SOFTWARE ANALYSIS: SCIENCE DETECTIVE BEGINNING®
Due to the continuous change in the society and its demands, educational institutions also change through time. From a society that lives up mostly the traditional beliefs in education, it changes as non-traditional way of education is being accepted and practiced nowadays. In line with this, technology is also continuously and rapidly developing and in the field of education, technology could be a good instrument to enrich and extend the teaching and learning process.
In early childhood education, the learner is very important. Children follow a universal sequence of growth and development as they attain the milestones set in each developmental stage that they will go through. However, a child being a unique individual deal with their development at their own pace and time. With the idea that children have their own individual capacities and abilities gives the notion that a child, as a learner, is different from one another. Each child has different strengths that they could rely on and weaknesses to be improved in the course of their learning. Hence, children learn effectively and develop efficiently in different ways depending on their individuality. Moreover, each and every child is intelligent in their own simple but special ways. A child could not have an outstanding academic performance but he or she may be good in other aspects of life thus, opportunities must be given to them in order to develop themselves not only as a learner but as a whole person.
Moreover, a child having a powerful mind and as an active seeker of knowledge has the sense of autonomy and the ability to trace their own path of learning and development. Being a builder of their own development, they find the meaning of things in the world they live in through the help of the adults that provide positive stimulus that could help them in attaining their full potential and in maximizing their development. Their natural curiosity and motivation to learn are innate in them that keep them to be an active and eager learner. Though they are the one to be considered in the course of their development, different factors like the environment and the people around them are still important in making sure that children would have a learning experience that is effective and worthwhile. In addition, these characteristics of the learner can be supported and the teaching and learning experience that will benefit children can be more meaningful and fulfilling if technology will be appropriately integrated in education.
However, misuse of technology can also defeat the purpose of education. It may change the perception of teachers about teaching and of children about learning. When technology is mistakenly used, the tendency is that people involved in education which are the educational institutions, the teachers, the learners, and even the parents would only depend on technology thus, learning becomes passive.
Talking about the advantages and disadvantages of technology, an example of the rapid change in traditional education that may be an advantage and a disadvantage to the teaching and learning process is the use of educational software. There are a lot of software that are commercially available but not all of it are developmentally appropriate. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze the software Science Detective Beginning® in order to know if it is beneficial to teachers, students and even parents in enriching the teaching-learning process or if it defeats the purpose of education. This paper also aims to know if the said software is developmentally appropriate.
Science Detective Beginning®
Science detective is educational software for children between 8 and 9 years old. It was made by Stephen David Fischer and Joseph Caroll and was published by The Critical Thinking Co. last April 1, 2005. The said software includes 41 science activities that teaches standards-based science as it develops reading, writing, and critical thinking skills! It uses topics and skills drawn from National Science Standards (USA) to prepare children for more advanced science courses and new assessments that measure reasoning reading comprehension and writing in science. In addition, it covers physical, life, and earth science. Topics include position and motion of objects; light, heat, electricity, and magnetism; life cycles of organisms; changes in the earth and sky; and much more.
Furthermore, the software reinforces standards based science, enhances reading comprehension, sharpens deductive reasoning skills, and improves organizational skills. The software also has instructional support features that make it possible for students to learn the skills independently and effectively for top grades and test scores. It includes engaging lessons such as multiple-choice questions that challenge students to read critically and provide evidence for their answers, sequence questions that require students to put events in order and matching questions that requires students to choose the correct answer from a list. Children can’t just scan the lesson for answers. They must carefully analyze and synthesize the information from the lesson and, chart, table, or graph to answer questions and identify supporting evidence. As children successfully complete each case and rise up the detective ladder, they can earn printable award certificates and opportunities to play fun reward games.
The Critical Thinking Co. ™
"If we teach children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless." - Michael Baker, President
The Critical Co.™ was founded by John Baker in 1958 under the name Midwest Publications as a math and textbook company, combining powerful logic problems with high educational and editorial standards. In the 1976, the company changed its name to Critical Thinking Press and Software. The name was further changed to Critical Thinking Books & Software in 1997. The current moniker, The Critical Thinking Co.™ was adopted in November of 2003. The Critical Thinking Co.™ now boasts over 200 titles in reading, writing, math, science and history, and remains a family-owned business under the guidance of John’s son, Michael Baker.
For more than 50 years, The Critical Thinking Co. produces award-winning products that helped students of all abilities achieve better grades and higher test scores with highly effective lessons that sharpen the mind as they teach standards-based reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history. They claim that their products are fun, easy to use, and guaranteed to produce better grades and higher test scores.
Moreover, according to them, they design critical thinking into reading, writing, math, science and history lessons so students carefully analyze what they are learning. They also believe that deeper analysis produces deeper understanding, which results in better grades and higher test scores. In addition, they said that they do not teach through drill and memorization or teach to the tests. They said that they empower the mind of the user of their products. Their goals are higher grades, top test scores, and problem solving skills to meet all of life’s challenges.
Is it Developmentally Appropriate?
Age is very important in providing appropriate materials for children however, it is not just about the age and the different stages of development (milestones) when you talk about developmentally appropriate practices. It is also about how children undergo those stages of development in the context of their abilities and individual backgrounds that is mainly affected and influenced by their culture.
To analyze the software Science Detective Beginning®, it is important to know first if it is developmentally appropriate for children between 8 and 9 years old. In order for it to be considered developmentally appropriate, it must satisfy the needs as well as the abilities of children at age 8 and 9. Here is the list of the developmental milestones that children at that age must attain. (Insert Table)
Based on the list of milestones provided, it can be said that the software is not appropriate for the said age range. First, because children at age 8 to 9 are still just starting to develop their ability and love for reading. They might get bored and might lose their interest when they saw the long reading in every activity included in the software. Second, the layout of the format of the software is not child friendly. Since the aim of the software is to make the activities seemed to be for detectives, it sacrifice the aspects that is appealing to children. The color is too boring for children which may affect their interest and motivation while answering the activities. We all know that science is a subject that is information loaded which makes it difficult and boring, and with the kind of layout and format that can be seen in the software, the perception of children about learning science will not change which is boring and uninteresting. In addition to that, the texts are quite small and the space for the questions are not big enough to get the attention of children. Fewer pictures are also included because texts, charts, and graphs were given emphasis in the activities which is not that appropriate for children. Children love to look at pictures with attractive yet not over-stimulating colors.
On the other hand, if you look at the content of the software, no doubt that it is very informative that it could help in developing the higher order thinking skills of children. It is also true that the software can really extend the knowledge and enrich the minds of children but not at the age range mentioned above especially in the Philippine context.
It is a fact that a lot of Filipino children at age 8 and 9 are not yet capable of reading especially children in the public schools. Thus, if you consider the educational system and the abilities of the students in the Philippines, it would be better if the said software will be recommended for children between 11 and 12 years old because in that age, they can already handle the readings that are included in each activity. They are also more capable of understanding the complex graphs and charts. However, the said recommendation will only be applicable for children studying in private schools. First, because children in private school are given more attention and opportunities to study and master the subject. They are also the ones who are capable and have access to computers and these kinds of educational softwares. It is just so sad that in our society, children are not given equal opportunities for them to maximize their potentials as individuals.
Furthermore, some of the contents are also not applicable in terms of the Philippine culture. Since the software was based on the National Science Standards of the United States of America, its content is based on the American context. The some of the questions include places in America which most of the children are not familiar to. There are also questions regarding the other seasons that cannot be experienced here in the Philippines like winter and spring. Therefore, Filipino children who are not exposed to these kind of things would somewhat be confused if not guided by an adult. They might also not benefit from it since they are not familiar to the information which may lead to the tendency just answering the questions even without understanding it in order for them to advance to the next question.
To sum up all of the information presented above, it could be said that based on the Philippine context, the software Science Detective Beginning® is NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE in terms of the age of children, their individuality and the culture that they have.
Recommendation
For the Developer
It is important to take into consideration the people who will use the software. The users must be the one who will benefit from it and not the company through the profit that they will get from selling the software. Educational software must benefit and satisfy the needs of the users and must help them in finding interest and meaning about science. In addition, for the actual software, more pictures and sound effects must be included to make it more interesting and appealing to children. More space must also be allotted for the questions and bigger font size is encouraged. Then, try to simplify more the sentences because some sentences are hard to understand especially when children are working independently. Also, the detective theme can be maintained but you should not sacrifice the aspects that may help in making science a fun and easy subject. Lastly, the developers might want to produce a software that is appropriate for Filipino users so that children can related more to it thus, their learning would be more meaningful!
For the Students
Children are the one who would really benefit from the different educational softwares that are available in the market thus they must be given the opportunity to use it properly and with the guidance of the teacher or their parents. This software can be used by older students to have a prior knowledge about a certain science concept or as a supplementary material that can extend learning. Moreover, this software is recommended because it enhances reading comprehension, sharpens deductive reasoning skills, and improves organizational skills that will help them in dealing with more complex ideas and concepts in the future.
For the Teachers
As a teacher, it is important to remember that educational softwares are used as an instructional material and not as a substitute to a teacher. It is also important to take note that technology has advantages and disadvantages thus, teachers should not depend on it all the time because it may defeat the purpose of teaching and learning. Also, teachers must consider each student’s individual differences in order for them to cater and address all their need that will help them in maximizing their potentials.
Considering this software, this could be used to extend the knowledge of children and for testing purposes (diagnostic test and post test) since it has a testing feature. However, I do not recommend this software for discussion purposes especially with young children because the software might not get their attention and their interest since not everyone loves science. In order to have a more meaningful learning experience, try to use different teaching strategies that will complement the said educational software. Lastly, remember that when using this software, as well as other materials, it is important that the teacher will guide children as they explore the material so that they will not be mislead and their learning would be more meaningful!
For the Parents
As a parent, it is good to expose children to these kind of materials especially nowadays that technology is continuously developing. Providing educational software together with your continuous support and guidance while your children use the software is a good way to extend and enrich their learning experience. Parents should also encourage their children to solve problems by themselves but assure them that they are guided and intervention will be provided when needed. Lastly, through engaging in this kind of activities together, the bond between the parents and their children can be strengthen.
Conclusion
Advancement in technology has a great impact in all aspects of the society. There might be a lot of new educational software that teachers may use to facilitate learning but not all of it can benefit children. There are also software that no doubt to be good but could still not benefit children when misused. In using the modern technology, it is important to know the nature of the subject, the resources you have, your abilities as a teacher, and of course the learners in order to provide a meaningful and effective learning experience.
Moreover, not all software fit for all types of learners and not all best-sellers and award winning software are developmentally appropriate that is why I believe that a direct and real experience could not be replaced by any gadget. You could use the modern technology but you cannot depend on it alone especially when you are teaching young children who are eager to explore the things around them and who learn through their senses. Lastly, technology would be beneficial if you know how take advantage of it not for your own good but for the good of your students!
In early childhood education, the learner is very important. Children follow a universal sequence of growth and development as they attain the milestones set in each developmental stage that they will go through. However, a child being a unique individual deal with their development at their own pace and time. With the idea that children have their own individual capacities and abilities gives the notion that a child, as a learner, is different from one another. Each child has different strengths that they could rely on and weaknesses to be improved in the course of their learning. Hence, children learn effectively and develop efficiently in different ways depending on their individuality. Moreover, each and every child is intelligent in their own simple but special ways. A child could not have an outstanding academic performance but he or she may be good in other aspects of life thus, opportunities must be given to them in order to develop themselves not only as a learner but as a whole person.
Moreover, a child having a powerful mind and as an active seeker of knowledge has the sense of autonomy and the ability to trace their own path of learning and development. Being a builder of their own development, they find the meaning of things in the world they live in through the help of the adults that provide positive stimulus that could help them in attaining their full potential and in maximizing their development. Their natural curiosity and motivation to learn are innate in them that keep them to be an active and eager learner. Though they are the one to be considered in the course of their development, different factors like the environment and the people around them are still important in making sure that children would have a learning experience that is effective and worthwhile. In addition, these characteristics of the learner can be supported and the teaching and learning experience that will benefit children can be more meaningful and fulfilling if technology will be appropriately integrated in education.
However, misuse of technology can also defeat the purpose of education. It may change the perception of teachers about teaching and of children about learning. When technology is mistakenly used, the tendency is that people involved in education which are the educational institutions, the teachers, the learners, and even the parents would only depend on technology thus, learning becomes passive.
Talking about the advantages and disadvantages of technology, an example of the rapid change in traditional education that may be an advantage and a disadvantage to the teaching and learning process is the use of educational software. There are a lot of software that are commercially available but not all of it are developmentally appropriate. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze the software Science Detective Beginning® in order to know if it is beneficial to teachers, students and even parents in enriching the teaching-learning process or if it defeats the purpose of education. This paper also aims to know if the said software is developmentally appropriate.
Science Detective Beginning®
Science detective is educational software for children between 8 and 9 years old. It was made by Stephen David Fischer and Joseph Caroll and was published by The Critical Thinking Co. last April 1, 2005. The said software includes 41 science activities that teaches standards-based science as it develops reading, writing, and critical thinking skills! It uses topics and skills drawn from National Science Standards (USA) to prepare children for more advanced science courses and new assessments that measure reasoning reading comprehension and writing in science. In addition, it covers physical, life, and earth science. Topics include position and motion of objects; light, heat, electricity, and magnetism; life cycles of organisms; changes in the earth and sky; and much more.
Furthermore, the software reinforces standards based science, enhances reading comprehension, sharpens deductive reasoning skills, and improves organizational skills. The software also has instructional support features that make it possible for students to learn the skills independently and effectively for top grades and test scores. It includes engaging lessons such as multiple-choice questions that challenge students to read critically and provide evidence for their answers, sequence questions that require students to put events in order and matching questions that requires students to choose the correct answer from a list. Children can’t just scan the lesson for answers. They must carefully analyze and synthesize the information from the lesson and, chart, table, or graph to answer questions and identify supporting evidence. As children successfully complete each case and rise up the detective ladder, they can earn printable award certificates and opportunities to play fun reward games.
The Critical Thinking Co. ™
"If we teach children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless." - Michael Baker, President
The Critical Co.™ was founded by John Baker in 1958 under the name Midwest Publications as a math and textbook company, combining powerful logic problems with high educational and editorial standards. In the 1976, the company changed its name to Critical Thinking Press and Software. The name was further changed to Critical Thinking Books & Software in 1997. The current moniker, The Critical Thinking Co.™ was adopted in November of 2003. The Critical Thinking Co.™ now boasts over 200 titles in reading, writing, math, science and history, and remains a family-owned business under the guidance of John’s son, Michael Baker.
For more than 50 years, The Critical Thinking Co. produces award-winning products that helped students of all abilities achieve better grades and higher test scores with highly effective lessons that sharpen the mind as they teach standards-based reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history. They claim that their products are fun, easy to use, and guaranteed to produce better grades and higher test scores.
Moreover, according to them, they design critical thinking into reading, writing, math, science and history lessons so students carefully analyze what they are learning. They also believe that deeper analysis produces deeper understanding, which results in better grades and higher test scores. In addition, they said that they do not teach through drill and memorization or teach to the tests. They said that they empower the mind of the user of their products. Their goals are higher grades, top test scores, and problem solving skills to meet all of life’s challenges.
Is it Developmentally Appropriate?
Age is very important in providing appropriate materials for children however, it is not just about the age and the different stages of development (milestones) when you talk about developmentally appropriate practices. It is also about how children undergo those stages of development in the context of their abilities and individual backgrounds that is mainly affected and influenced by their culture.
To analyze the software Science Detective Beginning®, it is important to know first if it is developmentally appropriate for children between 8 and 9 years old. In order for it to be considered developmentally appropriate, it must satisfy the needs as well as the abilities of children at age 8 and 9. Here is the list of the developmental milestones that children at that age must attain. (Insert Table)
Based on the list of milestones provided, it can be said that the software is not appropriate for the said age range. First, because children at age 8 to 9 are still just starting to develop their ability and love for reading. They might get bored and might lose their interest when they saw the long reading in every activity included in the software. Second, the layout of the format of the software is not child friendly. Since the aim of the software is to make the activities seemed to be for detectives, it sacrifice the aspects that is appealing to children. The color is too boring for children which may affect their interest and motivation while answering the activities. We all know that science is a subject that is information loaded which makes it difficult and boring, and with the kind of layout and format that can be seen in the software, the perception of children about learning science will not change which is boring and uninteresting. In addition to that, the texts are quite small and the space for the questions are not big enough to get the attention of children. Fewer pictures are also included because texts, charts, and graphs were given emphasis in the activities which is not that appropriate for children. Children love to look at pictures with attractive yet not over-stimulating colors.
On the other hand, if you look at the content of the software, no doubt that it is very informative that it could help in developing the higher order thinking skills of children. It is also true that the software can really extend the knowledge and enrich the minds of children but not at the age range mentioned above especially in the Philippine context.
It is a fact that a lot of Filipino children at age 8 and 9 are not yet capable of reading especially children in the public schools. Thus, if you consider the educational system and the abilities of the students in the Philippines, it would be better if the said software will be recommended for children between 11 and 12 years old because in that age, they can already handle the readings that are included in each activity. They are also more capable of understanding the complex graphs and charts. However, the said recommendation will only be applicable for children studying in private schools. First, because children in private school are given more attention and opportunities to study and master the subject. They are also the ones who are capable and have access to computers and these kinds of educational softwares. It is just so sad that in our society, children are not given equal opportunities for them to maximize their potentials as individuals.
Furthermore, some of the contents are also not applicable in terms of the Philippine culture. Since the software was based on the National Science Standards of the United States of America, its content is based on the American context. The some of the questions include places in America which most of the children are not familiar to. There are also questions regarding the other seasons that cannot be experienced here in the Philippines like winter and spring. Therefore, Filipino children who are not exposed to these kind of things would somewhat be confused if not guided by an adult. They might also not benefit from it since they are not familiar to the information which may lead to the tendency just answering the questions even without understanding it in order for them to advance to the next question.
To sum up all of the information presented above, it could be said that based on the Philippine context, the software Science Detective Beginning® is NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE in terms of the age of children, their individuality and the culture that they have.
Recommendation
For the Developer
It is important to take into consideration the people who will use the software. The users must be the one who will benefit from it and not the company through the profit that they will get from selling the software. Educational software must benefit and satisfy the needs of the users and must help them in finding interest and meaning about science. In addition, for the actual software, more pictures and sound effects must be included to make it more interesting and appealing to children. More space must also be allotted for the questions and bigger font size is encouraged. Then, try to simplify more the sentences because some sentences are hard to understand especially when children are working independently. Also, the detective theme can be maintained but you should not sacrifice the aspects that may help in making science a fun and easy subject. Lastly, the developers might want to produce a software that is appropriate for Filipino users so that children can related more to it thus, their learning would be more meaningful!
For the Students
Children are the one who would really benefit from the different educational softwares that are available in the market thus they must be given the opportunity to use it properly and with the guidance of the teacher or their parents. This software can be used by older students to have a prior knowledge about a certain science concept or as a supplementary material that can extend learning. Moreover, this software is recommended because it enhances reading comprehension, sharpens deductive reasoning skills, and improves organizational skills that will help them in dealing with more complex ideas and concepts in the future.
For the Teachers
As a teacher, it is important to remember that educational softwares are used as an instructional material and not as a substitute to a teacher. It is also important to take note that technology has advantages and disadvantages thus, teachers should not depend on it all the time because it may defeat the purpose of teaching and learning. Also, teachers must consider each student’s individual differences in order for them to cater and address all their need that will help them in maximizing their potentials.
Considering this software, this could be used to extend the knowledge of children and for testing purposes (diagnostic test and post test) since it has a testing feature. However, I do not recommend this software for discussion purposes especially with young children because the software might not get their attention and their interest since not everyone loves science. In order to have a more meaningful learning experience, try to use different teaching strategies that will complement the said educational software. Lastly, remember that when using this software, as well as other materials, it is important that the teacher will guide children as they explore the material so that they will not be mislead and their learning would be more meaningful!
For the Parents
As a parent, it is good to expose children to these kind of materials especially nowadays that technology is continuously developing. Providing educational software together with your continuous support and guidance while your children use the software is a good way to extend and enrich their learning experience. Parents should also encourage their children to solve problems by themselves but assure them that they are guided and intervention will be provided when needed. Lastly, through engaging in this kind of activities together, the bond between the parents and their children can be strengthen.
Conclusion
Advancement in technology has a great impact in all aspects of the society. There might be a lot of new educational software that teachers may use to facilitate learning but not all of it can benefit children. There are also software that no doubt to be good but could still not benefit children when misused. In using the modern technology, it is important to know the nature of the subject, the resources you have, your abilities as a teacher, and of course the learners in order to provide a meaningful and effective learning experience.
Moreover, not all software fit for all types of learners and not all best-sellers and award winning software are developmentally appropriate that is why I believe that a direct and real experience could not be replaced by any gadget. You could use the modern technology but you cannot depend on it alone especially when you are teaching young children who are eager to explore the things around them and who learn through their senses. Lastly, technology would be beneficial if you know how take advantage of it not for your own good but for the good of your students!