Educational Software Evaluation Form

Educational Software Evaluation Form

Date: ______Evaluation completed by: ______

1. Name of software: ______

Publisher: ______Cost: ______

2. Harware requirements:

Version: ______

Platform: __ Mac __ Windows

Media: __ CD-ROM __ DVD

Also Needs: __ Internet __ Microphone __ Other ______

3. Conent area for which the software is designed: ______

______

______

Material is presented impartially and without bias or distortion: ___Yes ___No

Compared to the standards from: ______

Meets these standards: (Mark only one)

___Inadequately ___Minimally ___Appropriately ___Exceeds Them

Content is current. __No __Some __Mostly __Yes

Content is thorough. __No __Some __Mostly __Yes

Content is age appropriate. __No __Some __Mostly __Yes

Content is reliable. __No __Some __Mostly __Yes

Content is clear. __No __Some __Mostly __Yes

Content is fully referenced. __No __Some __Mostly __Yes

4. Type of knowledge program addresses or promotes: ______

______

(E.g., memorization; problem-solving; collaboration; discovery; creativity; higher-order thinking; socialization; communication; organization…)

5. Process(es) and types of instruction promoted or provided: ______

______

______

(Methods the software uses to engage the learner, e.g. discovery, drill and practice, simulation, multimedia, multi-sensory support, guided practice, game, Internet, reference, exploration, demonstration and presentation, testing, tutorial, tool, accessibility, bilingual, authoring system, creative activity, or others)

6. Ease of use (clear instructions, installation), independence for students, and interface: ______

·  Technical quality

Installation and Setup: __Difficult __Time consuming __Simple

Sound is: __Essential __High quality __Supplemental

Videos/animations: __Run jerkily __Run smoothly __Are essential __Not essential

Colors: ______Printing: ______

Saving of students’ work: ______Uncluttered, realistic graphics: ______

Consistent operation: ______

·  Teacher support

Documentation: __Binder __Booklet __Included on media __on Internet

·  Instruction manual has:

____Objectives ____Lesson plans ____Sample screens

____Resource information ____Reproducible student pages

____Student booklets

____Other ______

7. Assessment:

Has pretest. __Yes __No

Has posttest. __Yes __No

Has record keeping by student. __Yes __No

Has record keeping by group. __Yes __No

Has assessment guidelines. __Yes __No

8. Degree of open-endedness and flexibility: ______

______

9. Degree of active learning on the part of student (vs. passive learning):

______

______

10. Opportunities for transfer: ______

______

11. Diversity: ______

·  Mixed gender and role equity: ______

·  People of diverse cultures: ______

·  Diverse family styles: ______

12. Recommendations: ______

______

______

______

Adapted from National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) and Belson S. I., 2003

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