Rubric Assessment of Mathland 4.0

Mathland 4.0 is as user-friendly as a modern program can get. It is very easily accessed via a double-click on the short-cut icon in Windows. Once loaded, the program offers only three options: one player, two players or help. So, even a pre-literate or illiterate child could learn to operate this program via behaviourist, trial and error rationalizations. During the program, the operator uses only the arrow keys, the space bar and the enter key throughout its entirety. It is very easy to navigate this program. There is a comprehensive help guide available via the esc key and at the beginning of the program. Within the help screen an email link is available and trouble-shooting options are also given. There are many help options available and the only feature this game was missing was a 24-hour service hotline. I will not dock points for Mathland 4.0’s overlooking a 24-hour service hotline, given the simplicity of its controls. I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 4 status for Exceeding Expectations with regard to User Friendliness.
The program works well to motivate students. It does a good job of rewarding through the user’s advancement to levels that are dissimilar from previous levels, with interesting new math problems for children to explore. The operator is also rewarded through an “evolution” of their “special powers” when answering a series of questions. If several correct answers are given in succession the operator is afforded interesting powers that range from rainbow bolts to spring- heeled boots. There is also a score keeper and hi-score board to motivate students and stimulate friendly(hopefully) competition. These are all pretty routine aspects of programs/games and they work moderately well to reward/reinforce the acquisition of skills, so I give Mathland 4.0 a level 3 status for Meeting Expectations with regard to Motivation.
Mathland 4.0 employs elements of Ontario’s grade 2 curriculum. More specifically, with regard to number sense and numeration the program demonstrates counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, and 25’s and makes users add and subtract two-digit numbers in a variety of ways. Also, the program contains patterning and algebra questions as users must identify and describe repeating patterns and growing and shrinking patterns. Mathland 4.0 also addresses the curriculum in questions that ask the user to read, interpret and display data using line plots and simple bar graphs, and also makes its user organize objects into categories. These skills related directly to the data management and probability aspects of the Ontario curriculum. Given its ability to support and reinforce some standards of the grade 2 mathematics curriculum, I give Mathland 4.0 Level 3 status for Meeting Expectations with regard to Curriculum Connection.

The area in which Mathland 4.0 is severely lacking is its inability to cater to different ethnicities, to girls and to different age groups. Perhaps this is worded improperly. The program does cater to children who aren’t white (as they still play the game without realizing that they are not being represented) and boys and girls, however, the protagonist is male and pinkish in colour. The program makes no effort to represent girls or any other ethnicity. In addition, the game does not have difficulty settings. Although the questions become progressively more difficult, they are still limited to a grade 2 level. Because it lacks ethnic diversity, and children have only the option of using a male protagonist, I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 1 status for being Below Expectations with regard to Differentiation.

Another area where Mathland 4.0 is lacking is in correcting errors. If a student answers a question incorrectly, the program does not show the correct answer or how that answer is reached. There is no pedagogical value in not showing where errors were made. For this reason, I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 1 status for being Below Expectations with regard to Error Correction.

In order to venture to different levels, students must answer 80% of the questions on their present level correctly. As one progresses through each level, the questions become slightly more difficult. Insofar as the grade 2 curriculum is concerned, in the content areas aforementioned, Mathland 4.0 becomes slightly more difficult as the user moves on to higher levels. However, the program asks the same questions repeatedly. I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 2 status for Meeting Some Expectations with regard to Progression of Skills.

At the end of each level the program informs its user of the number of questions answered correctly. The program does not inform the user of the types of questions he/she is answering correctly or the types of questions that could use extra attention. As mentioned before, the user is rewarded with “special powers” (spring-heeled shoes, etc.) if the evaluation at each level’s end exceeds a pre-determined score or if they answer a series of questions correctly. However, if a question is answered incorrectly, the student is not given explanations for what they did wrong, or what the correct answer is. For this reason, I give Assessment and Evaluation a Level 2 Meets Some Expectations for Assessment/Evalation.

Mathland 4.0 offers decent graphics and modest sound effects and music. Although the program would have difficulty competing with an Xbox 360 or a Play Station 3, its graphics exceed your typical Math-based learning program. The music is catchy. I frequently hear students humming along with the program. Also, the music changes on each level as to avoid monotony. Because of this, I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 3 Meets Expectations for Graphics/Sound.

Mathland 4.0 can be purchased online for under $10. So the price cannot be beat. However, there are no upgrades available, so no additional levels or questions are available and the answers to the game can be easily memorized if played often. No additional equipment is required to play Mathland 4.0 as all controls are done on the keyboard. I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 2 Meets Some Expectations with regard to Cost.
With regard to methodology, the program is well-designed as it presents an attractive and entertaining way to learn math skills. However, as mentioned earlier, the program does not correct mistakes or demonstrate where errors are made, and this presents a big flaw in the programs methodology. In addition, there aren’t enough questions in the program’s memory to prevent students from memorizing the correct answers if the program is played often. I give Mathland 4.0 a Level 2 Meets Some Expectations with regard to Methodology. Overall, I rated the program a 23/40 which is below the “Meets Expectations” qualification. The program is fun for children, however, pedagogically it could use some work. The program works well only with grade two students, but works as an effective supplement/reward for children after they have completed their assigned math work.