Educational Game Evaluation 2021

Game Title Prodigy

Game Type __x__ Web-Based Game ______ App-Based Game

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.

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Educational Game Evaluation 2021

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 3
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 be story is simple and easy to
understood. Goals and objectives for 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 story or may be slow in loading. Some game understand. Graphics and sound work
of the game. There is not an easy way screens may have “extra” items but with the game and there are no
for a student to recall information does not interfere in game play. There “extras” unless needed in the levels of
needed for game play. There is no is a place for students to collect and game play or the simulation. There are
tutorial mode or instructions given for store items and can easily recall places for students to store tools and
game play. information needed for game play 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.
Summary of Prodigy is a math based game that allows students to create their own character and even train a pet. The storyline is well
Game Play explained and easy to follow. When you first start out, you learn that there is an academy where student wizards like yourself
learn spells and other things. When the guide takes you to the academy to begin your training, you learn that the puppet master
has stolen the 5 elemental stones and scattered them across the island. It is then your job to travel to different islands defeating
monsters and find the 5 elemental stones and return them to the academy. You are guided through the beginning and throughout
game play. The graphics and sound work well with the game. Students “level up” after defeating so many monsters. There are
different islands to explore, and students who are online with their friends can go to the same islands and battle with their friends.
This makes the game enjoyable and interactive. Students are given different math problems to answer during battles and if they

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Educational Game Evaluation 2021

answer correctly their opponent will be attacked, incorrect answers will result in a miss. As a teacher, I can monitor what questions
students are answering correctly and what questions they are missing. I can also send out placement tests, and other assessments.
The assessments are created based on standards.
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 is thought required by students to use
navigate easily. There is no audio some thought required by students to tools to navigate their Avatar through
option available to read students 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 game is very easy to navigate with buttons that are easy to use. It does not take much thought for students to navigate their
Summary of
avatar through game screens. The words are written on the screen, but it also reads them out loud for students who may struggle
Navigation to read. The tools are located on the bottom of the screen and are easy to access, but they do not interfere with gameplay.
Keyboard and other navigational tools Medium difficulty in keyboard and Easy keyboard or mouse controls to 3
are complicated or hard to use mouse controls. Allows some point move through screens and levels. Uses
through the screens and levels. Uses and click action to move through point and click and indicator arrows
keyboard letters or keys that are too screens but may need the keys such as for important information and has a
spread out interfering in game play W, S, A, D in order to move forward, “hint” box students can use to prevent
and natural flow of the game. There backward and left and right. May frustration and allow students to stay
are no hints or ways to indicate to require the student to practice more engaged in game. Hint box needs
Interface Tools students’ important information. with the controls in order to navigate specific types of items collected to use
the game. There is a hint box available which are indicated in the game
in some parts of the game such as tutorial. Hint box must “reload” in
new levels or new quests. Tutorial can order to use.
be repeated but may interfere in
game play.

The game is very easy to navigate. It is completely navigated through clicking, and no keys are used. There are hints that students
Summary of
can use to help answer the math problems. It will define math vocabulary and even sometimes give examples to help students
Interface Tools answer problems during a battle.

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Educational Game Evaluation 2021

Game has no educational content or Game has some educational value and Game is clearly aligned with 3
concepts that integrate into teachers’ can be identified as a useful tool in educational standards. Teacher can
planned curriculum. Game is not some content areas. Game may be easily integrate game into lesson plans
Educational aligned with Educational Standards. somewhat aligned with educational and classroom activities.
Content standards. Teacher may need to pull
supplemental material in order to
integrate game into lesson plans and
classroom activities.
Summary of This game is clearly aligned with educational standards. Teachers can easily see which math standards that students are struggling
with by looking at the teacher dashboard. Teachers can also assign placement tests as well as other standards based assessments.
Educational This could easily be incorporated into a lesson plan or classroom activities by choosing the standards that you are working on in
Content class.
Only the lower levels of Bloom’s Some higher-level Bloom’s taxonomy The higher order thinking skills of 2
taxonomy are used. These include is addressed but game is mostly Bloom’s taxonomy are required for
remembering, understanding, and middle to lower level Bloom’s. These students to play the game. These
applying. include applying, remembering, include evaluating, synthesizing, and
understanding, and some evaluation analyzing multiple pieces of
Bloom’s and analyzing of game situations in information and multiple parts of the
Taxonomy order to solve problems and combine game in order to solve problems.
multiple pieces of information in order Allows students to create items
to complete game. Does not allow including their Avatar to engage
students to create items or completely students.
customize their Avatar.

Summary of Students answer math questions that require applying, remembering, understanding. Students can create their avatar based on
Bloom’s premade options for hairstyle, eye color, hair color, and skin color. However, the higher levels of thinking, such as analyzing
multiple pieces of information is not present.
Taxonomy
Thoughtful There are no thoughtful education Some thoughtful education strategies Thoughtful Education strategies and 2
Educational strategies integrated into game play are used and integrated into the game other researched based criteria are
and other research-based strategies play. May introduce students to new subtly integrated into game play such
Strategies are not used concepts such as word relationships as being introduced to new concepts
but does not allow comparison and ideas using comprehension
between relationships. strategies in relation to Bloom’s
taxonomy. These may include new
vocabulary concepts, word and
situation relationships and comparing

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Educational Game Evaluation 2021

a new situation to a previous

situation.
Summary of Students may be introduced to some new concepts if they use the hints and read the definitions. However, the problems they
Thoughtful receive are based on their level. The more questions that are missed, the content will become easier. The program will explain the
correct answer when a problem is missed, but there are not many educational strategies. Students are just given the opportunity
Educational to read definitions and view examples.
Strategies
Game play only has one level of play Game play has two or three levels of Game play allows for students to work 3
and does not allow for multiple or play and allows for some multiple or on multiple levels and platforms to
diverse groups of students the ability diverse groups of students the ability solve problems and resolve situations
to play. The levels may be defined as to play. Levels may be defined as Easy, in the game. There levels may be
Differentiation of Easy, Medium, and Difficult but does Medium, or Difficult but there is very defined as Easy (below grade level and
not allow students to move between little scaffolding or difference in all simple directions); Medium (on grade
Instruction them based on performance. three levels. Does not allow for level); and Difficult (above grade level
movement between levels based on and challenging) in order to engage
performance. students on multiple levels of
performance. Scaffolding allows
students to flow between difficulty
levels based on their performance.
Summary of Students are given a placement test in the beginning to place them on an appropriate level for their ability. As students start
Differentiation of answering more and more questions correctly, the questions will become increasingly more difficult. However, if students are
missing a lot of questions, the questions will become less difficult.
Instruction
No teacher interface allowing teacher Interface allows teacher to look at Interface allows cloud navigation to 2
to track student progress or get progress of students but does not track student progress through game
statistical information on students’ provide strategies or mini-lessons in play and present teaching strategies
comprehension of game concepts. No order to help students through a to help a student through a difficult
mini-lessons or the teacher interface difficult part of the game. Does not task or situation in the game play
interrupts game play and disengages allow students to practice problem while still allowing the student
Teacher Interface
student in game. solving. The teacher needs to pull in opportunities to practice problem-
additional information and create own solving. Shows teacher the specific
lessons based on student trouble- mini-lesson that can be used to help a
spots in the game. Teacher may have student at a particular level.
to watch student play game in order
to identify trouble-spots.

Summary of The interface of this game allows teachers to view students’ progress, however it does not provide strategies or mini-lessons in

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 Educational Game Evaluation 2021

order to help students. It does not allow students to practice problem solving. The teacher would need to pull additional
Teacher Interface resources and create lesson plans in order to help struggling students.
Game has no teacher resources to be Some graphic organizers for student Includes thoughtful education graphic 1
used with students in the classroom to usage during gameplay. Instructions or organizers students can use during
help integrate game into lesson plans. Teacher Resource book included. May game play and mini-lessons that
not include lesson plan activities for teachers can use to help students
Game Resources
integration into classroom and through a particular difficult concept.
teacher may have to pull in and create Supplements include videos and
own resources. activities that can be used to integrate
game into classroom lessons.

Summary of The game has no teacher resources to be used with students in the classroom to help integrate the game into lesson plans.
Game Resources
Total Score 22

Points: Summary of Evaluation

[Comments on Strengths, Weaknesses, Improvements, and Effectiveness go here]
Strengths:
The strengths of this game are navigation, interface, game play, differentiated instruction, and educational content. The game is easy
to use and the content is designed to be on each individual students level. The game play is fun and easily understood. The storyline of
the game is clearly explained and it reads out loud for students that may be a struggling reader. The teacher is able to assign
placement test and standards based assessments. The teacher dashboard also shows what standards students are struggling with and
what overall grade level students are on.

Weaknesses:
The weaknesses of this game are teacher resources, bloom’s taxonomy, and educational strategies. Although the game shows
teachers what the students are struggling with, it does not give any mini-lessons or other strategies to help students. The game
also does not help students learn educational strategies, it is more for practicing things they know. Students can read a definition
or view an example, but if they are not already familiar with the topic that may not be enough.

Improvements:

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 Educational Game Evaluation 2021

This game could be improved by putting in mini lessons after students miss so many questions from a certain topic. The game
could also provide mini lessons or other resources for teachers to use with students. The extra resources would be very beneficial
for teachers and would make the game more aligned with lessons. Adding in mini lessons would keep students from just guessing
on ones they do not know. This would help them advance and learn skills rather then the game just pushing them down a level.

7 CCU Computer-Assisted Language Learning | Dr. Corey Lee ([email protected])