Larissa Petzoldt Educational Software Evaluation 1 Title: Vocabulary and Spelling City Version: Second version: it was at first just Spelling City, but they expanded it. Publisher: Vkidz Inc.: this is a family-owned educational software company that is dedicated to creating “game-changing” educational systems. Target Audience: This can be used with any age of students, because you put in your own spelling words or whatever you want to test with and that is what you practice and test on. I think Kindergarten and up would be able to use this software. The only thing about using this with younger students is that they do not know how to type correctly, but they can still play this game. Type(s) of software with Justification: This software can be Drill and Practice, and Tutorial. This is both, because the first time they plug in their spelling/vocab words this information is new. But after they work with it the first time, the information is already learned and the students are just practicing with the information. Curriculum(s): This can fit into the classroom in different ways. One way it can fit into the classroom is helping the students learn their own spelling words. This could be used in the classroom with different books. When we read a book in class, and there are certain words that the students do not know, we can use this to look them up and play an activity with the words. This teaches the meanings of words, and can also work with, and improve writing skills. Possible environment(s): This software could be used any kind of environment. It would work in a one computer classroom, individual, small group, large group, or a lab setting. This software can also be used in a home setting. Supplements: On this website, you are able to print out spelling worksheets, games, and activities. Also if you buy the premium membership you are able to have additional games, and also a record keeping system that enables the students to take the tests online. Cost: This software is free! They do have a premium membership that cost; for up to five students: $24.99, for up to thirty students: $49.99, and large orders over 301 students: $1.50 per student. This software seems to be a little busy when you first open it up. It seems busy because it has tabs for students, parents, and teachers. Then they also have tabs for their websites, like FAQ, premium membership, and others. It has a start here box and that is where the students or anyone using this program should start. You personalize this website by typing in your words you are trying to learn. Or the words you want your students to learn. Once you have your words typed in, you have the options to have a spelling test, vocab test, teach me, flash cards, or to play a game. On the spelling test the narrator reads off the word and the definition of the word that they want you to type. At the end you can have your words checked and it will show you which ones you got correct and the ones that you spelled wrong. On the games, they have ones for vocabulary, spelling, and writing. Overall I think this software will be very helpful to students in my classroom. It will help the students to actually want to study their spelling or vocabulary. I will also help increase each students writing skills. One thing I think they could improve on is the graphics. They are appealing, but to children I do not think they will be very appealing or keep the students interested in the program. I could use this software to even introduce our spelling words for the week, by using the flash cards, or the games. At first the navigation on this site was not easy, but after I found the main page, it was very easy. The sound was effective, and there were men and women’s voices. If you got a word wrong on the spelling test, all it did was cross out the wrong answer and put the correct one there. Although some of the activities would not work, because they wanted you to buy the premium package, but most of it works for free. This spelling city software still passed!