1. Identification of software

The software being evaluated is KINDERGRID 1996 by Vivian Gordan. This version is distributed by Laser point and can be downloaded for classroom use on the following address:

ftp://sunsite.anu.edu.au/pub/mac/info-mac/edu/yng/kinder-grid-11.hqx

This programme can be played on an Apple Macintosh computer.

2. Value judgement
The full version of Kindergrid can be purchased for $29.95. The details for mailing this full version are specified under the ordering info icon. I believe that this is a very reasonable price to pay for the full version, as the demo version in itself has a great deal of educational value to offer. The demo version of Kindergrid is directed at helping young children learn to spell in an interesting and effective way and I believe that this programme would have children engaged enthusiastically, resulting in more meaningful learning occurring. This is achieved through the interactive crosswords that form the basis of the programme, which involve the use of many animals that help carry letters to the crossword spaces, bright colours and accompanying sounds and noises.

The demo version is limited to a word list of fifteen words that are used on the interactive crosswords, the full version of Kindergrid contains a word list of two hundred words. The demo version also only allows for three puzzles to be built at one time, after these it quits. The full version of the programme allows for games to be saved, which I think is great as students can have their own file of specific crosswords that they can use at their own time and pace. The full version is also a great deal more beneficial as the crosswords can be printed and used as worksheets in the classroom which would be good to use with the rest of the class whilst one child is working independently on the computer.

I really think that Kindergrid is an excellent programme to use as an independent computer activity. Children are able to play this programme by themselves quiet competently, as the programme helps children correct mistakes. This is achieved through the crossword not continuing until children have the correct response in the appropriate place. If children are having some difficulty with the answers, then they can be assisted by a number of clues. There is an icon with a lightening bolt on it and if children click on this then it will zap away incorrect letters immediately. I think this is great as it alerts children to mistakes straight away, so as they do not become confused by a whole word that is incorrect.

As suggested Kindergrid is aimed at young children who are just beginning to recognise letters and words. The programme is very simple yet I think it can be made to suit the grades 1-2 children through the different words that are available for the crosswords. Kindergrid can also be changed to incorporate different languages such as French and Spanish. The level of difficulty for these types of crosswords (different languages) in my opinion is much more suited to the grades 1-2 children, rather than the kindergarten level children as they do offer some degree of challenge for children who are only just beginning to become familiar with the English language, let alone an entirely new language. With regards to being able to incorporate different languages, either the clues can be made English with another language to be used as the answer, or the answers can be made English with the clues being in another language. I think that unless children are very competent with another language, then only the clues should be in another language, so they are at least associating English words with that of another language.

I have found Kindergrid to be a nice simple programme to use and it is presented clearly and logically so that it can be easily used by young children. An appealing aspect of Kindergrid is that there are a number of things that can be changed on the programme to make it suitable for children with differing levels. These changes involve letting children have written or pictures clues, having a spelling train flash across the screen with the word on it, and actually speaking the word to the child so as they can hear it and recognise it that way. These changes may need to be made by the teacher before the child begins the programme, this will depend on the level that the child is at.

3. Accompanying documentation

The demo version of Kindergrid is sufficiently equipt with operating instructions. A Disappointing aspect of the programme is that when requiring assistance or further information from the 'About Kindergrid' heading under the apple icon, it automatically takes you straight back to the beginning of the programme. The beginning of the programme only provides the user with a brief outline of the programmes purposes and its limitations. However, the programme does offer some information about the functions of the different icons available and this information can be located under a question mark icon which provides the user with a complete diagram of the program. This diagram allows the user to click on any area of the game to find out the specific functions of certain areas and icons. The descriptions of the different functions and icons are short and simple, yet they provide the user with adequate information for effective operation and use of the programme.

The demo version of Kindergrid is slightly limited in what can be changed. There are a number of different operations such as viewing and printing colouring in pages and crosswords that can only be achieved through the full version of Kindergrid. So it is evident that with the full version of this programme there would be a great deal more flexibility in what can be changed and the extra worksheets and so forth that can be accessed and printed for further classroom use.

4. Description of operation of software.

kindergrid begins automatically with a crossword ready to use. The opening crossword contains a grid of picture clues, and the one the word that starts the crossword has a flashing box around it so that children know which one they are dealing with. The appropriate place for the answer on the crossword is also flashing so that children know where the answer goes. There are a number of things that can be changed before the child begins the crossword, in the aim of making the programme more suited to the child's individual level. These changes include having the picture or written clues for children to go by to get the answers for their crossword, having a little girl speak the word for children to respond to on the crossword grid and having a little magnifying glass icon to take a closer look at the clue. The lightening bolt /flash icon can be made to zap away incorrect letters as the child puts in answers, or it can be made to wait until the end of the crossword to indicate the incorrect answers. There is also a spelling train that can assist children to complete the crossword and if they click on the train icon, a little train will flash across a box on the screen, displaying the word that the children are after.

To play Kindergrid the children put in their response to the clues by clicking on each individual letter of the word that is indicated on a table which contains the alphabet. If the child has chosen to have little animal helpers (I'm sure they will), then a range of differing little animals will carry each individual letter up to the crossword boxes. This allows the child to pay recognition to each individual letter that makes up the word. The speed of the letters going to their places can either be sped up or slowed down.

All children enjoy hearing sound on the computer and Kindergrid is full of lots of little sounds that can be added to make playing the programme much more enjoyable. The level of the sound can also be changed. The sound options include having:

* Train sound

* Letter sound

* Zap sound

* Spell out loud

* Fanfare for correct words

* Puzzle construction sound

With the full version of Kindergrid, the children can save their work and they can also print there completed crosswords out to keep as a record. The demo version quits after three different crosswords have been played or constructed, so with this it is simply a matter of starting it up again ready to play another three crosswords. Kindergrid is quiet simple for children to play, for if the teacher sets up all of the other options available on the programme, then for the children it is simply a matter of clicking on the correct words. For the more advanced children at this level, they will be able to operate the other functions that can change the level of difficulty available on the programme.

5. Observation of someone using game

The student's response

The child whom I observed play this programme (my brother actually) really enjoyed playing Kindergrid and was able to play it with relative ease. To suit the level of Lyndan (prep) I left the clues as picture clues so that he could easily identify what the answer was and then attempt to click on the correct words to fill in the crossword spaces. There was some difficulty with the spelling of the words so I put on the little spelling train so that Lyndan was able to see the word flash before the screen. This helped with the spelling of the words a great deal and Lyndan was able to complete the crossword eventually. Lyndan was particularly impressed with all of the added features such as the little letter carrier animals and the spelling train. The sounds and noises that this programme is capable of were also very much appreciated by Lyndan, infact he kept wanting to hear them over and over again. Overall, Lyndan really enjoyed playing this programme and although it is very much an independent programme, I assisted a great deal just so as I could test his ability with all of the different functions. Once children are familiar with this game, I am convinced that it would be very much an independent computer activity.

My expectations

After observing Lyndan playing Kindergrid, my expectations for a child of this level dropped slightly. The programme was actually quiet challenging in some respects for a child in the prep level and although there is assistance available to help with solving the crossword clues, these tend to become used a little too often. Kindergrid offers some degree of challenge to young students, so I really think that it is more appropriate for children in grades 1 and 2. As expected, Lyndan was not terribly competent with using the tool bar with the many options available, so this would need to be shown in detail to the whole class. I expected Lyndan to have some degree of mouse skills to be able to play Kindergrid and he was very competent in this area, and I noticed improvements as he progressed I did expect Lyndan to enjoy this programme and that become evident when he refused to finish playing!!!