Evaluations

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Wordshark has 36 games and comprehensive word lists. The word lists vary in level, starting with CVC (consonant vowel consonant) words and progressing gradually following the Alpha to Omega program, a well-known remediation course for dyslexia by Hornsby and Shear.  It also includes games and wordlists to support the National Literacy Strategy in the United Kingdom. In addition, there are games and pre-recorded wordlists aimed at secondary/adult level.    There is also the opportunity for the teacher to create his/her own wordlists

The content of the software is reliable, accurate and up to date.   The games cover a wide range of topics and skills.  Examples of reading games include Concentration, Word Search and Word Shapes. There are numerous spelling games. My students’ favourites were Snakes and ladders, Noah’s Ark, Helicopter and Cross Word. In addition, there are sections on syllables and homophones.
As an added extension to each game, there is a reward type activity such as a fruit machine, lottery wheel and the hare and tortoise game where extra points can be gained.  These games are popular with my first year students.  If necessary, these games can be switched off. The extensive word lists can be used to reinforce learning.

The games are appropriate for 11 to 14 year olds with literacy difficulties. The graphics appeal to both male and female students.  The students themselves felt that the format was most suitable for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students but would be viewed as childish by Senior Cycle students. In my view, the optional secondary/adult course is appropriate for an adult audience in terms of language but the graphics may again be found childish by adults.

The teacher can determine the multiple levels of difficulty and challenge by accessing the administrator controls. This facility allows the teacher to set up Individual Learning Programs for students by enabling appropriate wordlists for particular students.  The ‘Add and Manage’ students facility can be used to set up structured work programs for individual students and the student records can be accessed. The teacher can also ensure that the students play a variety of games by controlling their choice when setting up the individual learning program. In my experience, although teachers can restrict these games, motivation may suffer if too many games are unavailable.  The learning program can be discussed with the individual student and their views can be taken into account. In addition, the teacher can add customised spelling lists and sound record the new list. 
 
Students can make personal choices about whether to show pictures, view progress or exclude gambling games. They can also change the speed of the games and can choose a character which will represent the cursor from a range of pictures such as wizards and dinosaurs.  

The multisensory nature of the software is designed to tap into a variety of learning modes notably the visual and the aural.