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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:	Donna Tannehill	college:	Scottsdale Community College
Date:	May 3, 1995	Discipline(s) taught:	Mathematics

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 The screen design had nice visuals for the most part. As with all software, it takes a little time to become familiar with the 'rules'. The content addresses a lot of current concerns with the environment. The diversity, as I saw it was not a real issue.
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 The learning objectives are great to have, they give focus to students and instructors. Some of the lessons were trivial. The language used was very elementary, but not so much that I felt like a first grader playing it. As for the teaching materials ... are there more lessons available?

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).

   Under the history section, the graphs could be used during a section on growth and decay and also to see the effects/specific changes that would happen to a population.

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

   I can see uses for this in all the indicated areas - biology, social science, and maybe even psychology. I believe geology and biology would have the most use for this. It might be hard to justify spending much time on this in other disciplines.

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

   Very effective, I learned things better by seeing them in action and a simulation environment does just that.

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

   Availability of computers and length of time to become familiar with the software.

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

   I recommend this program for the biological and geological areas.

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