Heart and Circulation

Crash

Rosetta McLeod

CRASH COURSE By Rosetta McLeod HAVING FUN WITH EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE A recent survey undertaken for the Independent Broadcasting Authority shows that a third of all households in Britain with children, now own a home computer. On the surface this seems encouraging, but the question has to be asked, To what use are these computers being put? The vast majority of home computer users may do little more than play arcade and adventure games, and it is a pity that the enjoyable educational software on offer does not reach a bigger audience. The programs from AVP Computing reviewed this month are good examples of software which can be of use both in the home and in schools, because of their relevance to the learning process. AVP have long been known to teachers as publishers of excellent audio-visual materials, and now they have turned their attention towards educational software. Over a hundred of their own programs are described in their Primary and Secondary catalogues, together with a wide selection of titles from other educational publishers of quality. Teachers will welcome the fact that, if official requisition forms are used for ordering, titles may be obtained on a fortnight's approval. Certainly the catalogues are well worth obtaining, and the programs I've looked at provide a useful cross-section of the wares AVP have to offer. The programs for Secondary schools cover Science, Mathematics, languages, social subjects, Economics, Computer Studies, Music, Art, careers guidance and administration, while those available for younger children represent all ages of the Primary curriculum. For more information, get in touch with AVP Computing, [redacted]. HEART AND CIRCULATION This Human Biology program, designed for use both in the classroom and at home, offers a choice of four topics: the heart; the circulation system: arteries, veins and capillaries: and blood flow. In the first section, the user has to label eleven parts of the heart, such as pulmonary arteries and veins, valves and the aorta. The correct labelling can be viewed before the test sequence, and the computer marks the answers given in the test on the screen. Section Two - the circulation system - involves the same sort of labelling activity, again with the option of seeing the correct version first. The demonstration showing the functions of arteries, veins and capillaries is very clear and informative, and then the user is asked some questions on the topic to show understanding of the different functions performed. In the final section, the computer demonstrates the route taken by blood as it flows through the circulatory system, and the user can select the starting point from the following list: liver, intestine, kidney and lower body. The path taken is plotted graphically on a diagram of the circulatory system. This is a very useful program, and I particularly liked the way the computer marks the answers on the screen. Students of GCE O level and CSE will find it a helpful self test resource. It is available on cassette at £10 or on Microdrive at £12. COMMENTS Control keys: single key commands Keyboard play: fast Use of colour: limited to red, white and black Graphics: very good diagrams

A spot of Human Biology in which the stringy bits known as Arteries are explained. That's HEART AND CIRCULATION for you...

The Mammalian Heart in all its glory - or should that be 'gory'. Name the bit and get a high score in HEART AND CIRCULATION.