Play & Learn II was developed by Chuck Smyrniotis at Rapid Prototyping Technology. It is a collection of software tools for supplementing student learning with a number of interesting topics. It contains seven standalone programs. They are:
1. MoneyTrans
2. Telling Time
3. Multiples
4. EarlyMath
5. Fractions
6. Measurements
7. Word Problems.
MoneyTrans is a program which teaches students how to handle money. Telling Time offers the student a computer environment to develop understanding of time concepts, how to tell time and how to read analog clocks. Multiples is a program which tests the student's knowledge on multiplication. EarlyMath teaches students step-by-step math calculations. Fractions teaches fundamentals in fractions and fraction operations. The Measurements software teaches students fundamentals on measurements, the types and units for both the English and metric systems. Word Problems offers a facility for building skills and confidence in solving real world problems.
Play & Learn II is for kids (parents too!) of ages 9 and up. It runs on Macintosh computers with system 7.0 or greater (marginal performance for earlier system software.)
1.0 Money
Money Transactions software offers students a simulated environment for building skills on how to handle/count money. It includes four sessions: The Tutorial session covers fundamentals on US currency and animated sequences on counting money. The Quiz session provides the student with pictorial representations of coin combinations and expects the student to figure out the amount and select the right amount from a multiple choice menu. The Exact Change session offers students a facility to develop skills in handling money. The Going Shopping session offers students a facility for developing skills on money transactions.
2.0 Telling Time
Telling Time software offers the student a computer environment to develop understanding of time concepts, and most importantly how to tell time and read analog clocks.
Telling Time consists of two main parts: 1. tutorial and 2. clock. Tutorial is a slide presentation on time and how to tell time. The various units for measuring time are introduced and their relation to each other is stated. Animated sequences are included in some tutorial frames to familiarize students with clock components, how to tell time and how to read analog clocks. The clock mode presents a clock with both analog and digital readouts The clock is powered by the Macintosh's internal clock. The user can change each of the hour, minute and second readouts and observe the positions of the clock hands. That is to become familiar with the analog to digital relation. In the quiz session the user is presented with a random analog setup and he/she is expected to identify the correct time from a multiple choice menu.
3.0 Multiples
Multiples is a program which enforces the student's knowledge of number multiplication. The program generates multiples for a user sellectable number (from 2 to 9) and user sellectable level (from level one to level three). It mixes these multiples with incorrect multiples and displays them on the cells of a 4 by 4 matrix at random. Numbers vary depending on the level of difficulty. The user is expected to select the correct multiples from the display. The program keeps track of user performance and displays an appropriate message at the end of each play.
4.0 EarlyMath
EarlyMath offers the student a flexible environment to build skills on math calculations. It teaches the student how to add/subtract/multiply/divide numbers on a step-by-step basis. The student can select single or multiple digit numbers; input generation either by the student or the computer; and have the computer perform all calculations in a tutorial mode or have the student perform calculations with the computer on a 'watch mode', offering immediate assistance when needed.
5.0 Fractions
The fractions software offer students a computer environment to learn fractions, fraction operations and develop knowledge for performing fraction computations which are necessary for solving practical problems.
Fractions includes three parts: 1) tutorial, 2) quiz and 3) report. The tutorial session offers the student a frame presentation on fraction theory. It is organized along topics such as fraction simplification, equality, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Once comfortable with the theory you can run the quiz session, where you can put your knowledge to the test. The program generates fraction equations both correct and incorrect and display them at random on the 4 by 4 matrix. The user is expected to find the correct equations by clicking in cells which contain correct equations.
6.0 Measurements
The Measurements software contains four sessions. The Tutorial session covers fundamentals in measurements, the various units, conversions and sample uses. It is partitioned based on measurement types (i.e., length, mass, liquid measure and others). Both English and metric systems are covered. The Quiz session tests and reenforces the students knowledge on information presented in the tutorial as well as other facts pertaining to measurements. The Report session provides students with a snapshot report on his or her quiz performance. The Converter is a calculator type on-screen device which can be used for converting from one measure unit to another. It takes the value displayed on the calculator display and converts it from the 'from' unit to the value for the 'to' unit buttons selected by the user.
7.0 Word Problems
This program offers a facility for building skills and confidence in solving practical but challenging real world problems. The student selects problems from over half a dozen generic problems. In addition, the user selects the mode: tutorial or user. In the tutorial mode the computer does everything: it states a problem, formulates the solution, performs the calculations and provides the answer. In the user mode, the computer states the problem and provides a multiple choice menu for the user to select the correct answer. The user is expected to formulate the solution, perform the calculations and select the correct answer from the multiple choice menu. The user is given a calculator to use for his/her calculations if so desired. If the user fails to select the correct answer in three attempts the computer takes over and states the solution and provides the answer. Word problems keep track of the problems worked out and the number of correct or wrong responses. The student can request statistics to view his/her performance.
LEGAL STUFF
You may try Play & Learn II for two weeks. If you decide to keep, it please mail $10 registration fee to Rapid Prototyping Technology (see address below.) You may not alter the software in any way or sell it to anyone. Commercial, shareware distribution of this product requires advanced permission in writing from the author prior to distribution. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of this product. RPT and/or author shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damage to property or personal injury.
About the Author
Play & Learn II was created by Chuck Smyrniotis at Rapid Prototyping Technology. Comments, questions should be addressed to Chuck at:
