Summary of the Software
The principle of the game is as Gisele is mixing the soup in her backyard, letters and images emerge out of the soup and the player is encouraged to match images that jump out of the soup to corresponding letters.
Gisele and her gooey alphabet soup game is based on the TVO kids television show Gisele’s Big Backyard. highlighting the concepts on the show
http://www.tvokids.com/shows/alphabetgoop (Based on Tv Show)
Educational Game
Purpose of the Software: Alphabet Goop
Phonics based game and it helps children recognize the sound to the letters of the alphabet, one of the skills necessary for learning to read
The game identifies lower case letters, letter sound and the spelling of words combined with cartoon images.
The software aims at furthering the player’s cognitive development through the fundamental components of literacy
Relevant Theory Albert Bandura: From a social element, arguing that people can learn new
information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling)
Bandura Identified Three Basic Models of Observational Learning:1A live model, which involves an actual individual demonstrating or acting out a behavior.2A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior.3A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media
Intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal reward, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories
(Cherry, 2011)
Developmental Appropriate
According to Developmental Profiles:
By age 6…. children are able to:
-Demonstrate a fair control of a pencil or marker, may begin to color within the lines
-Differentiate lowercase and uppercase letters
-Recognize some words by sight [attempting] to sound out words
(Allen & Marotz, 2007, p 164-174)
TIME TO PLAY THE GAME…. http://www.tvokids.com/games/alphabetgoop
Overall Curriculum Expectations
• 1. Listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes;
• 2. Use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes;
• 3. Reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.
By the End of Gr 1. Students should:
(The Ontario Curriculum)
Is the Software Game Accessible to Children?
This software is easily accessible to children and program as it is available on the Internet.
The user does not have to purchase a license or another materials outside of a computer to use Gisele and her gooey alphabet soup software.
Recommendation
- Graphics: interesting and
appealing to children (move)- Include more inquiry based
Learning- Lowercase lettering: Needs
to add uppercase
References
Allen, K.E., & Marotz, L.R. (2007). Developmental Profiles: Pre-birth through twelve. 5th Edition. New York: Thompson Delmar Learning
Cherry, K. (2011). Social Learning Theory: An Overview of Bandura's Social Learning Theory. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/sociallearning.htm
The Ontario Curriculum. (2006). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8: Language. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf
TVOkids. (n.d). Alphabet Goop. Retrieved from http://www.tvokids.com/games/alphabetgoop
