The Digital Frog 2, by Digital Frog International

Software Evaluation Guide/Outline

Title: The Digital Frog 2

Publisher: Digital Frog International

Subject Area: Natural Science

Summary: A comprehensive anatomy and physiology program supported by a full interactive dissection. More than 70 detailed screens include human anatomy comparisons and amphibian ecology.

Ease of Use: This is a software that a young person can use with minimal help. Basically you need to be able to use the mouse and point at things on the screen to be able to use this program. The target grade is probably high school.

Skill Set: To use this software you need basic reading skills.

Program Design Features:

Control of Pace            yes

Reviews/Help                yes

Ability to Backtrack     yes

Levels of Difficulty      no

Physical Interface         no

Speech Features           yes

Childproof (child reality ready?)          yes

Individual Use                          yes

Use with pairs/Small groups      yes

Printer Use                               no

Test/Recordkeeping/Game Save feature yes

Add-on Option-Can incorporate user content no

Scaffolding no

Program Comments: The Digital Frog 2 is an interactive virtual frog dissection and anatomy program to teaching about a specific ecosystem. The program uses a mix of encyclopedic information with learning through discovery and interaction. Activities include videos, readings, clicking and/or drawing with the mouse on different parts of the frog, and doing evaluation through multiple choice quizzes. The program is intuitive and easy to use. The illustration have zoom capabilities, and some of the videos have a slow motion option, both very good for learning. The video is very clear, and informative. On the other hand, pictures and illustrations are low quality, they seem dated: They could be better. In some of the screens, the background is the same color as the frog, this might not be ideal.

The program is a good source for learning about frogs and their ecosystem, it lets students learn at their own pace. The assessment system is good, but the program  should not let you continue before doing the quiz, or at least prompting you to try the quiz. This would be a good way of providing different levels of knowledge, instead of waiting until the end for the quiz.

In terms of the Common Core Standards, it definitely promotes literacy. A great feature is the option of defining any word that you click, a great way of expanding the students’ vocabulary.

Problem Solving Skills: Using a model, Question posing, Gathering information- discerning what is important information, Organizing information, Procedural Thinking, Stimulate imaginative thinking, Ability to explore, Breaking complex problems into smaller parts.

Fun Factor: The program is fun to use. Things like slowing down a video, or zooming in some of the images are fun things that students will enjoy. It is also fun to be able to explore the Frog without having to harm a real frog every time you want to review or learn about its ecosystem and physiology.

Supplementary Material: No

Follow-up activities: No follow up activities are suggested by the program itself. Teachers will probably have to design follow up activities.