Free Online Educational Game

and Rubric Review

Basic Information

• Game Name: U.S. Geography Games: Capitals

• Game URL: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

• Subject: Geography

• Grade: 5th grade

Basic Rubric Information• Scored on a four to one scale• 14 criterion divided into 4 sub-

criterion: – Aesthetics: graphics, layout, & sounds– Instruction: directions, purpose, content

accuracy, load time and downloads and navigation

– Game-Based Learning: interests, feedback and levels

– Basic Website Information: grammar and spelling, contact information, and goals

How to Play

Aesthetics

Graphics

• Simple and appropriate

• Good size

• Not necessarily interesting, but enhance learner understanding

Layout

• Usable layout• May appear busy or boring • It is easy to locate most of the

important elements• Attractive • Organized by graphic elements

and dividers• Picture representations

Sound

• Sounds are thoughtfully edited and used only where they add to reader understanding of the content

• The sounds also relate to a certain game being played

• Instead of just saying “good job”, the sound is aligned with the game

Instruction

Directions

• Brief

• Straight forward

• Specific word usage

• Specific to levels

• Different levels

Purpose

• Obvious what student should learn, the purpose is not clearly stated

• Implies that game will teach US geography

• Grade level not specified

• The GNU Free documentation license

• Cross-referencing• The GPSS Curriculum standards

for 5th grade social studies explains “3.5.1 Identify major places of the United States (e.g., states, capitals, rivers, lakes, mountain ranges)”

Content Accuracy

Load Time & Download

• The game is fairly quick to download

• Requires extra downloads in order to function

• Mac or PC

• Dial-up versions

Navigation

• Links are clearly labeled, consistently placed, allow the reader to easily move from a page to related pages, and take the reader where s/he expects to go

• Usually have to use the “back” button after game levels

Game-based learning

Interests

• Levels

• Stats

• Score keeping

• Timed games

• Facts

• Graphics

• Region

Levels

• Levels are progressive• Tutorial level: learning phase• Beginner level: match capitals to states

by region• Intermediate level: similar as above,

except without region divisions• Expert level: match highlighted state to a

list• Cartographer level: type in first three

letters of capital

Feedback

• During and after

• Corrections & explanations

• Other related facts to further knowledge

• Scoring is clear

• Hints are minimal and count against score

Basic Website Information

Grammar & Spelling

• The game and website has no spelling (minor typos), punctuation, or grammar errors

• Pronunciation

Contact Information

• “Our staff is waiting to assist you with whatever you need. Feel free to contact us via any of the email links located below, and someone will be happy to get back to you within one business day. We welcome feedback!”

• Directions on how to contact if you are a PC or MAC

• sitesuggestions@sheppardsoftware.com

Goals

• Clearly stated: “To use multimedia to enhance learning. To design games with many difficulty levels. To make learning fun and memorable”

• Easy to locate

Why this game?