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 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN
 LIMA NEWSLETTER -- 1993

     ~~~~~ TI-101 ~~~~~

     OUR 4/A UNIVERSITY

     by Jack Sughrue
     Box 459
     E.Douglas MA 01516

     #6 THE COURSE TEXTS

     In order for you to pass this
 course, Class, you have to have a
 decent working knowledge of the
 texts.  Now, here is where we
 practice lots of flexibility (which,
 you may have noticed, abounds in this
 classroom).  There are so many
 wonderful texts (and a few dogs)
 available for our TI, even now, that
 you should consider at least three
 for essential reading and the final
 projects.  These will be worth
 one-third of your entire grade.
     By texts I mean textware: the
 printed materials for your TI's.
 These would include your very best
 source, of course: the newsletters
 that come with club membership.  This
 newsletter networking is THE BEST
 SOURCE of all because you are part of
 a group, even by long-distance mail.
     Another essential source of
 educational and survival materials is
 the magazine devoted to your specific
 computer.  There have been many, but
 there is only one
 left: MICROpendium.   It's the only
 international source for all things
 (including advertisements) TI or
 Geneve.  To own and use your computer
 to the fullest extent and not
 subscribe to MICROpendium is like
 owning a marvelous pair of eyeglass
 frames but not getting around to
 putting the lenses in so you can see
 properly.  The subscription (from
 P.O.^Box 1343, Round Rock, TX 78680)
 is only $25 per year.  Tiny price to
 keep your great computer great.
     The third source is what we're
 discussing today, Class.  And, yes,
 Ms.^Bronte, this will include
 references to adult learners as well
 as to children.
     The third source is the texts
 available.  Note the word
 "available," Class. Availabilty of
 text written a decade ago may seem
 impossible, but not so.  Most user
 groups have extensive libraries of
 texts for long-term loan.
 Individuals within groups sell off
 their text materials often.  Such
 text materials can be found very
 inexpensively at every TI fair in
 America and Canada.  And, again,
  MICROpendium lists agents and
 individuals from whom you may
 purchase lots of printed materials.
 For example, if you all look up here
 for a moment.  I am holding the
 latest copy of THE magazine.  Those
 up back can't see it, so I'll read it
 to you.  "99-cent Book Blowout!" It's
 a publisher's clearance.  You can buy
 books at 99 cents each. These include
 the following: THE ELEMENTARY TI,
 GAMES TI's PLAY, COMPUTER PLAYGROUND,
 PROGRAMS FOR THE TI COMPUTER, USING
 && PROGRAMMING THE TI, INTRO TO
 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE, and Volumes I &&
 II of GAME WRITERS PACK and STARTER
 PACK, both packs from England.  Some
 come with disks and/or cassettes at
 additional charges.  But the point is
 this: these are still new books that
 cost on the average $12-plus when
 they first came out.  They are still
 the same good books, still new to
 anyone who has not read and used
 them, and still available at almost
 giveaway prices.  Not all ten of
 these books will suit every learner,
 but there is certainly something for
 everyone included in this collection.
 And that's just from the TEXCOMP ad
 (P.O.Box 33084, Granada Hills CA
 91344; Phone: [phone]).  There
 are other advertisers in classifieds
 that also offer all kinds of text
 materials.  So, Class, the stuff is
 available to anyone who wants it.
     And did I mention Barry Traver?
 No?  Wow!  How is it possible that we
 are practically through this semester
 on such an important topic as the
 TI-99/4a computer and I did not
 mention its greatest advocate, the
 man who has done as much for the TI
 as any spokesperson for any
 organization that I know of.  Rather
 than list all Barry's writing and
 speaking and programming efforts, his
 work on BBS's and for various
 magazines, his appearances at
 numerous fairs, I will just mention
 the relationship he has to the
 present topic, though I'm not sure it
 might be better saved until we
 discuss things next class.  Ah, well,
 what the hell.  Barry has a wonderful
 educational tool in the form of a
 diskazine.  This diskazine is called
 GENIAL TRAVELER.  The "zines" have
 been nothing short of remarkable.
 Volume after volume have been rich
 with educational wonders and
 remarkable, big bonuses.  You have to
 experience GT to appreciate the
 jam-packed series.  There's nothing
 like it.
     Though I've given you Barry's
 address in a previous class, I'm well
 aware that some of you have not taken
 careful notes.  Barry can be reached
 at 835 Green Valley Drive,
 Philadelphia PA 19128.  I think when
 you send off for your magazine
 subscription today, you should also
 send a note to Barry asking about the
 cost of the numerous disks in his
 volumes of great materials.
     What made me think of Barry is
 that one of the disks includes the
 second most complete list of all TI
 publications there ever was.  A
 little synopsis goes with each.  The
 first most complete list was in a
 series called NEW-AGE/99 by some old
 geezer from Massachusetts.  I can't
 think of his name now, but I'm sure
 you can find references to him when
 you go searching through newsletters.
 He did a lot of reviews, too, but I
 think he approached things more from
 a visceral level than an intellectual
 one.  Anyway, Barry's your better
 source here because of all the other
 things contained in the GT disks.
     Now where was I, Class?  Oh, yes,
 texts and tests.  You'll be having
 some of this on the final, so wake up
 in the back, stick your gum behind
 your ears, and listen up!  With your
 pencils.
     Before I go any further, TI-ing
 or otherwising, I have to insist you
 get your hands on a copy - any copy -
 of THE SECRET GUIDE TO COMPUTERS by a
 bizarre and hilarious genius by the
 name of Russ Walter (22 Ashland
 Street #2, Somerville MA 02144-3202).
 This 8X11, 600-plus page,
 mindbogglingly wonderful book for
 layman or technowhiz is bursting at
 the seams with all you'll ever need
 to know about computers.  Now in its
 16th edition, it's a steal at $15,
 but if you order two they are $12
 each.  Four or more are $9 each,
 shipping and taxes (except
 Massachusetts) included, so hook on
 with some friends or your user group.
 Once you have this remarkable and
 remarkably readable book in your hand
 (considered the world's top-rated
 tutorial by a list of experts and
 novices as long as your arm and a lot
 longer than mine), you will never
 again be the same; nor will your
 computer.  You simply have to
 experience "Russy-poo" in order to
 understand that his is THE essential
 book for any person who owns a
 computer.
     That aside, let's look at some
 very specific educational text
 materials for our TI.
     First, there's a problem.  When
 we talk educational text material, we
 must eliminate the modules and
 anything related to LOGO, as we will
 deal with these educational items on
 a particular basis in future classes.
     Second, we must define
 educational in the specific context
 with which we have been structuring
 these classes.  That means we really
 have to eliminate the "learning" that
 comes only from learning about the
 computer.  Texts that teach us how to
 write programs, for instance, or
 texts that teach us how to balance a
 budget using our wonderful machine,
 are not really appropriate here, but
 typing in programs that specifically
 deal with education DO fit our class
 requirements.  For example, the
 C.W.Engel book STIMULATING
 SIMULATIONS FOR THE TI-99/4A
 published in various forms from 1977
 to 1984 by Hayden Publishers, was the
 first important educational tool for
 me.  Not only did it have detailed
 instructions and flowcharts for each
 of the type-in programs, but it had
 enough errors from translating the
 programs from other computers to the
 TI that the intellectual puzzles of
 figuring out what went wrong and
 correcting it were wonderful
 educational opportunities.  Many of
 the programs were "intellectual"
 games, rather than arcade.  Later,
 with toots and whistles, they became
 more "arcadey" in other people's
 books, including other Hayden books.
 Hayden published the most TI-specific
 books.  I wish they still did.
     Ah, well.  STIMULATING
 SIMULATIONS, though, is not the kind
 of text we need to locate and use for
 educating our youngsters and new
 oldsters.
     The best book of the learning to
 program type is KIDS AND THE
 TI-99/4A, which also leads to some
 eduational programs, too.  It's the
 clearest, most direct, easiest
 "programming" book.  Done in 33
 lessons, it is still used in many
 classrooms today; not just with TI's
 but with other computers, also, and
 at very young grade levels.  THE
 ELEMENTARY TI, mentioned in that
 TEXCOMP list earlier, is probably the
 best of that sort for adults.
     But the kind of books which best
 exemplify the educational aspects of
 the programs typed in - in other
 words, the LEARNING FUNCTION - are
 the ones I'll hold up now and give a
 say a word or two about.  Another one
 from the TEXCOMP 99-cent list is
 COMPUTER PLAYGROUND (Datamost's TI
 version).  Although this can be
 classified as a beginner programming
 book, it is so unusual that the logic
 it teaches in an incredibly
 entertaining way makes it a real
 winner for any learner.  (It's geared
 for Grades 2-7.)  The book is a
 combination workbook/coloring book
 and deals with BASIC in such a
 puzzle-solving way that it becomes,
 itself, a complete course in
 thinking.  It stands alone.
     This is not to be confused with
 TI PLAYGROUND by Fred D'Ignazio,
 another Hayden book.  Fred also wrote
 a similar book called TI WONDERLAND.
 Both books include programs written
 by students, and ALL the 40-plus
 programs are written FOR students.
 Each chapter is an educational game
 that is introduced with a section for
 parents and teachers and another for
 kids.  Each game has one educational
 feature (such as subtraction) and
 follow-up activities that allow an
 almost unlimited number of
 modifications.  The programs aren't
 just alphabet and number programs.
 Because it's a TI, the computer is
 able to have programs that teach
 color and music and drawing and
 hand/eye coordination very readily
 through these marvelously childlike
 and truly sophisticated programs.
 Very easy to type in and change all
 along the way.  Lots of very positive
 rewarding, too.
     Lest you think Hayden was the
 only publisher for TI - though I'd
 recommend you seek out their other
 books - there were many others, as
 you can see from these piles on my
 desk.  Take, for example, TI GAMES
 FOR KIDS put out by COMPUTE!, one of
 the very best publishers of TI stuff,
 including Regena's two classics.
     TI GAMES FOR KIDS proclaims its
 purpose right on the cover here:
 "Turn your TI into a teacher.
 Thirty-two games that teach and
 entertain, ready to type in and run."
     This book takes the trouble to
 identify each of its activities by
 age level (3 to 17/adult) and
 educational function and subject:
 strategy, logic, memory,
 coordination, language arts, social
 studies, math, etc. (Strategy games
 include an excellent version of Fox
 and Geese, by the way.)
     As I look over these other books,
 it's hard for me to say which I would
 recommend the most for educational
 use.  I have a public school teacher
 friend who still uses the TI in his
 class.  His favorite educational book
 is TERRIFIC GAMES FOR THE TI99/4A by
 Hal Renko and Sam Edwards.  Let's
 see, this is published by
 Addison-Wesley.  It has small size
 and type but is plenty thick.  It
 contains some neat little drawings,
 to which you people up front can
 attest, for the 30-plus games.  There
 are some unusual ones here: Genius at
 Work, Escher, Rainbow Square Dance,
 The Wolf and the Five Little Goats,
 Shakespearian Shuffle, Mini Mancala,
 and so on. Good stuff.
     Remember, now, most of these are
 not made to be super arcade games.
 They are made to be typed in -
 usually with lots of explanations and
 helpful hints - and are meant to
 teach something while entertaining.
 And they do that well.
     One of the most popular books
 ever of this sort was (and is) Steve
 Davis's PROGRAMS FOR THE TI HOME
 COMPUTER, self published in large
 8X11 format.  Although the type-in
 programs included many utility
 programs, the majority were
 educational or verging on the
 educational (like "Bar Graph Printer"
 and "Talking Calculator," for
 examples).  There are very few people
 who did not get hung up on the
 probabilty games like "Ten-Up" and
 "Lucky Seven" or the maddening "Echo"
 of Simon fame.  He even has a "French
 Teacher" program and a "Speed
 Reader."  One of the best.
     Scholastic book publishers
 released a pile of multi-computer
 large format books, each containing
 about 40 programs for elementary
 school children to type in and use.
 Here's an example: COMPUTER OLYMPICS.
 Each of the books has a theme.  This
 one is all Olympics.  It opens with
 the torch that lights the Olympic
 Flame.  There are programs that teach
 words in various languages; some that
 let you recall other records; some
 that require some math skill (like
 the weightlifting one) or word skill
 (like the rowing one).  All are
 simple to type in, no matter what
 your computer, if you follow the
 rules on the various basics, and all
 are simple to execute. Actually, with
 the built-in motivation of the
 Olympics in Spain, this book on
 summer Olympics is perfect for
 teaching at home or school.  Look
 into the other Scholastic books, too.
 They also teach you lots about the
 various basics, if you want to do
 some explorations.  With the TI,
 though, you can easily slip in some
 color and sound not readily available
 on other computers listed in these
 books.
     Because our time is running short
 and we only have a couple more
 classes this semester, I've got to
 finish off with these last two books,
 but, as you can see, I haven't even
 been able to talk about all these
 others in these piles.  At the last
 TI fair I went to, Ipicked up
 additional copies of 19 different
 titles of TI books! (And paid a grand
 total of $15, by the way.) Now
 everyone will be able to take two and
 give a two-minute review of each next
 time.  You may come up and sign out
 two (or three, if you're interested
 in extra credit) to do for your
 reviews and your end-of-term
 projects.
     Meanwhile, let me just mention
 these last two books.  If you can get
 yourself a copy of Richard Mowe and
 Ron Mummaw's ACADEMIC TI, do it; even
 if you have to pay the full $12.95.
 It's worth it.  Published by Reston
 in 1984 (one of the newer books
 mentioned today), it was one of the
 few books totally devoted to TI as an
 educational tool.  It told parents
 and teachers how to get the very most
 out of our computer EDUCATIONALLY.
 When you read the articles and do the
 worksheets and explore the options
 from modules to disks to LOGO to word
 processing and so on, you will be
 astounded at how magnificent our
 machine is and how out-of-date it
 isn't.  It still does all the
 educational things it was geared up
 to do better than any other machine
 out there.  Which is not to say it is
 as sophisticated as some of the
 biggies, but what it does
 educationally it still does better
 than anyone.
     And the last book.  Remember
 this, anyone?  Ah, it's good to see
 so many hands up.  THE BEST OF 99er
 is still around a lot of fairs and
 user groups.  It's 368 8Xll pages are
 jampacked with all the goodies that
 made the 4a the prize goodie of all.
 And Regena was really kicking up her
 heels in this one.  Do you recall
 "Name That Bone" and all the Homework
 Helpers? The Computer Assisted
 Instruction was so popular with the
 TI then, the term was simply CAI.
 And everyone understood it.  There
 was so much of it around for parents,
 teachers, and other kinds of humans.
 The BEST OF 99er is one of the very
 best.
     So, Class, unless there are any
 questions, come and sign up for your
 books and ... Yes, Mr.^Shakespeare?
 What do I consider the Mother of All
 TI Books? Hmmm.  Well, my personal
 favorite for more reasons than I can
 begin to list, including some super
 educational reasons, has got to be
 Paul Garrison's THE LAST WHOLE
 TI99/4A BOOK: PROGRAMS AND
 POSSIBILITIES, published by Wiley
 Press in 1984.  Even after all these
 years it is still my preferred TI
 piece of textware.  It's 460 pages
 are lucid, witty, intelligent,
 relevant, and very worthwhile.  The
 tutorials and the programs are
 excellent.  They DO provide unlimited
 possibilities for growth.  I never
 loan out my only copy of that one.
 Sorry.
     Until next time then.  Don't
 forget to bring your book reviews and
 all of your modules.