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The Software
Title:	SimEarth	Copyright date:	1993
Publisher:	Maxis	Cost	$59.95
Computer:	DOS, Windows, Macintosh	Requirements:	DOS:IBM 286 & above; 12 MHz, VGA 640K RAM and hard disk required; MS-Dos 3.1 or above; Mouse recommended Windows:IBM 386 and above; VGA 2 MB RAM and hard disk required; Windows 3.0 & 3.1; Mouse required. Mac:Macintosh Plus, SE, Classic, LC, Color Classic, II series, Centris, Performa, or Quadra; 2.5 MB RAM System 6.0.2 or above
		Distribution:	Floppy Disks (2)
The Reviewer
Name:	Alan Z. Gaugert	college:	Estrella Mountain Community College Center
Date:	April 18, 1995	Discipline(s) taught:	Geography

Evaluating the Computer Game
STATEMENT	RATING
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	N/A
1. The directions for the program are:			X
2. The program's screen design was:		X
3. The ease of use of this program was:			X
4. Help provided within this program was:			X
5. The degree to which the content was up to date was:		X
6. The degree to which the program represented the diversity of our student population was:					X
7. On the whole, the program was:			X
COMMENTS I would recommend using this game on a larger monitor. When your civilization fails you don't know why or how to fix it i.e. learn what not to do! Offer suggestions. The content seemed current. This game should be useful to anyone interested in how the earth or atmosphere works. On the whole, the game left me feeling frustrated. I don't know what causes my world to fail.
Evaluating the Instructor Materials
STATEMENT	RATING
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	N/A
1. The directions in the instructor guide was:		X
2. Learning objectives of the lessons were:		X
3. The organization of the lesson was:		X
4. The appropriateness of lessons for college level student was:		X
5. The assessment/discussion questions at the end of the lessons were:		X
6. The completeness of the teaching materials was:			X
7. On the whole, the instructor guide was:		X
COMMENTS Might tell instructors to read entire section first. (i.e. game should be paused immediately, but I didn't realize this for a few more seconds). The lessons should be fun and interesting for lower division courses. I need to have an answer key to help me with the assessment/discussion questions! The teachers materials did not include an answer key. The manual seems good.

Evaluating the Program as a Tool for Teaching and Learning

1. How would you use this program in your class? Identify a specific application for part of your curriculum (if possible).

   As a geography instructor, it would be useful in demonstration of the different environments: atmosphere, earth/ocean, solid earth.

2. How could this program be used for teaching and learning in other disciplines?

   Could be useful in geology for basics of earth's interior. Not sure if it is useful for any other college level. Maybe something to do with decision making and long term effects.

3. How effective was the simulation environment in providing an enhanced learning experience?

   Frustration was high. Maybe I just had to learn to know how to control the environment. Failure without any clue as to why you failed is not conducive to learning.

4. What factors might limit the use of this program by instructors?

   Equipment: speed, size of monitor, lack of color, number of machines. EMCCC tries to network but many applications run too slow and degrade learning.

5. Would your recommend this program for teaching and learning? If yes, why would you recommend this program?

6. If no, why would you not recommend this program?