SKILL-ORIENTED ALGEBRA, VERSION III and MATHEMATICS, BASIC SKILLS by Alfred D'Attore Educational software is rarely commercially successful; serious stuff; almost never so. For this reason and because I am a man of advanced years, I have decided to place "Skill- Oriented Algebra," (SOA), and "Mathematics, Basic Skills," (MBS), in the public domain. Both program groups produce printed exercises designed for direct use by classtroom students. Teachers may use photo-copies to supply exercises for an entire class. Answers are provided and reflect accep- ted, in-class formats. Both packages have been very useful. "Skill-Oriented Algebra," grew out of the repeated failure on my part and on the part of my associates, to teach elementary algebra to normal, public high school students. In each school -- and I have taught in many -- only a small handful of students could absorb the text-based course. It is a problem that is substantially universal, and until now, knew of no rational solution. I am a retired military officer with a background in engineering and contract management for development and test programs. When a problems exists, I automatically make the attempt at analysis first, followed by a proposed rectifica- tion, and then test. I determined that modern public school students are unprepared for the concepts and techniques of algebra. Most could not even perform satisfactorily in elementary school arithmetic. I proposed to tackle both problems simultaneously with a course specifically designed for our "substandard" students. Course content was pared to the essentials and sequenced in such a manner as to avoid overwhelming students at the start; then gradually -- in degrees -- "upgrade" their arithmetic skills while instructing the concepts and drilling the techniques of algebra. Four years of test followed in a minority populated public school in suburban Phoenix, Arizona. This proved -- or at least, demonstrated conclusively -- the efficacy of the proposed "solution." "Mathematics, Basic Skills," (MBS), grew out of a similar situation encountered during a brief sojourn in a small junior high school. This school was a "low socio-economic unit" and rated 29th in basic arithmetic skills in a district containing twenty-nine schools. My first year there, another school joined the district, after which we were rated 30th. It was an insupportable situation. Fortunately, there was a benefactor; Honeywell Corporation of Phoenix, Arizona. Recognizing that we had a programmer aboard, they contributed equipment, communications, and central processor time on their new series 2,000 computer. A few abortive attempts were made at "interaction" programs, after which MBS was developed and through the use of Honeywell- provided Western Union teletypes and Ditto facsimile, a program of directed drill and practice was employed to upgrade our stu- dents. Using the techniques of Operant Psychology, involving black stars and gold stars and eventually candy; there was produced a student body so adept at arithmetic and elementary mathematics, that they rose in that one year to the virtual top of the district. Standardized tests produced no final "victor;" but our school rated "second" in one category and "fifth" in the one other. I don't believe more than one or two other schools had overall ratings as high as ours. Over the years, both SOA and MBS have undergone many modifications as students and associates offered suggestions and improvements. Programming progressed from Time Share Basic through Commodore Business Systems programming, to "Apple" and now, finally, to IBM PC & Compatibles. The "enclosed" software reflects these latest revisions. It is the final version of both SOA and MBS. As you might guess, the documentation (accompanying the printed exercise programs) pertains exclusively to "Skill-Oriented Algebra." It is called SOA.DOC and uses the Courier typeface exclusively, (10 characters per inch; 12 points). It can be printed using the "PRINTER" file provided with SOA. "PRINTER" is accessed through SOA's MENU. No wordprocessor is required and virtually any printer may be used. Note, however that this file will not print correctly from the MS-DOS "type" command,(as, for example, this "readme" file). "Printer" must be used. ********************** SKILL-ORIENTED ALGEBRA ********************** Skill-Oriented Algebra is a course based upon computer-prepared printed exercises and tests formatted for direct and immediate student use. A catalog, curriculum guide and course outline are provided together with a series of representative word problems and semester tests; all contained in the documentation accompanying the "exercises" programs. SKILL-ORIENTED ALGEBRA (SOA) can be used in three ways: as a complete algebra course; as an inexhaustible supply of algebra exercises, each tailored specifically to type and difficulty level; or as a "pre-algebra" for use in junior high schools. As a complete course, SOA comprises a significant subset of the elementary algebra, more than is taught currently in 90 percent of our public schools. As an adjunct to the text-based course. The additional exercises cannot help but aid the algebra teacher in providing a more effective learning experience. As a junior high school "pre-algebra," in preparation for a more highly conceptualized course to be given in high school. ************* SOA VERSION 3 ************* Version 3 repairs some program bugs, but in particular, it offers full-sized printouts when HP compatible laser and ink jet printers are used. All the documentation accompanying this algebra course is now contained herein. SOAV3 places this algebra finally and irretrievably in the public domain. While entering dates on programmed exercises, the user is reminded that commas and semicolons are delimiters and should not be used. The military annotation is suggested, to wit: October 11, 1992 would be written as 11 Oct 92. July 5, 1992 would be 5 Jul 92. The form is concise and needs no "delimiters." If the standard form must be used together with its comma, the full date must be enclosed in quotes. ******************** OPERATING PROCEDURES ******************** Copy SOAV3.EXE. You are encouraged to reproduce and distribute this software as widely as possible. "SOA" and "MBS" are both compressed files. To properly install the programs, command "Install C: D:," for example, or more generally, "Install Origin Disk Drive, space, Desti- nation Disk Drive." The two program groups will be placed in separate directories and expanded therein. Note! Install C: C: (or equivalent) may be used to install the software to the same disk drive. Command "SOA" within the algebra group and "BASICS" within the Basic Math group, to get to the respective MENUs. Notice that in all the following setups, SOA exercises can be printed to the screen. The display scrolls by very quickly, but a touch of the space bar will stop the display. Touching it again will recommence the display. Regrettably, for modern, high speed personal computers, the display may be too fast for a user to "catch it" quickly enough for appro- priate review. Ideally, "one screen at a time" should be provided. But at this stage in SOA's development, such is simply not practical. However, I did provide automatic "stops" at the end of the each exercise page, just before the answers are provided. This should help. Keep in mind, please, that this software provides printed exercises. The screen "preview" was added as a convenience feature only. SETUP ONE ********* SOA is configured to print using EPSON 1500 printer codes. This is pretty much an industry standard today. If your printer responds to this standard, and if it is not a laser or ink-jet printer (see below), the operating procedures are very brief: Assuming you are "in" the SOA directory, command SOA. You will be put into the MENU immediately. Use the cursor up/down keys to highlight your choice and hit RETURN (ENTER). Proceed as indicated. SETUP TWO ********* Wherein the printer is not Epson 1500-compatible, or the user has a laser or "ink-jet type" printer. Command PSETUP, (that is, highlight the command and press Return). A listing is provided. If the user's printer is contained therein, or if there is one listed that has comparable printer codes; then choose "e," and input the printer filename with or without the ".PRN" appendage. Those with laser or desk jet type printers, use "HPII-III.PRN," notwithstanding IBM or Epson compatibility. The reasons relate to proper spacing in the printed exercises. Since printer requirements are moderate, this will serve for PCL 5 and most non-HP desk jets too. The user will then be returned to the MENU. Printer configuration is now complete. Proceed as above. SETUP THREE *********** Note SETUP TWO, above. If your printer is not listed, and if -- further -- there are none with comparable printer codes; command "s," and hit Return, (Enter). Then armed with your printer manual (containing the printer codes), follow directions as indicated exactly. Use base 10 integers only, (no hexadecimal). When inputs are complete, you will be asked the name for this new printer file. Use eight characters or less and no appendage; this latter will be added automatically. After which, you will be asked if you want this file transferred to "USERP.PRN," the working file for SOA. If you answer "yes," this will be the printer file through which SOA will output its exercises, tests and documentation. You will be returned to the MENU. If you make a mistake, simply exit the program and the directory and start again. It should be noted that the directions for MBS, (Mathematics, Basic Skills), mirror SOA's exactly. Except for the obvious changes, procedures are the same. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please direct correspondence to -- Alfred D'Attore 1300 South Farm View Drive Apartment B-21 Dover, Delaware 19901