The Oregon Trail

Software Title and Publisher (provide vendor information, URL link) The Oregon Trail, The Learning Company http://oregontrail.com/hmh/site/oregontrail/home;jsessionid=94D169E957EC81F42239957346D3A17B.ProdNode2

http://support.riverdeep.net/faq_list.asp?id=1294820237

Price: individual or volume licensing information $19.99 for software. No information on volume prince.

Note the type of software.  Simulation

Note the target content area. Social Studies/History

Note any learning standards alignment.  No learning standards were noted but it would align with the NYS Social Studies Standard 3 and Technology Standard 5

What kind of documentation or online help (tutorial) is available? How user friendly is the software for the target audience? The software is user friendly for the target audience. The graphics are superb and grabs the user's attention There is a whole page on software support with step-by-step instructions. 

Note computer requirements and the Operating System compatibility. 

Server

• Windows NT® 4.0 with SP 5, Novell® NetWare® 4.11, 5.0 or Windows® 2000 Server Appleshare® 6.3  
• Free hard disk space: 646 MB (Windows®); 606 MB (Macintosh®)

Client Workstation: Windows®

• Windows® 95/98/Me/2000 and Windows NT®
•  Pentium® 166 MHz (or faster)
•  32 MB RAM
•  8x CD-ROM drive (or faster)
•  640 x 480 resolution with 16-bit high color
•  1 MB free hard drive space

Client Workstation: Macintosh®

• OS 8.6–OS X
• PowerPC® 180 MHz (or faster)
• 32 MB RAM
• 8x CD-ROM drive (or faster)
• 640 x 480 resolution with Thousands of Colors
• 1 MB free hard drive space

Look for additional available resources that might supplement the software. Does it come packaged with lesson ideas? Are online resources available? Even though this is a great game and has been around since I was in school, I could not find any lesson ideas or online resources.

Share an idea or two about how you might use the software in your classroom. How might you integrate the software application? You could integrate the software application into the classroom by using it as a supplement to the unit on the Oregon Trail. Students could keep their own journals as if they are travelers on the trail. They could imagine the best and worst experiences on the trail and write about them, or mention their hopes and fears, their reasons for leaving, who they are traveling with, etc.