Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Game Title ABC Ya Keyboarding Zoo 2

Game Type ___X___ Web-Based Game ____ App-Based Game

First Grade ELA SC State Standard 6: Write independently, legibly, and routinely for a variety of tasks,
Educational Standards purposes, and audiences over short and extended time frames.
Focus: 6.4 Locate letter keys on an electronic device to type simple messages.

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 includi ng Gifted
Students. It also requires the student to use a variety of strategies and skills in order to complete the goals and objective s. 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 2023

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
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 story is simple and easy to
understood. Goals and objectives for be 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 3
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.
The game is what I would consider developmentally appropriate for my students. It does provide guidance for each step that the
game takes when switching from typing a singular letter, to a capital letter, to sentence. Instructions for each stage are clear and
Summary of Game guided with on-screen instructions and help. However, there are not a lot of extra aspects to the game such as “tools” or other
Play items. There is an option to use your keyboard or the on-screen keyboard in the game. The game was given a 3 because of its
appropriateness, guidance features, and clear instruction and dialog. The “Tool” option is not applicable to this game but it did not
justify a 2 rating as it had all the other aspects of scoring a 3.
The student struggles with navigation Navigation is somewhat intuitive for Navigation is intuitive to the age
Navigation which does not allow for easier game the student or age group. Tools and group. Tools and buttons are within 2
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Educational Game Evaluation 2023

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
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 received a 2 in this aspect as there is no avatar to customize but that is not applicable to many of the web-based games
for young learners. However, all tools and buttons are easily accessible to the player. They have the choice to use the on-screen
Summary of
keyboard (best for those who use a tablet) and the device keyboard (best for those using a Chromebook). Another reason the game
Navigation received a 2 is that there are no options for an ELL learner, but it is basic skills that an ELL student would need to learn to aid them
in learning English (letter sounds, spelling, sentence composition).
Keyboard and other navigational tools Medium difficulty in keyboard and Easy keyboard or mouse controls to
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 3
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 easy for students to complete and use via their keyboard or the onscreen keyboard. There is no character movement
Summary of needed in the game. There are hints that are provided to the user after inputting the incorrect answer twice. After the user guesses
Interface Tools wrong three times the game shows them what keys to use via the on-screen keyboard. Therefore the 3 points that were given
were justified.
Game has no educational content or Game has some educational value and Game is clearly aligned with
Educational
Content
concepts that integrate into teachers’ can be identified as a useful tool in educational standards. Teacher can 3
some content areas. Game may be

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Educational Game Evaluation 2023

planned curriculum. Game is not somewhat aligned with educational easily integrate game into lesson plans
aligned with Educational Standards. standards. Teacher may need to pull and classroom activities.
supplemental material in order to
integrate game into lesson plans and
classroom activities.
A 3 was given to this area as it clearly meets the desired standard and skills it was intended to meet. I would use this game as an
Summery of
independent station for students to complete. It teaches users not only how to type but how to use the two shift keys, space, and
Educational Content punctuation keys. This meets the requirements of the defined standard.
Only the lower levels of Bloom’s Some higher level Bloom’s taxonomy The higher order thinking skills of
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
and analyzing of game situations in information and multiple parts of the
Bloom’s Taxonomy order to solve problems and combine game in order to solve problems. 2
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.

This game does not require higher thinking on Bloom’s Taxonomy, but it does require them to use multiple skills and combining
those skills to fully understand the use of a keyboard. They must hold shift and type the desired word or letter based on the on-
Summary of
screen prompt. This would be a higher skill needed by my First-Grade students. They also must pay attention to the next letter
Bloom’s Taxonomy coming up and if the shift key or space bar is needed. This requires some higher thinking but there is not a clearly defined problem
that the user must solve, therefore it receives a 2 in this area.
There are no thoughtful education Some thoughtful education strategies Thoughtful Education strategies and
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
are not used concepts such as word relationships as being introduced to new concepts
Thoughtful but does not allow comparison and ideas using comprehension
Educational between relationships. strategies in relation to Bloom’s 2
Strategies taxonomy. These may include new
vocabulary concepts, word and
situation relationships and comparing
a new situation to a previous
situation.

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Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Summary of
This game received a 2 for this section as it does not compare the use of keys and why they should be used. It does teach them new
Thoughtful
skills and how to apply those skills but does not provide a clear comparison of how the sentence or words would look without the
Educational use of the shift, space, or punctuation keys.
Strategies
Game play only has one level of play Game play has two or three levels of Game play allows for students to
and does not allow for multiple or play and allows for some multiple or work on multiple levels and platforms
diverse groups of students the ability diverse groups of students the ability to solve problems and resolve
to play. The levels may be defined as to play. Levels may be defined as Easy, situations in the game. There levels
Differentiation of Easy, Medium, and Difficult but does Medium, or Difficult but there is very may be defined as Easy (below grade
not allow students to move between little scaffolding or difference in all level and simple directions); Medium
Instruction them based on performance. three levels. Does not allow for (on grade level); and Difficult (above 1
movement between levels based on grade level and challenging) in order
performance. to engage students on multiple levels
of performance. Scaffolding allows
students to flow between difficulty
levels based on their performance.
Summary of This game received a 1 for differentiation as it does not let users choose between levels, select level based on skill, or alter content
Differentiation of to aid those who are having difficulty. The user plays through typing a letter, capital letter, word, and then moves to sentences
Instruction without any selection or differentiation.
No teacher interface allowing teacher Interface allows teacher to look at Interface allows cloud navigation to
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- 1
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.

There is no way for a teacher or the user to receive any feedback on their performance. There is not even a score at the end of the
Summary of Teacher
game that would provide the user with feedback on howe they performed. When the game is finished it leads the user to other
Interface games that a keyboard is needed to play. For these reasons the game received a 1 for teacher interface.

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 Educational Game Evaluation 2023

Game has no teacher resources to be Some graphic organizers for student Includes thoughtful education graphic
used with students in the classroom to usage during gameplay. Instructions organizers students can use during
help integrate game into lesson plans. or Teacher Resource book included. game play and mini-lessons that
May not include lesson plan activities teachers can use to help students
Game Resources
for integration into classroom and through a particular difficult concept. 1
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 Game The game received a 1 in this section as there are no resources that can be used by a teacher to help students in the classroom. The
Resources user plays the game and that is all that is offered through the web game.

Total Score 18
Points: Summary of Evaluation
Strengths:
The game Keyboarding Zoo 2 is a great resource to help in teaching young learners how to use a keyboard. I was very impressed with it
clearly defining and making the child use the shift keys to capitalize letters, as well as the use of the spacebar and punctuation keys. The
clear instructions and on-screen examples help users in knowing what keys to use. It also does not provide immediate help when the user
gets it wrong on their first attempt. It allows them to make a mistake 2-3 times before providing explicit help.

Weaknesses:
While it is a useful tool for teachers to integrate in their class, it is not a supplement for teacher instruction. I would also like to see
some sort of feedback provided to the user based on their performance. In addition to this the game was short, only asking for the
user to type three sentences as the final section of the game.

Improvements:
The improvements that could be made to the game would be to provide feedback and adding levels. The game should provide the
teacher or user with feedback on their performance, such as how many wrong keys they pressed, typing speed, if they correctly used
the directed keys, and so on. Another improvement that I would like to see would be the addition of more content and levels. There
are not clear levels, but it does build on the skills that were taught in sections. I would like to see levels that can be selected, and the
addition of more content added to those levels. When I was typing sentences, I was only directed to type three sentences that
contained 3-5 words. ABC ya should add more content to the three sections they have in the game and provide feedback on
performance.
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