The sounds match up with the screens. I love that this can give students an option. It lets them have
Game Play control and can choose whatever path they want to take. However, instead of receiving a 3 a 2 was earned in this game area
because there is not a tutorial on the game. Even though the game is simple to use, there is no tutorial.

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Educational Game Evaluation 2023

The student struggles with navigation Navigation is somewhat intuitive for Navigation is intuitive to the age

3
which does not allow for easier game the student or age group. Tools and group. Tools and buttons are within
play. Tools and buttons are not within buttons are simple but may not be easy reach of students. Minimum
easy reach and so students cannot easily reached by all students. There thought required by students to use
navigate easily. There is no audio is some thought required by students tools to navigate their Avatar through
option available to read students to navigate but it does not interfere in game screens and interact with game
Navigation dialog or other game information if game play. Students have more than characters. Audio available for lower
needed. Students are given a generic once choice if the Avatar is a generic level learners and ELL students. Tools
avatar to play game. Too much one. They can customize the Avatar and buttons are intuitive to the
thought is required to navigate game somewhat. Audio is available only in student playing so as not to interfere
pathways causing interruption in some parts of the game. Tools and in game play or thought process.
game play for the student. buttons are somewhat intuitive and
do not interfere in game play.
The navigation is appropriate as the individual will click on the letters. It is just a touch on the screen. It is easy access and does not
Summary of
require a whole lot. The avatars are easy to navigate as well by pressing the arrow button. Audio is present and tells you what to do
Navigation and the letter to find. The audio of the game walks the students through and tell them exactly what to press next.
Keyboard and other navigational tools Medium difficulty in keyboard and Easy keyboard or mouse controls to

are complicated or hard to use
through the screens and levels. Uses
keyboard letters or keys that are too
spread out interfering in game play
and natural flow of the game. There
are no hints or ways to indicate to
Interface Tools students’ important information.
3
mouse controls. Allows some point move through screens and levels.
and click action to move through Uses point and click and indicator
screens but may need the keys such arrows for important information and
as W, S, A, D in order to move has a “hint” box students can use to
forward, backward and left and right. prevent frustration and allow
May require the student to practice students to stay engaged in game.
more with the controls in order to Hint box needs specific types of items
navigate the game. There is a hint box collected to use which are indicated
available in some parts of the game in the game tutorial. Hint box must
such as new levels or new quests. “reload” in order to use.
Tutorial can be repeated but may
interfere in game play.

In Kindergarten, students are not able to read, so arrows or a voiceover letting the students know what to do or where to click to
Summary of
get started would be helpful.The app uses touch and click by touching the screen to control the keys. This app also allows students
Interface Tools to focus and stay engaged based on the features presented and how the audio repeats the letters it is wanting you to find.

3 EDIT 670: Educational Games and Simulations | Dr. Corey Lee (clee@coastal.edu)
Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Game has no educational content or Game has some educational value Game is clearly aligned with

3
concepts that integrate into teachers’ and can be identified as a useful tool educational standards. Teacher can
planned curriculum. Game is not in some content areas. Game may be easily integrate game into lesson
Educational aligned with Educational Standards. somewhat aligned with educational plans and classroom activities.
Content standards. Teacher may need to pull
supplemental material in order to
integrate game into lesson plans and
classroom activities.
The game aligns with the educational standards. It can easily integrate into the lesson plans and classroom activities for students to
Summery of use. It is beneficial for students reading skills and helping students increase his or her words skills through recognition. This game is
Educational exemplary in this area. One of the Kindergarten Standards is being able to learn letter sounds as well as letter names. This game
Content helps students practice this area of ELA. Teachers can easily integrate this game at the end of a Phonics lesson, or even during
Workstation time.
Only the lower levels of Bloom’s Some higher level Bloom’s taxonomy The higher order thinking skills of

taxonomy are used. These include is addressed but game is mostly
remembering, understanding, and middle to lower level Bloom’s. These
applying. include applying, remembering,
understanding, and some evaluation
Bloom’s and analyzing of game situations in
Taxonomy order to solve problems and combine game in order to solve problems.
multiple pieces of information in
order to complete game. Does not
allow students to create items or
completely customize their Avatar.
2
Bloom’s taxonomy are required for
students’ to play the game. These
include evaluating, synthesizing, and
analyzing multiple pieces of
information and multiple parts of the
Allows students to create items
including their Avatar to engage
students.

Summary of I gave this game a score of 2 in this area. The game hits all the areas of synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating but the game does
Bloom’s not allow students to create items or customize their avatar.
Taxonomy
Thoughtful There are no thoughtful education Some thoughtful education strategies Thoughtful Education strategies and

3
Educational strategies integrated into game play are used and integrated into the other researched based criteria are
and other research based strategies game play. May introduce students to subtly integrated into game play such
Strategies are not used new concepts such as word as being introduced to new concepts
relationships but does not allow and ideas using comprehension
comparison between relationships. strategies in relation to Bloom’s
taxonomy. These may include new
vocabulary concepts, word and

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Educational Game Evaluation 2023

situation relationships and comparing

a new situation to a previous
situation.
Summary of This game allows students to use comprehension strategies in relation to Bloom's taxonomy. Students must synthesize, evaluate,
Thoughtful and analyze the letters and letter sounds to figure out if they would go together.
Educational
Strategies
Game play only has one level of play Game play has two or three levels of Game play allows for students to

3
and does not allow for multiple or play and allows for some multiple or work on multiple levels and platforms
diverse groups of students the ability diverse groups of students the ability to solve problems and resolve
to play. The levels may be defined as to play. Levels may be defined as situations in the game. There levels
Differentiation of Easy, Medium, and Difficult but does Easy, Medium, or Difficult but there is may be defined as Easy (below grade
not allow students to move between very little scaffolding or difference in level and simple directions); Medium
Instruction them based on performance. all three levels. Does not allow for (on grade level); and Difficult (above
movement between levels based on grade level and challenging) in order
performance. to engage students on multiple levels
of performance. Scaffolding allows
students to flow between difficulty
levels based on their performance.
Summary of There are multiple levels for students to work on. The levels are incorporated when you pass the one level and move to the next.
Differentiation of The more you pass the harder the levels become. It starts out easy and goes to harder levels. There are scaffolding with the levels
and students performances.
Instruction
No teacher interface allowing teacher Interface allows teacher to look at Interface allows cloud navigation to

to track student progress or get
statistical information on students’
comprehension of game concepts. No
mini-lessons or the teacher interface
interrupts game play and disengages
Teacher Interface
student in game.
progress of students but does not
provide strategies or mini-lessons in
order to help students through a
difficult part of the game. Does not
allow students to practice problem
solving. The teacher needs to pull in
additional information and create
own lessons based on student
trouble-spots in the game. Teacher
may have to watch student play game
in order to identify trouble-spots.
1
track student progress through game
play and present teaching strategies
to help a student through a difficult
task or situation in the game play
while still allowing the student
opportunities to practice problem-
solving. Shows teacher the specific
mini-lesson that can be used to help a
student at a particular level.

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 Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Any of the games on this app does not have a teacher interface for teachers to have access to student data. This would be only a
Summary of
practice game. It does not provide any information or data at all or a mini- lesson. There are not different versions, such as teacher
Teacher Interface or student view.
Game has no teacher resources to be Some graphic organizers for student Includes thoughtful education graphic

used with students in the classroom
to help integrate game into lesson
plans.
Game Resources
1
usage during gameplay. Instructions organizers students can use during
or Teacher Resource book included. game play and mini-lessons that
May not include lesson plan activities teachers can use to help students
for integration into classroom and through a particular difficult concept.
teacher may have to pull in and Supplements include videos and
create own resources. activities that can be used to
integrate game into classroom
lessons.

Summary of This game does not provide additional resources for teachers or students. There are no lesson plans available for game integration.
Game Resources

Total Score
21
Points: Summary of Evaluation
[Comments on Strengths, Weaknesses, Improvements, and Effectiveness go here]
Strengths:
This game is easy for little-age students to use. It's easy to navigate and easy for students to follow along with the audio and visuals
that are being presented. The game is very engaging and helps students practice and learn letters and letter sounds. It aligns with
Blooms Taxonomy. This game is easy for teachers to implement in a Phonics Kindergarten lesson.

Weaknesses:

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 Educational Game Evaluation 2023

One of the weaknesses of the game is that it does not allow the students to accomplish levels and earn points. There are also no
resources available for teachers or students to use inside the classroom. Other concerns pertaining to weaknesses are the teacher’s
availability to see what the students are doing and how they progress. There are no resources for teachers to help students with
either.

Improvements:
One improvement would be to somehow implement a way so that students can level up and earn points. The students would tend
to get bored because they don’t get to earn points or even move to another level. It is important for teachers to know what their
students are doing and where they need extra practice at.

7 EDIT 670: Educational Games and Simulations | Dr. Corey Lee (clee@coastal.edu)