1920 The Receiving Game is an interactive game that allows a student to practice code by listening to a random group of 1 to 9 characters, typing the characters on the keyboard, and having the computer check if he or she is correct. If correct, a short high pitch tone is emitted. If wrong, a long low frequency tone sounds, the correct answer is displayed in the center of the screen with an indicator showing the character that caused the error and the incorrect student input displayed below it. This feedback allows students to learn characters thru repetition and correction. The number of characters used during the game is determined by the Learning menu. For the first Receiving Game, use the Learning menu to select just a few characters, say three. Then enter the Receiving Game, and select the (S)ending speed, (C)haracter speed, (D)uration of game, (G)roup size and (W)eighting as desired before starting a game. The (S)peed key allows the selection of the average speed that text is sent. The (C)haracter speed key sets the speed that characters are sent. Morse Academy is designed to send at a relatively fast character speed. The default character speed of 18 WPM is a good choice for students aiming for a code speed of 13 WPM. This may seem fast, but learning the individual characters at this rate with pauses between them makes it easier to progress. At faster average sending rates the speed of characters remains the same but the pauses between them shortens. 2000 The (D)uration key sets the length of the session from 0.1 to 9.9 minutes. The (G) size is the number of characters sent by the game in sequence as if a word were being sent. The size can be set for from 1 to 9 character words. The (W)eight key selects different frequency patterns of sending of characters. This allows the student to control the frequency of repetition of characters to stress those requiring more emphasis. Each time the key is pressed one of following four options is successively selected: Random - the character weight will be random (each character having the same probability of being sent). Text - the character weight approximates that of english text with the vowels occurring more frequently. (This will cause the average speed to increase since these characters are short in Morse code). Note that with this weighting, characters sent in sequence are allowed to duplicate. With the other choices duplicate characters in sequence will not occur. History - the characters missed during the last complete Receiving Game will be sent more frequently. Student's - the character weight set by the student will be used to control the frequency of selection. Use the main menu (W)eighting session to display these selections graphically and to create a student's desired weighting. 1840 The default values of 5 WPM, 18 WPM and 1 character groups are good choices for a beginning student. Start the game with the ENTER key and it will randomly generate the letters A, E, R, N, T, or the Prosign AR (If you have started with Lesson number 1). Continue to play the game until you're comfortable with these characters. With only three characters, the character's sound and their position on the keyboard are quickly learned. The number of characters can be increased by adding a few each day. In just a few weeks the student will know all the characters and their positions on the keyboard. A running total of right and wrong answers is constantly displayed on the screen and current score and time remaining are shown as a bar graphs on the screen. The session ends normally when the duration expires, but it can be ended early by depressing ESC. In either case, the program signals completion by sending the Prosign SK (End of Final Transmission). At the end of the game, the characters sent during the session are displayed on the screen, in order of the worst result. Each character is displayed with the number of incorrect responses, and the number of times the character was correctly copied. For example "F <4,11>" shows the student missed the letter F 4 times and copied it correctly 11 times. This allows the student to review the session and find which characters need more work. 1920 The results of a Receiving Game can optionally be used to re-sequence the characters on the Learning menu. Use the (R)esequence key to select this option (default is "Off"). If this option is selected and the Learning menu is brought up after a game is played to completion, the characters will be displayed in order by the worst character, giving the student a history of the characters causing the most trouble. To practice those characters go to the (L)earning menu and set the number of characters being learned so only the ones in the beginning of the list are used. Remember those characters needing more study will be at the top of the list. Another important function of the Receiving Game is its remembering weightings corresponding to the characters missed during the game. The Weighting option in all menus can be used to select the HISTORY weighting option. Selecting HISTORY weighting will allow the student to repeat troublesome characters requiring practice. NOTE: Resequencing and historical weighting occur only if the receiving game goes to completion, i.e. the ESC key is NOT used to terminate early. After the student is comfortable with single letters, but early in his training, the group size should be set to 2 (and later 3 and higher), so memory (copying behind the text) can start to be developed. This can not be over emphasized. Skills in copying depend very much on getting confidence in copying longer sequences. 0560 Mix sessions between the Receiving Game and Proficiency testing to develop the ability to write characters as well as input them on the keyboard. When the Receiving Game becomes too easy try switching to the Endurance Trials to get practice in copying long character sequences without an error. Students can adjust the mix of sessions to match free time and the pace of learning. You should make an effort to spend at least 30 minutes every other day practicing. With only a little effort Morse code skills will come easily.
