An Authoring Tool:PuzzleMaker

by Discovery Channel School

Presentation

by Gabriele Rayes

For EDTC 642

Discovery Channel School

OVERVIEW

PuzzleMaker is based on an online program found

on disoveryschool.com. The CD-ROM features the

following enhancements:

Save puzzle to a hard disk

Edit a puzzle

Access to an electronic dictionary

Create multiple puzzles

Create word lists

Export a puzzle in rtf, PDF, and bitmap formats.

TYPES OF PUZZLESVocabulary Puzzles

Double Puzzles

Word Search

Word Search w/Hidden Message

Fallen Phrase

Letter Tiles

Cryptogram

Criss Cross

Word Merge

Mathematics

Puzzles and Mazes

Math Square

Number Blocks

Maze

Equation Search

GETTING STARTEDPUZZLE CREATION

Click onto Create a Puzzle from the entry screen

Choose a puzzle type

Enter the clip art library

Enter the dictionary

Modification of PuzzlesSelect font type and style

Select color for title and letters

Print puzzles with different page dimensions

PUZZLE STORAGESort puzzles by category: subject, class, grade and purpose

Create and save word lists

Skills

Problem Solving

Development of Thinking Skills

Language Development

Recognition of Sight Words

Proportional Thinking

Operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication & division

Students with Special NeedsRequire extra time

Information presented with multiple modalities

Difficulty with spelling, sentence structure and attention span

Low frustration level

Inability to “see” details in a larger picture

Difficulty with recall skills

PuzzleMaker enables the educator to teach to their

students’ strengths and remediate the weaknesses.

Puzzles encourage students to stay on task longer

thereby increasing attention span.

Assessment

Skills AreasSentence Structure: Fallen Phrase, Letter Tiles & Cryptograms

Word Recognition: Letter Tiles & Word Searches

Spelling: all language puzzles

Spatial Skills: Letter Tiles, Word Merge & Mazes

Arithmetic Skills: Math Squares, Number Blocks & Equation Search

Algebraic Thinking: Math Squares & Equation Search

New Jersey CCCS

Standard 3.1 Language Arts Literacy B. Phonological Awareness

C. Decoding and Word

Recognition

F. Vocabulary and Concept

Development

Standard 4.1 Number and Numerical Operations

Standard 4.3 Patterns and Algebra

Standard 4.5 Mathematical Processes

References

1. New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards

http://www.state.nj.us/njded/cccs

2. http://www.discovery.com

3. PuzzleMaker by Discovery Channel School