Learning Games/Learning Games (1995)(Maple Media).iso/hjh/manual.doc

Text File | 1993-09-05 | 8.5 KB | 226 lines

             Hangman Jr (Hebrew Edition)

               Copyright (c) 1993 Alston Software Labs

                               Manual (Text)



 IMPORTANT: INSTALL using START.DOC FIRST!!!


 DESCRIPTION:

 Hangman Jr is a Hebrew spelling game for children ranging from  5 - 12
 years old. It features the ability to present a picture and a sound to
 give the child a hint rather than a sentence, which may be confusing,
 considering that this is a game designed to help them learn to read
 in a language that may not be native to them.

 Essentially, Hangman Jr presents a graphics image (which can range from
 a clip art picture to a photo of a relative) and the child can choose
 letters from the alphabet (presented at the top of the window) until the
 name of the image is correctly spelled. At this point the child is
 rewarded with a graphic and sound proclaiming that he or she is a good
 speller.

 Unlike conventional Hangman styled spelling games, there is no penalty
 for not getting a letter correct. Indeed, there is NO NEGATIVE
 REINFORCEMENT at all in this game, so there is no undue pressure for
 your child to "get it right." If the child chooses a "wrong" letter, for
 instance, it simply migrates over to the on-screen TrashCan and 'dumps'
 itself. As with conventional Hangman styled games, the letters already
 chosen are not usable, and the word is written on the screen so that the
 child can see it forming. To enhance the fun of the game, sounds are
 used to punctuate letter action: when the letter falls into the trashcan,
 for instance, the child will hear something being tossed into a metal
 trashcan.

 "Final" characters are supported. If a word ends in "nun," for instance,
 the child may choose the final "nun."

 We did not include underscores ( __ ) to the letters as we felt it would
 be confusing to younger children. We don't want to intimidate them in any
 way: learning should be a pleasurable experience. Having a number of
 underscores in larger words may intimidate some children.

 In short, Hangman Jr is a fun and educational game allowing children to
 associate words with accompanying pictures and sound, without pressure.


 FEATURES:

 The files used by Hangman Jr can be modified, added to, and otherwise
 easily manipulated by Mom & Dad. Hangman Jr files are denoted by a .HJH
 extension, and they are simply a list of words and associated pictures
 and sounds. HJH stands for Hangman Jr Hebrew. There's built-in file
 Creator / Editor for this purpose. The nice thing about this is that
 you are not limited in any way to the files we provide, or a limit of
 files at all. Hangman Jr can work with ANY number of data files. The only
 realistic limit you have is hard drive capacity.

 Each file, as it is OPENed by Hangman Jr, is randomised. If a child
 likes a particular subject, for instance, he or she is not presented
 with the list in the same order every time, even if the same file is
 OPENed time after time.

 The window was designed such that the child using it has a minimum of
 items on screen, which can be confusing. The NEXT button, for instance,
 will grab the next available word/picture immediately. The button with
 the picture of a speaker allows the child to hear the sound associated
 with the picture. This can range anywhere between the spoken word or
 a sound that is part of the subject matter. For instance, if you were
 to have a Animals data file with animal pictures, you could either
 record pronouncation of their Hebrew names OR you could plug in
 recordings of the sound this animal makes.



 OPERATION:

 The design of Hangman Jr tries to keep things as simple for Mom & Dad
 as for the intended 5 - 12 year old user. For instance, there are only
 2 menu items: FILE and OPTIONS. The File menu allows you to edit, create,
 and otherwise manipulate data files. The OPTIONS menu allows you to access
 functions such as a keymap.

 Let's look at the FILE menu:

 NEW:

 This item allows you to create a NEW file from scratch. You will be
 asked to enter a filename, such as ANIMALS. You are then put into the
 EDIT window.

 OPEN:

 You will be presented with a standard windows FILEOPEN dialog box. You
 can choose the disk drive and the directory; the list of valid *.HJH
 files will appear in the left hand listbox. Click the name of choice
 and choose OK, or DOUBLECLICK the filename.

 This file will now be used by Hangman Jr. It may be up to 500 words
 long, but no more than that.

 EDIT:

 EDIT will allow you to edit an EXISTING FILE. Like the FILE OPEN
 description, choose the file you wish to edit. See the section titled
 "Editing HJH Files" for instructions on the EDIT window.

 ABOUT:

 Who we are, and how to contact us or our agents.

 EXIT:

 Quits the program.


 OPTIONS submenu:

 MANUAL / HELP:  (F1 Key can access)

 Allows you to read this manual on-line (like if you're learning how to
 edit) or print it as you require. If you want it on-line, you can either
 place the MANUAL window in the background or minimize it to an ICON as
 you desire.

 ORDER ME!:

 Puts an order form on screen for you which you can print out.

 KEYMAP:  (F2 key can access)

 The key map shows you the relationship of the letters on the standard
 English keyboard to their Hebrew equivalents. This Window can also be
 minimzed during operations like editing so that you can look up letters
 as you need them.

 LETTER SOUNDS: (F3 key to toggle)

 As the letters are clicked, "wrong" letters falling into the trashcan
 are enhanced with a trashcan sound. Correct letters make a SPLAT sound
 as they are shown on screen. By toggling this selection on and off you
 may enable or disable the sound effects. You may view this setting by
 clicking OPTIONS; as the menu drops down you will see a checkmark by
 this selection if enabled. Click or press F3 to toggle.



 EDITING HJH FILES:

 A Hangman Jr HJH file is essentially a list of words, pictures, and sounds.
 The editing function works with this list (or creates one) and provides
 a way to access pictures and sounds, which are associated with whatever
 word you type in. This word will be the one that the child will spell
 in normal 'play' operation.

 The editing window is kept as simple as possible. For instance, you do
 not need to type in all of those picture or sound file names -- each
 is listed in a separate box. All you do is click the box entry. As such,
 you'll find the right side of the editing window to be nothing more than
 lists. The top one is for the graphic presented on screen of the item
 that the child needs to spell. The PREVIEW button allows you to see it
 to make sure that the chosen file is the correct one. Also, to ease the
 confusion, we color coded this red. Note that the name of the file you
 chose will appear to the left of the list box.

 Down from there is the picture that gets presented once the child has
 correctly spelled the word. It works like the description above.

 Below this is the list for sounds. Click the list box entry, and just
 like in the other descriptions, the entry will be written to the left
 of the list box. Click the speaker button to hear the sound. This one
 is color coded green.

 ADDING / DELETING:

 You enter the name the child will spell in the ENTER WORDS HERE textbox.
 Note that you'll type the words in English and you'll see the
 equivalent Hebrew in the box just to the right. Click the ADD Button,
 and the spelling word will be ADDED to the DropDown list of words. To
 verify that a Word is associated with the correct graphic and sound
 files, choose the word from the Dropdown list. The associated filenames
 will appear in the area to the left of each box. You may also use the
 PREVIEW and SOUND buttons to see or hear the entries.

 Deleting a word is similar: click the DELETE button instead of the ADD
 button. The word shown in the top postion of the Dropdown list (i.e. the
 one in the box window) will be the one deleted.

 You can toggle the words in the listbox (to check spelling) from English
 lettering to Hebrew by clicking the EQUIV HEBREW box (to the right of the
 ENTER WORDS HERE box.)

 When you are done editing the list, press the SAVE button. You can cancel
 editing by pressing the CANCEL button.

 NOTES:

    Disclaimer:

    Hangman Jr is supplied as-is with no warranty whatsoever with
    regard to merchantability or fitness for purpose. Alston Software
    Labs assumes no responsibility for any consequences of use or misuse
    of this program.