Snapshot

Crash

Rosetta McLeod

CRASH COURSE By Rosetta McLeod Scetlander's novel ideas include house-building, travel-agent, wildlife and road-safety packages - as well as traditional subjects like maths and biology. INTRODUCING SCETLANDER Launched recently, Scetlander takes the first four letters of its name from the Scottish Council For Educational Technology, which now produces packages for all age groups. The come with comprehensive documentation. The catalogue is available from Scetlander Ltd, [redacted] CELL GROWTH Subject: Biology Retail Price: £10 Age Range: 16 years and over This program, aimed at senior pupils studying for biology exams simulates the method of studying population growth in microorganisms using the haemacytometer cell-counting technique. This method requires a great deal of expertise and Scetlander claims the program offers thorough grounding in the principles of the method while avoiding the frustrations of poor experimental results. Students should have a fair knowledge of growth-cycle theory before using the program. There are two scenarios where the student has to take control, Pattern Of Growth and Effect Of Temperature. Temperatures, incubation periods and dilution factors must be set. Samples can be taken up to nine times. The challenge is to construct a cell-growth graph, which is compared with the computer's own graph derived from the same data. A fair amount of decision-making is called for, and sound judgments are needed to obtain efficient cell growth. The data collected during a session can be saved, and both graphs and data can be printed out. COMMENTS Though of rather limited appeal, this is a useful program dealing with a complex topic. CYCLING Subject: Road Safety Price: £10 Age Range: Upper primary Scetlander's road-safety software aims to give pupils confidence in recognising many Highway Code signs, particularly those relevant to cyclists. It starts off with a quiz on road signs, and then there are questions on how the cyclist should handle particular situations. When the pupil passes the theoretical section, he can proceed to a cycling simulation on the screen. The cyclist has to look behind himself in the right places and give signals as necessary. Cycling can print out a certificate if the pupil passes at the first or second attempt. A practice session can be set up, and the teacher can view the pupil's responses. COMMENTS This attractive and useful program makes good use of colour and graphics. BASIC MATHEMATICS Subject: mathematics Retail Price: £20 (for the suite of eight programs) Age Range: 10-13 years (remedial) Basic Mathematics is a suite of eight programs covering a range of mathematical concepts. The first four programs are reviewed this month, and the remaining ones will appear in the next CRASH Course. Angle Estimation gives the pupil practice in estimating acute, obtuse and reflex angles. At the start of the program, the teacher can choose the number of questions set, the type of angle which is to be drawn on the screen, the quadrant position of the first arm of the angle, and the margin of error permissible. A particularly useful feature of this package is that it can prepare a diagnostic report for the teacher afterwards. Digit Addition is a drill-and-practice program in which the pupil has to add a single-digit number to another single-digit or two-digit number. The teacher can determine the level of the program, the layout of the problems (horizontal or vertical), and there is a scoring system where the pupil loses 'lives' after too many incorrect answers. Unfortunately, apart from this little attempt has been made to motivate the pupil to do well. A livelier method of presentation, perhaps with a games format, would have made this program more appealing. Dice Multiplication is an exercise in snakes-and-ladders format. It the pupil gives the correct response to the multiplication question, he moves forward - if incorrect, backwards - and the aim is to reach the home base. Two dice appear on the screen, and the numbers shown are to be multiplied together. The program is flexible: it can be used at varying levels of difficulty lit goes as far as vulgar fractions and decimals). And Dice Multiplication is quite useful for less able pupils who need a great deal of repetitive practice, though it would be nice to have a two-player option in the game. Better graphics and the use of a range of colours would also have made the effect more imaginative. Fraction Identification presents the pupil with a series of shaded rectangles and asks him to identity the fraction which has been shaded from a choice of three answers. If he wishes, the pupil can choose to see some examples first before attempting the questions. The correct answer is shown on the screen if the child enters two wrong responses to a question, but no explanation is given. Once all the questions have been answered, the computer will give details of the user's performance and can also display the scores table. The teacher can't set up the exact fractions to be practised, but he can choose the number of questions (from five to 20) or wipe out the scores table. COMMENTS Though they're reasonably useful examples of drill-and-practice software, these programs suffer from dullness and lack of imagination. The only colours are blue and white, and it seems little thought has been given to making the screen displays attractive and appealing. The subject matter could quite easily have been made more appealing to children. SNAPSHOT Subject: Environmental Studies Price: £17.50 Age Range: 8 years and over This environmental-studies program is envisaged as a starting point for a wide range of activities on wildlife. The object is for the pupils to discover as many animals as possible (there are 13 all told) and to take pictures of them in their habitat - all within the program. The pupils should attempt to use the least number of exposures, and compile an information folder on the animals. The pupil starts off with a map on the screen, and a newspaper which provides clues on the haunts of the animals. The pupil travels round the scenery, using north, south, east and west commands. When the pupil finds an animal, the P key opens the shutter, and the picture comes up onscreen. As in all good computer games, there are obstacles - the landscape is dotted with trees, houses, water and hills, and gates have to be opened and closed. And if there are crops growing in the fields, the pupil has to walk round the edge. Snapshot is an obvious stimulus for work on mapping skills, and the teacher's notes give other good ideas for using the program in the classroom. COMMENTS This imaginative and enjoyable program can help motivate development of a range of skills in the areas of language, environmental studies and maths - highly recommended. HOLIDAY Subject: language/environmental studies Retail Price: £15 Age Range: 10 years and over In Holiday, a simulation of a travel agency, pupils find suitable holidays for imaginary clients. There are three resorts available in each of five countries: Prance, Spain, Italy, Greece and Austria. Some resorts are quiet and secluded, while other have good shopping centres and a great deal of nightlife. Travellers can set off from Glasgow, Edinburgh. Manchester or Luton airports, though many of the seats in the planes have already been claimed by other travel agencies. Pupils can call up all the price information, and book individuals or parties for half board or full board as required. Going off season is, naturally, cheaper than going at the height of the summer. The computer tots up the full cost of the booking and the teacher can increase the prices as inflation inevitably takes its course. When the pupil's client has found a flight and a resort with acceptable paces, a booking can be made. A Display Bookings option allows the user to look at all the bookings which have been made, and to do a search for a particular reservation. COMMENTS The excellent teacher's notes give several ideas for using this package in a holiday project - and I can vouch for its quality. HOUSEBUILDER Price: £12.50 Age Range: 10-year-olds Housebuilder simulates the role of a small builder in making decisions about the choice, pricing and siting of houses. The pupil has to examine the site (four are available), choose the types of house to be built from eight possible designs, and decide whether to let or sell the houses. If a house is to be sold, obviously, a price has to be fixed. A good many factors must be assessed in this house-building exercise. Early in the proceedings, tinier one has to decide what sort of social mix is going to be created on the new estates. COMMENTS This package is an extremely flexible resource for the teacher, and integrates usefully into an area normally covered in the upper primary.