The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 196

www.smh.com.auiconcover.html level, unlike a classroom where there may be up to 30 children receiving the same material. With a computer, each child can be working at his or her pace. Struggling children can take a step back, without any peer comments, while those forging ahead can work at a higher level. If lessons take the form of a game, they can be challenged to beat their highest score. Children's programs can supply work that some youngsters would not otherwise be doing.

They may be happy to work on their times tables in the form of a game when they wouldn't do them in any other form. So the computer can take the pain out of some -mundane work. Educational games also build children's confidence. As their self-esteem grows, they will have the benefits of performing better in other areas. the Zoombinis is so much fun that kids refuse to believe it is a maths program.

Traditional maths skills, such as addition and multiplication, are not presented here. Over four levels of difficulty, it's about data sorting, classifying, analysing and solving problems. Operation Neptune supplies a range of very different maths problems in the middle of a game, while Carmen Math Detective sends the kids out in search of the thieves as they practise their geometry, word problems and multiplication skills. Lack of general knowledge Some children have huge gaps in general knowledge. Programs that combine a need to gather information about the world around us don't seem like work at all.

Space Station Alpha The Encounter helps children learn about the solar, system and ecosystem. While playing Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, they may pick up a few snippets of information as they chase Carmen's gang around the world. Anne Glover is a teacher, consultant and autlwr of Computers and Your Kids ($19.95 from ABC Books). All kids (smmm IX more speed- 1 '1 I 0 There are more than 1,000 software programs for kids on the market, but all areas are still not well covered. What works for one child does not necessarily work for another.

Lots of boys love blasting and munching games, while many girls prefer to create rather than kill. So we need to keep their interests and personalities in mind, as well as their educational needs. Designers seem to be slow learners, with some older programs doing a better job than newer releases. Sue Gordon recognises that her children love to dress up and play make-believe roles in fantasy worlds. She can tap into that by supplying them with programs that support their interest in acting.

Programs that give boys the tools to write a play for their next performance would probably be appreciated. They can draft and write their acts, but while they are "playing" they are reading, writing, spelling and constructing sentences. For all children, there is the opportunity to match their interests and passions with a game to help their learning. "It's really all a matter of selecting your software very carefully, and being involved in your eMail 97. Whether you're new to the world of email or an experienced web veteran, eMail 97 offers an intuitive interface and cutting-edge features which will have you emailing with eTelligence.

Program highlights include: quick, easy installation compact size and native 32-bit design drag drop functionality native support for embedding HTML documents six-language eTranslator for truly global communication advanced filtering SOFTWARE DETAILS OPERATION ECO-NIGHTMARE Ages 9-14, MacintoshWindows, $69.95 from Roadshow, 9552 8700. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO 3.0 Ages 9-adult, MacintoshWindows, $74.95, from Dataflow, 9417 9700. GOOSEBUMPS ATTACK OF THE MUTANT Ages 10-14, Windows, $59 from Microsoft Suppliers, 9870 2110. IMAGINATION EXPRESS CASTLE, OCEAN, PYRAMID, RAINFOREST OR NEIGHBOURHOOD Ages 6-14, MacintoshWindows $49.95 from Dataflow. BATMAN ROBIN CARTOON MAKER Ages 8-14, MacintoshWindows, $59.95 from Dataflow.

CREATIVE WRITER Ages 8-14, Windows, $49 from Microsoft MATH BLASTER 6-9 Ages 6-9, MacintoshWindows, $79.95 from Dataflow. MATH BLASTER 9-12 Ages 9-12, MacintoshWindows, $79.95 from Dataflow. THE LOGICAL JOURNEY OF THE ZOOMBINIS DELUXE Ages 9-13, MacintoshWindows, $69.95 from Dataflow. OPERATION NEPTUNE Ages 9-12, MacintoshWindows, $69.95 from Roadshow. CARMEN SANDIEGO MATH DETECTIVE Ages 9-12, MacintoshWindows $79.95, from Dataflow.

SPACE STATION ALPHA -THE ENCOUNTER Ages 8-12, MacintoshWindows, $59 from Scholastic New Media, 4328 3555. child's learning," Stuart Hasic says. FIXING THOSE PROBLEM AREAS Encouraging reluctant readers Programs that incorporate reading into the game, such as Operation Eco-Nightmare and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego 3.0, are the best choices here. Even a copy of Goosebumps Attack of the Mutant a bit violent), which doesn't have reading in the program, may encourage some children to pick up a book later. Many children are reading more now because they are using the Internet They are looking up their favourite rugby or War Hammer 40K sites and reading all they can without being forced to.

Getting kids to write There is a range of story-making programs that will encourage many children to write. The Imagination Express series, for example, allows them to create beautiful storybooks, illustrated poems, or plays to act out with their friends at the bottom the garden. The series include Imagination Express Castle, Ocean, Pyramid, Rainforest and Neighbourhood. Maybe fairies and princesses aren't their thing, but Batman and Robin.Cartoon Maker may hit the spot (Others in this aribon series include Spiderman and X-Men.) This series san be used without typing in any text, so the children should be encouraged to write. Once they do so they will be spelling, constructing sentences, editing and reading as well as writing.

Improving spoiling There are a few spelling programs on the market, but none is much fun. If spelling is a real stumbling block, a better option is probably to go for story-making programs and check the spelling with your child before he or she prints. Many children's word processors or story-making programs don't have spell checks, but Creative Writer .2.0 is one that does. Learning times tables Kids don't learn their tables like we adults did at school. Math Blaster 6-9 helps them learn while they blast space junk and avoid monsters.

Learning addition and subtraction facts Math Blaster 6-9 will also give children a chance to learn to add and subtract It will challenge them to beat their high score and present them with six levels of difficulty with a variety of games. Understanding fractions, decimals and percentages If these maths operations just don't click or the kids find the work a chore, Math Blaster 9-12 presents heaps of problems as they avoid flying coconuts and gorillas. Problem solving in maths Some children aren't good at working out how to start solving a problem in maths. The Logical Journey of AVOID COMPATIBILITY CQfnsejton Pfws dadivMioir tralnst1 fQnt baflora advanced paging technologies the latest in Web technologies, including vCard, vCalendar, IMAP4 support and more. Drop into your local Harvey Norman Computer Superstore for more information on how eMail 97 can bring fast, easy-to-use email to your system.

1. The first five to write in will win Carmen SandiegD Math Detective, with bonus spy camera. Dataflow Carmen Sandiego Math Detective Giveaway Dataflow Computer Services PO Box 123 ARTARMON, NSW 2064 2. Five copies of Microsoft's Goosebumps Attack of the Mutant plus five copies of the video The Haunted Mask U. Microsoft Suppliers Goosebumps Giveaway -PO Box 1018 NORTH SYDNEY, NSW 2059.

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