Download Hooked on Words Plasmaworks LLC, 2012 Target Audience

Hooked on Words
Plasmaworks LLC, 2012
Target Audience: Individuals age 4 and above
Teresa Belk and Ashley McNutt
Hooked on Words is a mobile application game (app) that is an example of both the drill
and practice and the tutorial types of software. As a drill and practice software, it encourages the
user to apply present knowledge by spelling words that are already known to the user. As a
tutorial, Hooked on Words guides the user to spelling words that are new to the user. In contrast
to Oh My Word 2 Classic, this game compels the user to examine the available letters more
closely since words can be spelled by following the letters that are contiguous but which may not
follow the traditional paths of left to right or down. The letters to a spelled word may follow a
path that is right, up, down, then left, etc. The user has flexibility to earn more points if he has a
higher rate of word recognition and spelling abilities.
Hooked on Words could be used in the classroom as an individual activity. The teacher
could have the students work with the game whenever time is available for individuals to utilize
the software or the teacher could provide time in the classroom schedule for students to work
with the software.
The app is a free download for iPhone and no supplemental material is available for this
app.
Hooked on Words is colorful and well made. It is reminiscent of an old-fashioned
Scrabble game on steroids. The user is able to spell whatever word he chooses, as long as the
appropriate tiles are available. The game is fast-paced and fun. The user is challenged to spell
words more quickly than tiles are removed and added from the game. This game compels the
user to examine the available letters more closely than the users of Oh My Word 2 Classic since
words can be spelled by following the letters that are contiguous but which may not follow the
traditional paths of left to right or down. The letters to a spelled word may follow a path that is
right, up, down, then left, etc. The user has flexibility to earn more points if he has a higher rate
of word recognition and spelling abilities.
Our first impression of this game was that it required a higher level of expertise than the
word games that we had examined previously. This game was fast-paced and would require a
higher level of concentration from the user. While the publisher rated this game at ages 4+, we
believed that it should be rated for ages 8+ to provide for the higher skill and concentration
levels needed to be successful at this game.
One way to utilize this game would be to use it on a “Game Day” in the classroom. This
would be a day that was scheduled to allow students to play instructional games for a class
period—perhaps as an incentive for completing a unit or for a day before a school holiday.
Students, in general, like to play these types of games and a scheduled day would ensure that
they have adequate time to play.
The software passed all criteria.
For lower elementary students, we would schedule a game day for learning apps. We
would prefer game days scheduling over a plan of “whenever you have extra time” since some
children need all the available class time to complete their work and others may rush through
their work and turn in inferior schoolwork in order to have time for the game. An advantage of
using an iPod with these installed inexpensive apps is that the teacher and students can
individualize each student’s needs and interests without being constrained by what is “grade
appropriate.”
Example of a Mini Checklist For Software: _Hooked on Words___________
Question:
Have you played so that you really know every
aspect?
• Did you try doing things that were wrong or
things that the software did not expect?
Need to see what happens if the user does
things that are incorrect or are not the usual
responses. X
• Try to make it crash in order to make sure
that it does not crash.
Did the software crash?
Did you get an appropriate
Response if you did something Incorrectly?
When you did what was expected or correct, was
there an appropriate response?
i.e., If you answered correctly, did the software let
you know?
If you tried to get to another part of the program,
did you action take you were you wanted?
Just by looking at the screens, are they appealing?
Yes
X
No
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Is there something that bothers you when you look at
it?
At this point, you do need to analyze it. Just look at it
overall.
X
When you were navigating through the software
Overall
Did you get lost?
Could you always get where you wanted to
go (forward and backward)?
Notes
Work with the program until you know every aspect. Be
able to distinguish between bells and whistles and actual
content.
What did you try?
We tried to navigate inappropriately, but the game wouldn’t
let us.
X
X
Did you like using the software?
X
Did you like the content?
X
Where there bells and whistles?
X
At the “Scramble” feature we had difficulty finding the next
step since there were no directions available.
Content is clearly related to the curriculum
The content helped with vocabulary enrichment and spelling
improvement.
If yes:
Did you like them?
Did they get in the way?
Were they appropriate?
Does the program convey images of equity Free of
prejudice regarding race, sex and religion;
content is diverse and is not slated to any
cultural group
X
X
X
Equity was not applicable in this game.
Did you like the software enough to evaluate it
more? (Did you like the software enough to use it
within an educational setting)
X
Additional Comments
(can use back if you need to)
Pass
Did
X
Not Pass