1. Talento, Michael Eric P. July 27, 2009
INTRIST – S21 Ms. Estefani Ulit
In our software, JumpStart 5th grade is a game that features the subjects of art
history, geography, math, parts of speech, science, and US history. The last subject
implies that this software is made for elementary students in the United States of
America. The software basically included the academic subjects into a game.
In terms of the educational content against the entertainment content, I would
say that the entertainment factor has the upper hand. Because of the storyline of the
game, children might just be more focused on finishing the whole story rather than
learning the educational content of the game. I was also more focused on the story
rather than the educational content.
It is very hard, I think, to incorporate learning with playing. But I believe that there
are already a bunch of educational games present already. I think that the
entertainment part should be lessened. Having much focus on storylines, characters,
etc. would also make students focus on it to. In my opinion, the safest way to
incorporate learning with playing successfully is by focusing more on designs that will
make the user to play it continually and of course the educational content itself.
Proposing for a localized version for JumpStart 5th grade would be ideal today,
because of the increasing capabilities of school and individual in using technology. But I
would recommend it to be straight up local because most of us have been influenced by
the American language. Even the urban poor people are now doing code switching. By
having the local language it does not only promote patriotism but somehow, it also helps
the user to do better.
In any educational games, I believe that it is a necessity not to overpower the
educational content because it is its primary use is to educate. However, having an
entertainment is a plus. It makes students to continue playing. On a side note, too much
entertainment means less learning. The best solution I could say is a balance between
Entertainment and Education.