Section 2 - Commodore Computers

May, May. 1Q82lssue 1982, Issue 24 COMPUTE:! COMPUTE! 105
Learning With
Learning With
Computers
C~mputers
Glenn Kleiman and Mary Humphrey
Glenn Kleiman and Mary Humphrey
Teaching Tools:
Microcomputer Services
PO P.O. Box 50065
Po Palo AitaCA Alto. 94303
Preschool Computing
Several friends of ours recently used computers
for the first time. After we helped them get started,
they enjoyed themselves and were eager to do
more with the computer. They also had many
comme nts, both positive and negative, about the
comments, both positive and negative, about the
programs they used. This is all very familiar- r - most
people we have introduced to compute rs have
people we have introduced to computers have
responded in the same way. The difference is that
these particular friends are between two-and-a-half
and five years old. .
Personal computers can be programmed to
present lessons and games which encourage children's
learning ng of such things as color names,
numbers, leners, letters, vocabulary, and perceptual skills. s.
Whi le using computers in these ways, childre n also
While using computers in these ways, children also
take their first li steps towards computer literacy.
They realize that computers are an integral part of
the world, and they learn about the keyboard, the
cursor, disks and other aspects of computer use.
We find children to be far more comfortable playing
with comput.ers computers than are most adults.
Programs For Preschoolers
A numberr of available programs are suitable for
preschool children. Some of these programs are
designed for children to use by themselves (once
they are helped to start), others are for t.wo two or
more childrenn to use together, aand others are
designed for three way interactions among child,
adult and computer. The programs all use graphics
and minimize the need for reading. Some also
make good use of sound. Many of these programs
make good use of sound. Many of these programs
explicitly teach certain things, others are designed
for the child to explore and create. The following
programs are our young friends'
favorites.
HodgeH Podge (for Apple computers, from
Dynacomp, Inc. 1427 Monroe Ave., Rocheste r, NY
1461 8) . T he instructions accompanying this program
describe it as a "surreptitious learning" program.
When any key is pressed, a song, animation,
animation.
Dynacomp, Inc. 1427 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY
14618). The instructions accompanying this pro
or picture related to the key is presented. Press A
for an apple, B for a bear, C for a cat, D for a dog
and so on. Some keys result in more elaborate
displays. Press F and a farm is shown. n. "Old McDonald
Had a Fa rm" is played and, at the appropriate
nald Had a Farm" is played and, at the appropriate
time, aann animal appears -—aa different animal each
time. Press U and steps appear, a marker moves up
the steps while tones goingg up the scale are played.
Press' and the alphabet song is played , with each
Press } and the alphabet song is played, with each
letter appearingg in turn. The numbers I 1 through 8
each playa a musical note and show that note on a
staff. Zero turns the numberr keys into a miniature
piano so childrenn play their own tunes. Other keys
result in displays illustrating addition facts aand the
concepts of smaller and bigger. T his program is
concepts of smaller and bigger. This program is
packed with easy to use educational features which
can entertain a child for some tilne.
time.
AbovelBelowlLeftlRight AbovelBelow/LeJI/Righl (for {for Apple computers,
from Advanced Learning Technology, Inc., 4370
Alpine Road, Suite 201, I, Portola Valley, CA 94025).
T his set of programs teaches' the concepts give n in
This set of programs teaches the concepts given in
its title. One program m is on above and below, one on
lefi (eft and 'right, and one on all four terms. Each prog
ram follows a simi lar sequence. For example, to
gram follows a similar sequence. For example, to
use the Above/Below program a blue bar (provided
with the programs) is placed across the keyboard,
with the programs) is placed ac ross the keyboard,
di viding it into two sections, one for above and one
dividing it into two sections, one for above and one
for below. The program begins by showingg a horizontal
blue line across the middle of the screen. In
the first part of the program the child can press
any key. Pressing a key above the blue e keyboard
divider results in a colored bar appearing above
the blue line onn the screen. Pressingg a key below
the keyboard divider results in a colored bar below
the blue line on the screen. Tones play each time a
key is pressed. . In the second part off the program
the child is shown an incomplete colored bar either
above Or or below the blue line. Pressing aann appropriate
key completes the bar. The next two parts of
the program are similar, but two boxes are shown
on the screen, one above the other. Pressing keys
on the screen, one above the other. Pressing keys
causes either the upper or the lower box to change
color. I n the fin al part of the program a colo rful
color. In the final part of the program a colorful
picture is created and the colors change in response
to the child's key presses. Keys above the divider
cause a change in the top half of the picture, keys
below the divider cause a change in the bottom
half. This program uses colors, music and pretty
pictures to hold the child's attention.
Humble Bumble Cames Games (for Apple computers, also from
Advanced Learning Technology, see address
above) is a set of six programs for beginning numberr
skills. T he first program is a Guess My Numbe r
skills. The first program is a Guess My Number
game, suitable for older preschoolers. A number
line appears with the numbers zero to five. The
child guesses a number, and is told whethe r his
child guesses a number, and is told whether his
guess is less than, greater than, or equal to, the