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Reviewed Site: Anatomy Arcade
Site Content Area: Anatomy
Site Requirements/Access:
It appears that this site will require Adobe Flash Player and Shockwave to play the games. I was unable to locate any information indicating what was actually needed. When pulling the source code, there was Flash, Shockwave, and JavaScript coding, so if you don't see the images or the games don't function properly, you might want to ensure you have these features enabled and/or installed.
I was viewing the site connected with high-speed cable internet, browsing with Firefox, on a PC with Vista, loaded with high-end graphic cards which may make a difference in the ability and speed of viewing the site and playing the games. If you are using an older computer or dial-up, you may find the download time to be a tad lengthy at times.
Overview:
This is a site that contains games related to anatomy that are supposed to be educational. It has a store in which you can purchase the games rather than playing them for free via the Internet.
Navigation:
There is top navigation which includes Home, Games, About Us, Links, Students, Teachers, and Store. The left side has a list of games by the body system and by the type. The right side has advertising, again, not the best for an educational site, but I suppose that is what we have to put up with now-a-days to get sites up and running. I noticed that there are several games listed under the game type list, but they are not listed in the particular section they belong to, in that section’s navigation.
The Look:
The graphics are wonderful, colorful, detailed, and accurate. The font is easy to read and the color scheme jives together to make the usability good. I was displeased to see that there is product advertising on the first screen for each game and on the right column; it takes away from the whole feel of the site.
Features of the Site:
Home: this page is set-up like a Blog and gives a little information about what you will find on the site and offers links to the other pages and games.
About Us: this page gives a little background on the author and why he developed the games.
Links: this page is just a placeholder at the time of this review.
Students: Another real disappointment is the content written to the students regarding teachers in general. While reading it, my first impression was disbelief that another teacher would be teacher-bashing. We spend so much time defending our profession, and even more so for our discipline, so having one of our own tell students their teachers are not trying to look to “find awesome learning tools” is just simply unacceptable. The author went on to say that their teachers are behind the times thinking that games are not educational and it is the students’ job to inform the teacher of this. The rest of the content on this page is riddled in sarcasms, which I find appalling.
Teachers: “…but as teachers, we can be quite narrow-minded when it comes to defining what is an educational vehicle.” You have got to be kidding me! Yes, there are still some teachers who punch the clock and never do anything other than what they did their first year of teaching, but that is not the case for the majority of teachers, especially in our field. The author goes on to state that teachers need to realize that video games are an essential learning tool, as if the majority of us educators are so far removed from our careers that we have no clue as to what works and what does not work. Interactive games have been used for quite some time now and most teachers do know that they can be pivot in the learning environment.
There is a little information about what to do prior to using these games in class, but again, the author talks down to his audience as if they are completely null of all common sense, and does not actually offer real information such as what software or programs are required to play the games, what Internet browser works better with it, etc.
Newsletter: there is an option to join his group to receive his newsletter.
Games Offered on the site: the directions for the games are at the bottom of the page and in very small font. Some games have quick directions within the game as well.
Skeletal System Games:
1. Whack-A-Bone: There are three levels, each getting more challenging then the next, and expects you to complete the task more quickly. The tasks include building the arm, leg, and core. You can play it as many times as you want, but cannot move to the next level until you pass at 80%. The drawback is that the student can learn where each bone goes without actually having to know the names of them. The first screen shows a picture of the bone that you have to drag to the correct area; it was difficult at first to see the red outline of where the bone needs to be placed. The second screen makes the bones invisible and you have to drag the scope over the correct muscle to match it. This one was a little challenging to figure out what they wanted at first. The third screen has a hammer that you smash the correct bones-I did not like this one since it is so violent.
2. Major Bones Crossword Puzzle, which is super hard; the students must know how to spell the bones correctly; the hints are not helpful; and there is really no checking system-they say there is but it does not function properly. It would have been nice for the correct letters and words to stay green. There is no button to go back; you have to use your back button or the main toolbar. You can print the puzzle out if the teacher wanted to use it for an assessment. *All the Crossword Puzzles follow this format.
3. Skeletal Word Search: I always have liked using word searches as an introduction to the vocabulary used for that instructional sequence. This one is standard, not too hard, and not too easy; and the words stay highlighted once selected. All the words are listed on the bottom of the word search, so the students do not need to guess, which is great. *All the Word Searches follow this format.
Articular System Games
Articular System Crossword
Articular System Word Search
Muscular System Games:
Major Muscles Crossword
Major Muscles Word Search
Muscular System Crossword
Muscular System Word Search
Circulatory System Games:
Circulatory System Crossword
Circulatory System Word Search
The Heart Crossword
The Heart Word Search
The Heart Jigsaw: If you are good at puzzles, you’ll enjoy doing this one one-line, however it is not educational and will not teach the heart to the students. It also gives you a grade at the end, which I did not like since it was based on how long it took you to complete the puzzle, not if you actually completed it correctly. I feel strongly that we need to get away from the time aspect of completing tasks in a learning environment.
Respiratory System Games:
Respiratory System Crossword
Respiratory System Word Search
Nervous System Games:
Nervous System Crossword
Nervous System Word Search
The Senses Word Search
Digestive System Games:
Digestive System Crossword
Digestive System Word Search
Endocrine System Games:
Endocrine System Word Search
General Games:
The Cell Crossword
Terminology Word Search
The Cell Word Search
Match Two:
Match a Bone: exactly like the card game that has the cards upside-down and you have to remember where the matches are located to select a pair. It would be better if the answers do not just disappear, but also actually show the word along with the bone. I’m not convinced this is the best way to teach or reinforce the identification of the vocabulary word with the actual bone; it is more of a memory game.
Animation and Others: do not have any games available at the time of the review.
Just for Fun: is just that, not educational, but games that the authors developed and wanted a place to share them.
A Student's Perspective:
I had one high school student play a couple of the games and the response was that they were boring and the student did not want to continue playing them. I also played all of the Signature games and one crossword and one word search. The word search was tedious during the review, but would be good if used correctly in the classroom. The crossword was extremely challenging and I did not want to finish it, so I would imagine students would feel the same way.
Conclusion:
I think this site has the potential to be a good resource and a good place for educators and students alike, however the author is going to need to make some serious changes in the content. Hopefully the author develops games that will be more content-rich and less rote memorization. If you can control where your students navigate and you develop a strong lesson plan utilizing some of these activities, it may be a wonderful tool.
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