Evaluation of a Simulation Program

Due February 27, 1997

Choose one of the simulation lessons listed at bottom. Try to distribute yourselves so not everyone is evaluating the same program.

All manuals are available at the Lab MonitorsÕ desk. Some programs are on the network, some are with the manuals, and some are installed on the hard disk drives of particular computers. Ask a lab monitor if you need help.

Some of these lessons do not work on Power Macintosh computers. If you have any trouble at all, try a different (and not a Power Macintosh) computer.

If the lesson you want to review is already checked out or is missing, select a different one. Unlike the tutorial evaluation assignment, it is not the case that you need to be familiar with the content.

Try something interesting and new. If you find that your lack of background in the subject area is interfering too much, switch to a different simulation.

Review the documentation and go through the lesson several times taking notes on its content and quality. Base your evaluation on Chapter 4 of the textbook. Test the limits of the lesson. Try many options and generally learn as much as you can about what the program can and cannot do.

Some programs have many sections. At least start all sections. Complete as many as needed to do a thorough evaluation. Do sections that are different rather than those that are very similar.

Simulations are more challenging than drills or tutorials. You cannot sit back and expect to be told the information. You must become actively engaged and explore the simulation. Plan on expending considerable effort. Your evaluation must be thorough, not a cursory examination of the lesson.

Type, using any word processor, a one page description followed by a two- or three-page evaluation of the lesson and its manuals. Clear, precise, graduate level writing is expected. Although your evaluation may discuss the content, put your emphasis on design considerations.

NOTE: If a program does not appear to work, try this procedure: 1) Read the manual. 2) Make sure you are working on the correct type of computer. Avoid using a Power Macintosh. 3) Try it again. 4) Get help from Bryan or me. 5) Report your problem to Bryan or me and try a different program from the list.

Turn in a printout of your evaluation and a diskette with the text file in a 9 by 12 campus mail envelope. Be sure your name is on the printout, the diskette, and the envelope.

You may (optionally) turn in the word processing file via the computer network as long as the file can be used by a word processor available in the ITC. In that case, attach a note to your paper copy telling me the name of the network folder and the name of the file.

TITLE	COMPUTER	SUBJECT
Changing Size of a Glacier, The	Macintosh	earth science
Human Temperature Regulation	Macintosh	biology
Mechanics-Physics Simulations	Macintosh	physics
Microsoft Flight Simulator	Macintosh	aviation
Oregon Trail	Macintosh	social studies
RamÕs Horn II	Macintosh	social studies
SimCity 2000	Macintosh	social studies
SimEarth	Macintosh	ecology
SimTown	Macintosh	social studies
Smithtown	Macintosh	economics
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego	Macintosh	social studies

ID and T page for 7W:135 (February 13, 1997).
Design and code by David Klein.
Copyright © 1997 by the University of Iowa.
All rights reserved.