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TH 423 -EVALUATING COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE
Ideas for on-line journal stack
ITEM OVERVIEW:
- - Name of program
- - Author
- - Publisher
- - Hardware requirements
- - Support phone number
- - Publication Date
- - Audience
- - Objectives
- - Published Reviews
- - Overall rating
USER INTERFACE:
- - Visual Style, such as:
- - fonts (readily available, legible)
- - integrated modalities (sound, graphics, speech, etc.)
- - consistent interface from card to card (intuitive)
- - layout (clutter-factor, icons instead of words, etc.)
- - attractiveness
- - consistent placement of navigation buttons, etc.
- - Navigation
- - Clear indication of where you are and where can go
- - Consistency of buttons and fields (location style)
- - Standard buttons (home, help, next, previous, etc.)
- - Path through material (linear vs. nonlinear)
- - Instructions
- - User friendly?
- - Can you get to it from any card
- - Mode (menu, pop up)
- - Clarity
- - Concision
- - Optional?
- - Sample run
- - Mode of user input (typing, midi keyboard, check box,
- can user take notes on-line? undo?)
GENERAL DISCUSSION -- Content Depends upon Type:
1) Tutorial (content oriented)
Consider the following:
- - Content & Sequence (useful information?)
- - Are good examples given?
- - Is there some student involvement?
- - Does it test mastery? Immediate or delayed feedback?
- - Does it allow different pacing?
2) Drill and Practice
Consider the following:
- - Content & Sequence
- - Pedagogical Appropriateness
- (does it develop the skills it is supposed to?)
- - Appropriateness of medium
- - Is the activity fun, engaging?
- - Is speed a factor?
- - Feedback
- - immediate or delayed?
- - branching for remediation and advancement?
- - automated record keeping?
- - use of humor, sound, graphics?
- - mastery levels to be attained before advancing?
- - adequate randomization of drill items
- - can student specify subcategories? (e.g., 3rds and 6ths only)
3) Games
Consider the following:
- - Content & Sequence
- - Speed a factor? (Beat the clock, etc.)
- - Number of players (networking)
- - Motivation issues (fantasy elements? something to add fun)
- - Branching: does it get harder as you go?
- - Pedagogical appropriateness: does it exercise useful skills?
- - Feedback: use of humor, sound, graphics?
4) Simulations
Consider the following:
- - What is simulated and how?
- - Why use a simulation, is it appropriate?
- - Content & Sequence
- - Are good examples given?
- - Is there some student involvement?
- - Does it test mastery? Immediate or delayed feedback?
CONTENT:
- more detail
OTHER:
- anything else?
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