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2006-10-19
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.IF DSK1.C3
.CE2
*IMPACT/99*
by Jack Sughrue
STILL BREATHING
.IF DSK1.C2
A NEW USER GROUP?
Every time I read in some
newsletter or other that our TI World
Community is dead, I think of Mark
Twain's comment when he read about
his supposed demise: "I think the
reports about my death have been
slightly exagerated."
So it is with our TI. I know I
use it for word processing about 35
hours a week and for games and
examination of new programs and doing
practical stuff with utilites - in
that order - for another 20, so I
feel that the "death" of my 4A is a
bit premature.
Most of my TI friends would say
the same, particularly as there are
two new TI magazines in our
marketplace to go along with the
wonderful MICROpendium. And there
are new pieces of software coming out
- it seems - almost daily from all
over the world. [I have on my desk
exactly 34 disks in a shoebox marked
"To Look At!" They are disks of
Public Domain and Fairware materials
of all sorts. I have another
entitled "Education" which has 13
disks. And another of commercial
disks I've bought during the past two
months with 11 packages of disks
unopened. In short, I have too much
new stuff to even get to LOOKING at
it, at this point in my life.] And
there is new hardware coming out
everywhere: P-Boxes from Canada and
Australia, Gramulator that does all
Gramkracker did and much more,
harddisks, computers on a card, very
advanced keyboards, and more, more,
more.
Does this sound like a dead
computer?
And newly-formed user groups are
making an appearance here and there,
while some long-established groups
are joining forces to make megagroups
(for reduced costs [housing,
newsletters, etc.] and greater buying
and sharing power, among other
things).
Among these new groups is one
that I think the TI World Community
should be aware of: The Oakland
Computer Club which meets at
Atwood-Tapley School in Oakland,
Maine. What makes this club unique
is that is is make up of all kids
from kindergarten through grade 6.
The club recently earned statewide
recognition for the innovative ways
computers were used in the school.
Eunice Spooner, an indefatigable
volunteer at the school, a member of
the school committee, and a former
elementary school teacher, received
the award this spring from the
Technology in Main Schools Committee
for her work.
What makes this award unusual is
that it is for efforts done on the
TI/99-4A.
What makes this more unusual and
a remarkable story in its own right
is that fact that Eunice Spooner is a
quadriplegic.
This unusual woman broke her
neck in a car accident in 1982 and,
as she said to me on the phone, "had
a choice of giving up or getting on
with it." That she chose the latter
is unquestioned.
In addition to operating founding
and operating this new computer club
of 30 members (more than many TI
clubs in the New England area), she
teaches 11 TI computer classes in the
school each week with six students in
each class across the whole
elementary level.
When the 4As came down in price
and many people gave up on them, Ms.
Spooner saw a golden opportunity to
use "these great computers with the
students." She immediately began to
put out an all-call for any consoles,
TVs, tape recorders that could be
gotten. The school now has three of
its own consoles, but some of the 30
club members share their computers
with the school.
With Mrs.^Spooner in the
classrooms, the students under her
charge learn BASIC programming and
have written many of their own
programs.
The Oakland Club, however, is
strictly voluntary and meets every
Monday night. Maurice Anderson, a
teacher in Oakland, assists
Mrs.^Spooner, makes arrangements
for field trips, and works with the
more experienced youth. Mrs.^Spooner
works with the younger children.
"It's interesting to see how many
parents stay for these meetings and
get caught up in the computer
activities of their children," she
says.
The club has begun to develop a
library of their own written programs
and modules of educational programs
and games. These materials are
demonstrated at the Monday meetings
(with particular emphasis on
student-written works) and may be
checked out later and worked on or
played at home.
"Right now the club is looking for
more consoles. We'd love to find
some that are no longer being used,
as it would permit us, obviously, to
do a lot more for more youngsters."
The club could also use any TI
educational programs or materials of
any kind for these children.
Although their software consists
mainly of tapes and modules, they do
have one disk drive system, too, so
all you readers who have extensive
libraries or materials you have grown
out of or haven't used in years might
consider packing it up and mailing it
to Eunice Spooner, Box 3720, Webb
Road, Waterville, ME 04901. It would
be a good investment in the future of
a lot of kids.
These junior TIers, themselves,
are very interested in finding some
other kids to correspond with. The
group would also love to see
newsletters and basic-type programs
from anyone.
Oh, one more thing regarding the
remarkable Mrs.^Spooner. She's a
sysop on her own board. Credit
system; upload first, Northeaster BBS
- 207 465 9065 - log on, TI programs,
author uploads. Give her a call.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Jack Sughrue, Box 459,
E.Douglas, MA 01516]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If any newsletter editor prints
these articles, please put me on your
mailing list. Thanks - JS
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