JCSM Shareware Collection 1993 November

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FLASHCARD version 3.8 Copyright (c) January 1992, June, 1992, September 1993 by Ed Oliver, V2I (ASP) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Ed Oliver is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. Table of Contents Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Installation and Use . . . . . . . . . . . 2 FLM Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Using FLASHCRD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Using FLASHCFG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Student List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Edit Student Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Teaching Hints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Problems and Questions . . . . . . . . . . 8 New Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 What is ShareWare? . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Registration Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Registration Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Site License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . 11 Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 -0- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE OVERVIEW: The FLASHCARD software family helps a student practice her arithmetic facts. Originally developed simply to improve speed, we found it useful as an initial teaching tool as well. The student signs on by typing her name and may choose from a menu of activities. Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division Addition / Subtraction Mixed Multiplication / Division Mixed All Four Mixed Sign on Again Choosing ADDITION, for example, she sees a screen with up to 100 problems arrayed at the left. Beginning with the first problem, each one is highlighted and reproduced in a large window at the right. As the student types the correct answer, the next problem pops up. If an error is made, a CLUE window appears to help the student visualize the problem. FLASHCARD offers full flexibility to the teacher or parent in tailoring program presentation, performance and feedback to each student's individual needs. Parent/teacher sets the following control parameters for each student by name: - Colors: Any displayed item can be set to any available color. - Difficulty: You set the range of values for top and bottom numbers. You can let the student concentrate on her "fours" in multiplication, for example. - Size of task: You set the number of problems to be done at one sitting (up to 100) - Problem Order: You decide if the student sees problems in order (1+1, 1+2, 1+3, 1+4, etc) or mixed up. - Timer: You may specify a maximum time limit per problem. - Sound: You set the extent and type of audio feedback. The function which lets you configure FLASHCARD for each individual student is menu driven for ease of use, with simple displays and context sensitive help information. FLASHCARD also records a history of every student's progress in a text file called PROGRESS. You may review, print or delete the PROGRESS file at any time. -1- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: FLASHCARD requires MS-DOS version 3.3 or greater; IBM PC/AT or compatible; at least 256K of available RAM; CGA or better video adapter and monitor. A hard drive makes it faster, but is not essential. FLASHCARD is written in Turbo Pascal and uses standard Turbo Pascal I/O drivers. INSTALLATION AND USE: You should have received 17 files in the FLASHCARD bundle. BROWSE.COM Freeware utility from PC Magazine BROWSE.DOC Documentation for above FLASH.CFG Student configuration data base FLASH.DOC Program user manual FLASH.HLP Context sensitive online help data base FLASH.INS Installation hints FLASH.REG Registration form ready to print FLASH.SIT Site license ready to print FLASHCRD.EXE Program file for student interaction FLASHCFG.EXE Program file for teacher/parent use FLMRUN.BAT Runtime support file FLM.BAT Original FLASHCARD menu program FLM.DOC Documentation for above GETFKEY.EXE Support utility decodes function keys GETFKEY.DOC Documentation for above NEWFLM.BAT Used by FLM menu system READ.ME Last minute highlights If FLASH.HLP is missing, you will not have help information available when you are using the programs. If FLASH.CFG is missing, you will have to start from scratch in setting up student profile information (not difficult). When you run FLASHCRD.EXE the first time it produces another file called PROGRESS. FLASHCFG.EXE creates or changes the file called FLASH.CFG. To install FLASHCARD on a diskette or a hard disk directory, simply copy all files to the diskette or directory. When you execute the command FLM the helpful batch menu system displays further options. You may install FLASHCARD so FLM is called from another menu or the more experienced user can configure an existing menu system to call the individual pieces of the FLASHCARD family as done by FLM.BAT. -2- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE FLM MENU OPTIONS: F1 RUN FLASHCARD PROGRAM See detailed instruction for FLASHCARD. Exercises a student's capability to remember arithmetic facts. F2 DISPLAY FLASHCARD PROGRESS FILE Invokes the freeware utility BROWSE to display the ASCII file containing student progress information. The arrow keys, Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End move the viewing window around the file. The ESC key exits BROWSE and returns to the FLM menu. F3 DISPLAY FLASHCARD USER MANUAL Invokes the freeware utility BROWSE to display the ASCII file containing the FLASHCARD User Manual. (See F2 above) F4 CONFIGURE FLASHCRD (BY STUDENT NAME) See detailed instructions for FLASHCFG. Used by parents and teachers to customize FLASHCARD difficulty and feedback for up to 100 individual students. F5 CLEAR OUT PROGRESS FILE Uses the MS-DOS DELETE command to delete the PROGRESS file. F6 EXIT Returns control to MS-DOS. F7 FLASHCARD INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 1. Decide which disk and directory will contain the FLASHCARD files 2. Make the selected drive current c: 3. Create the directory if it does not exist md flash38 4. Make the selected directory current cd c:\flash38 5. Copy all FLASHCARD files from diskette copy a:*.* To install FLASHCARD from a .ZIP file, just copy the .ZIP file to the directory where you want FLASHCARD and use PKUNZIP to unZIP it there. Use the FLM batch file command to run FLASHCARD F9 PRINT FLASHCARD REGISTRATION FORM Uses the MS-DOS COPY command to copy the file FLASH.REG to the device PRN: which is usually the printer. F10 REMOVE THE LAST FOUR CHOICES FROM THE MENU Saves the installation version of FLM.BAT as FLMNEW.BAT and replaces it from FLMRUN.BAT, which does not include the last four options. -3- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE USING FLASHCRD: Once you choose F1 RUN FLASHCARD PROGRAM from the menu a screen asks you to type your name. A student named JACOB would then type Jacob (capitalization does not matter) and press Enter. FLASHCRD takes the signon name and searches the FLASH.CFG file to see if the student is defined. If so, it loads his profile information. If not, it uses a default profile. The default profile is suitable if a student already knows the facts and just needs to hone his skills with practice. All this happens in the blink of an eye and the student next sees a menu with the following choices: 1 Addition 2 Subtraction 3 Multiplication 4 Division 5 Add / Subtract Mixed 6 Multiply / Divide Mixed 7 All Mixed Up 8 Sign On Again The student may now: - press Esc to exit the program. No more action taken. - press 1, 2, 3, or 4. She will attack up to 100 problems of the variety chosen, according to the rules set within FLASHCFG. - press 5, 6, 7. She faces up to 100 problems of mixed persuasion as requested, still following the rules. - press 8. The signon screen appears again and the student can type in a name. - press C. The color selection menu appears to let the student experiment with different color combinations. Colors selected here are not saved permanently. When the student finds the perfect combination, the teacher/parent makes that selection permanent with the FLASHCFG program. - press M. Although not shown on the menu or the function bar, this will mute all sound from FLASHCARD until the student exits the FLASHCARD program. - Press F1. As noted on the function bar, this will display context sensitive help information. -4- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE USING FLASHCFG: STUDENT LIST: Once you choose F4 CONFIGURE FLASHCARD (BY STUDENT NAME) from the menu, you will see a list of students already defined in the FLASH.CFG file. The original file includes several sample student definitions, although the names aren't very imaginative. You use the arrow keys, Home, End, and PgUp and PgDown to move the highlighter to different names on the list. As you look at the list, you have several choices noted on the function bar at the bottom of the screen. When you have the right student name highlighted, you may - Press F1: it will always provide help information appropriate to where you are in the program. - Press D: it will delete the highlighted student from the list. Don't worry, it gives you one chance to change your mind. - Press A: you will be asked for a new student name to add. The profile information of the highlighted student will be used as a starting point for the new student. You will then be shown the screen where you can edit this profile information. - Press E: you will see the screen where you edit the profile information for the highlighted student. There you can change profile values or pop up the color selection menu to change the colors the student will see in FLASHCRD. - Press S: the program will write the changed list of students back to the FLASH.CFG file. The old FLASH.CFG file is renamed to FLASH.CFX. If you decided to undo your changes you could delete FLASH.CFG and rename FLASH.CFX back to FLASH.CFG. If you do not use S to save your changes, they will be lost when you exit the FLASHCFG program. - Press Esc. The program ends. If you did not save your changes to the FLASH.CFG file by pressing S the changes will be forgotten. EDIT STUDENT PROFILE: The student profile screen in FLASHCFG shows the student's name at the top. There are 32 fields which can be modified--eight each for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You can also press C to pop up the color editor to change the colors for that student. Press F1 at any time to see help information in context of what you are doing at the time. Use the arrow keys to move the highlighter around the profile screen. When you want to change the highlighted value, press Enter. A window will pop up with all the legal choices for that -5- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE value. Use the arrows again to select a new value. If you press F1 while this window of choices is up, you will get specific help information about what that value means. The function bar at the bottom of the screen shows your available choices of action. Press Esc to back out one level and discard any changes you have made. Press Enter to pop up the choices or to select a choice. Press F10 to back out to the student list and keep the changes you made. Remember, if you do not use the S option to save your changes to the FLASH.CFG file, they will be lost when you exit the program. TEACHING HINTS: I have learned some things from using FLASHCRD with my children. 1. They like to be in control of their practice sessions. Knowing that they have to do it each day is enough guidance. They pick when and how fast (within limits). All I add is praise. 2. Once the facts are known, and FLASHCRD is used for practice drills, they like competition and challenge. Beating their last time and error count are events we hear about. My fifth grader learned to touch type on the numeric keypad just so he could beat me. His best time so far on 100 multiplication problems (0-9 by 0-9, random order) is 1:41. He looks at the matrix of small problems and types ahead. 3. They like to play around with color combinations to personalize the program. Humor them in this and make their favorite color scheme permanent, no matter how it looks to you. My second grader's color choices are really obnoxious, but they're all his. 4. They need monitoring. Check the progress file frequently and give them feedback. For my second grader, one session per day of 100 problems (add, subtract, or mixed) keeps him on top of his addition and subtraction, and costs him less than five minutes. 5. FLASHCRD can be used to introduce new things. My second grader has learned his multiplication tables without any other input than FLASHCARD. I will discuss different approaches to this later. 6. They like to be watched (and praised) while they speed through their work. This is time well spent. Like a new video game, they will invest extra time to get better if they think you will come back later and be impressed. 7. Watch out for low expectations. Your child will surprise you in what he wants to attempt and in what he can actually do. -6- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE "That's too hard for you" is a handicap we put on our kids unfairly. I think I have very high expectations of my kids, but they constantly amaze me. Yours will too. If your second grader wants to try division, what's the harm? Just be understanding if it bewilders her, and encourage her to do other things first. 8. Don't give her so much time per problem that she can count on her fingers. That is not what we are learning here. Cut the time short enough so she has to remember the memorized fact. It is better to guess wrong and then see the reinforcing clue than to get in the habit of counting to the answer. I used FLASHCRD as an introductory tool to teach multiplication to my second grader. I tried a couple of approaches to arrive at the following, which I recommend. 1. Set up two student profiles for the student. You can use a nickname (mine were JAKE and JACOB) or a number (JAKE 1 and JAKE 2). The student will do 100 problems with each profile each day, all at one sitting. This seems like a bunch, but usually takes less than 15 minutes per day. The student always does the same profile first. 2. For starters, the profiles are as follows: Name Range 1 Range 2 Total Order Time JAKE: 0 - 9 0 - 2 100 sorted 10 JACOB: 0 - 9 0 - 2 100 random 10 This lets him practice "in order" to cement the rules and give confidence, then try his wings in random order. Do this until his time for 100 random problems is under 6 minutes with 5 or fewer errors. It may only take a few days, if that. 3. When times are down, change ranges as follows. JAKE: 0 - 9 3 - 3 100 sorted 10 JACOB: 0 - 9 3 - 3 100 random 10 Look for times to drop below 6 minutes with less than 5 errors. 4. Then switch the ranges again: JAKE: 0 - 9 3 - 3 100 random 10 JACOB: 0 - 9 0 - 3 100 random 10 Look for times to drop below 6 minutes with less than 5 errors. 5. When times are down, change ranges as follows. JAKE: 0 - 9 4 - 4 100 sorted 10 JACOB: 0 - 9 4 - 4 100 random 10 Stick to this until times are down under 6 minutes. 6. Then switch the ranges again: JAKE: 0 - 9 4 - 4 100 random 10 JACOB: 0 - 9 0 - 4 100 random 10 Stick to this until times are down under 6 minutes. Notice that steps 5 and 6 are just repeats of steps 3 and 4. You simply repeat them again for each new number. The hardest numbers are 4 through 8. After that, it gets easy. When you introduce the 9's, for example, there are really just four new -7- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE problems--he has seen the nines up through 8x9 already. Let the student know your timing and error goals and set up some kind of recognition for achieving the goal. For example, when Jake achieved his time and error goal for step 6, I gave him a couple of days of only having to do the JACOB profile. "Reward is sometimes the absence of punishment..." Now that he has learned the whole thing, he can quit if he does the first 100 problems in less than 4 minutes. If not, he does another hundred. This has been an ideal incentive. PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS: Please refer any problems, questions or suggestions to the author Ed Oliver PO Box 1087 Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-1087 (602) 459-5452 The ASP Ombudsman and all registered users will be apprised of any change in address or phone number. Registered users will receive priority in support, but I am happy to talk to anyone with a question or comment on FLASHCARD. NEW PRODUCTS: Other products under consideration right now include: MULTI-PLACE: walks student through multiple digit arithmetic--up to 6 digit numbers. SPELLING: shows, teaches and quizzes student on spelling and vocabulary words. Teacher/parent maintains files of words, definitions and sample sentences. Student sees definition and sample sentence--must type word. Good practice. WORD-PROBLEMS: arithmetic word problems with randomly generated names, objects and circumstances test the student's ability to pick out key words which indicate arithmetic required. CLOCK-WATCHER: Display clock faces graphically and require matching or typing correct time. SPEED-READER: tachistoscope reading speed/comprehension drill COUNTING: Additional function for FLASHCARD which requires the student to count the pattern of spots and type the number. -8- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE WHAT IS SHAREWARE? Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it -- some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. REGISTRATION RULES: * Registration Fee for the FLASHCARD programs is $10 (US). * No one but the author may sell the FLASHCARD programs. * You may copy and distribute the FLASHCARD programs only if: - All program files remain unaltered and are kept together. - No attempt is made to sell FLASHCARD, or to profit from it. - The program is not bundled with any other transactions. * Anyone interested in distributing the FLASHCARD programs under other arrangements should contact Ed Oliver. * If you use the FLASHCARD programs for more than one month, you must register. * Schools and child care facilities may register multiple copies at volume discounts (see registration form). * When you register you get: - a diskette with your personalized copy of the latest version of FLASHCARD - technical problem support from the author * When you send in the registration form, you may specify a personalized note to be included in the software. Where the evaluation copy says "ShareWare....Evaluation Only....Pay for it" your registered version will say instead "Registered with love by ______ for ________" or whatever message you request at the bottom of your registration form. -9- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE REGISTRATION FORM I wish to purchase: (_) Single license for private use of FLASHCARD ( $10 [US] -- includes 1 360K diskette) (_) Site License for use of FLASHCARD on ___ computers 1st through 10th copy used - $10 each [$ US] all additional copies - $6 each (for example a site license for use on 25 computers would cost 10 x $10 + 15 x $6 = $190) (_) ___ Additional program diskettes of latest FLASHCARD ( $1 per 360K diskette) (X) $2 Shipping and Handling (_) Payment $ ______ enclosed (check or money order). (_) Outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico add 5$ (US) (Money order payable in U.S. Currency) _________________________________ License 1 - 10 @ $10 =$_____ Name License 11 - __ @ $6 =$_____ _________________________________ Address Extra disks ___ @ $1 =$_____ _________________ ____ ________ Shipping/Handling = 2.00 City State Zip Total _______ I got FLASHCARD from: _________________________________________ Personalized Note: (appears on the screen during use) ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Send completed form to: Ed Oliver PO Box 1087 Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-1087 USERS OF FLASHCARD MUST ACCEPT THIS DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: "FLASHCARD IS SUPPLIED AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF FLASHCARD." -10- FLASHCARD VERSION 3.8 USERS' GUIDE SITE LICENSE AGREEMENT The use of FLASHCARD in a school or child care environment is encouraged within the following limits: - License fee is paid to Ed Oliver. The fee is computed based on the number of computers which will run the FLASHCARD software. - You may use FLASHCARD on the number of computers paid for by the license fee. They do not have to be co-located. (If the City of Los Angeles buys 3000 copies to distribute across the city, I'd be very happy) - You can copy and distribute the program to anyone as long as you observe the guidelines listed under REGISTRATION. - You may reproduce the documentation as you like. - You may upgrade your entire site to the latest version of FLASHCARD at any time for $5. - Your original site registration will get you one 360K 5 1/4" diskette for each ten licenses, to a maximum of ten diskettes. You may make additional copies up to the registration limit or you may buy additional 360K diskettes at $1 each. I agree to abide by the terms and conditions of this license. _____________________________ _______________ Signature Date _____________________________ Name (please print or type) _____________________________ Title _____________________________ Organization DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT USERS OF FLASHCARD MUST ACCEPT THIS DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: "FLASHCARD IS SUPPLIED AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF FLASHCARD." -11-