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Game Reviews

The following are links to in-depth reviews of educational games. These are not your typical reviews. They are in-depth and look at the game's design as well as its educational aspects. These are not efficacy or validity studies and these are also not studies that interview, question, or observe people using these games. My unique background and extensive experience in both technology and education give me a distinctive perspective. These reviews examine and analyze the games themselves as independent educational objects using several different approaches.

When I was working on my PhD (2003-2008), I found it very hard to find any decent reviews of educational games. There are plenty of reasons for this, including:

  1. Teachers aren't, for the most part, gamers and so really have no idea what makes a good game.
  2. The culture of Education does not foster critical reviews, only accolades. As a result, even bad games often get good reviews.
  3. Most educational game reviews are focused on the technicalities of using the game (how easy is it to install, and the like) and really don't say much about the game or the gameplay.
  4. Reviews rarely mention what is possible (perhaps because the reviewers aren't trained in tech and so don't actually know what's possible).

I am not a hard-core gamer, but I DO play digital games; I DO know technology; I DO know about design (having designed and built many different things from clothing, jewelry, and buildings to programs, websites and instruction); I DO know about teaching; and I ALSO know Education.

I'm also not afraid to say what I think.

So, I will add reviews as I find time (unless someone wants to pay me for this, in which case I might be convinced to do more). The focus is on things that claim to be educational, and this includes games AND simulations, because ALL GAMES ARE SIMULATIONS.

If you have any favorites you'd like me to review, let me know, and I'll add them to the list.

Format of the Review

The review has 5 main parts, each of which contributes equally to a total score.

  1. Game Overview: How is it as a game?
    1. Gameplay
    2. Art & Audio
  2. Teacher Support
    1. Guides: How to use it.
    2. Resources: Supplementary Materials
    3. Community: Is there a community to turn to?
    4. Operation: IS installation & basic functionality explained?
  3. Educational Content
    1. Accuracy: Is it correct?
    2. Objectives: Does it appear to fulfill the stated objectives?
    3. Integration: Are the objectives integrated into the game?
  4. Magic Bullet Rating
    1. How are the MUST learns & CAN learns balanced?
  5. Instructional Ethology Rating
    1. Interaction: How does it work?
    2. Goal Support: Does it help the player achieve the goal(s)?
    3. Flow: Does gameplay develop over the game?
    4. Evolution: Has it evolved from it's first edition/ predecessors?

Games

Mathblaster! age 8-10

  • Math Blaster! (1986) [PC] Published by Davidson & Associates, Inc. Game Site

Osy Osmosis age all?

  • Osy Osmosis (2012) [PC/Mobile] Published by IS3D Game Site

Queued

Digital Frog (incomplete)

Chicktionary (incomplete)

Privacy Playground age 8-10 (incomplete)

Additional Resources

  • pf/game-reviews/game-reviews.1349878982.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2012/10/10 14:23
  • by becker