Math Skill Builders: Whole Number Arithmetic Demo Read Me
MSBDemo FOLDER INCLUDES:
1. MSBDemo - click this to run the program.
2. Jamie - simulated student file (explained in a following section)
3. Order.doc - click this to get an order form to print
This Read Me is divided into the following sections:
Requirements
Information About the Complete Program
How to Use Math Skill Builders: Whole Number Arithmetic
Differences Between the Demo Version and the Complete Program
REQUIREMENTS
Macintosh
Apple Macintosh or Power Macintosh and Apple System software 6.0.7 or later,
2 MB random-access memory (RAM) available for the application, 2MB of available hard-disk space, Color monitor, 3.5 inch disk drive, Mouse, Printer recommended.
OR
Personal Computer with 486 or greater processor
Microsoft Windows 95 operating system, 2 MB random-access memory (RAM) available for the application, 2MB of available hard-disk space, Color monitor, 3.5 inch disk drive, Mouse, Printer recommended.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPLETE PROGRAM
Math Skill Builders: Whole Number Arithmetic provides a traditional, basic skills approach to arithmetic for anyone who wants to learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers. This program is a tool for learning new arithmetic skills and reviewing or maintaining already learned skills. It provides a system for: testing and placement at an appropriate skill level, detailed tutoring that explains how to solve problems, and practice solving an infinite number of randomly generated problems both at the computer, and away from the computer with printed homework assignments to be checked by the program. The program manages advancement through fifty two levels of difficulty, starting with basic facts, progressing through skills requiring regrouping (borrowing and carrying) and ending with complex long division. Record-keeping of progress, with printed reports, can be viewed at any time so that learners know they are being successful learning arithmetic.
This system for learning arithmetic can be modified to suit any learner’s needs. The program provides many options so that learners can choose to:
- have the program show where to place numbers (or not)
- show all the work in a solution, or just put numbers in the answer
- set the number of problems in each activity
- have any number of retries in the practice activity
- have practice limited by a specified amount of time
- have a grid on the screen for visual help with number placement
- change operation and skill level at any time
- change the criteria for promotion and demotion through skill levels
- have speech available or not in the tutorial
- vary the speed of presentation in the tutorial
- enter numbers by typing at the keyboard or choosing with the mouse
Math Skill Builders: Whole Number Arithmetic comes packaged in a sturdy 3-ring binder that includes detailed documentation about how to run the program and how to get the most from the available options, how to customize the program to meet individual learner’s needs, how to use the program to complement the math curriculum and a parent’s guide to learning arithmetic. To get more information, visit our website (www.sssoftware.com). To purchase the program, get an order form from this demo version by choosing Order at the menu bar, or open the file order.doc included with this demo, or print an order form at the website.
HOW TO USE MATH SKILL BUILDERS: WHOLE NUMBER ARITHMETIC
The following sections describe: how to choose different operations and skill levels, how to choose and use different activities, how to customize the program for individual learners, and how to see definitions of the skill levels. (Extensive documentation is provided with the commercial version of the program.)
* Setting the Operation and Skill Level
The user’s progress can be managed by the program, or users can set operation and skill level at the main window. The main window that appears at the beginning of the program shows example problems and the skill level definitions for all the types of problems in the program. To change the operation, click Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication or Division. Change Skill Level by setting a number from 1-13. Click Another Example to see an unlimited number of example problems at the current operation and skill level. The Tutor, Practice, and Assignment problems are at the current skill level which is showing on the main window.
* Viewing Skill Level Definitions
Choose Skills on the menu bar. Choose an operation to see the list of definitions of skill levels in that operation. Choose Show Examples to see example problems at each skill level.
* Choosing and Using Activities
Under Activities, at the main window, choose :
- Diagnosis to take a test to find the best starting level. Answer every problem. To enter numbers in a solution, type the numbers at the keyboard, or move the pointer over the number bar on the left side of the screen and click the number you want in the solution. Click Check Problem when you finish answering a problem. Diagnosis does not tell you if you are right or wrong. When you complete Diagnosis, a box appears that shows you your current skill level for the chosen operation.
- Tutor for a talking tutorial showing how to solve problems at the current skill level. Click Start Demonstration or Single Step to see all the steps in solving a problem. Click Another Problem for new problems. Turn talking on and off with the Talk checkbox. Move the speed slider to change the speed of the demonstration.
- Practice to practice solving problems at the current operation and skill level. To enter numbers in a solution, type the numbers at the keyboard, or move the pointer over the number bar on the left side of the screen and click the number you want in the solution. Click Check Problem and Practice tells whether you answered right or wrong. You can try to solve the problem more than once. Practice shows the correct answer. The status screen at the end of practice tells your score and your time for each problem.
- Assignment to get homework at the current operation and skill level. Solve problems on paper, and check your answers later with Check Assignment
- Check Assignment to check answers to assignment problems. The program shows if answers are right or wrong and how to solve the problem.
*Customizing the Program
Select Options from the menu bar, (or Preferences from the File menu) and set the following options:
- Diagnosis: Set the total number of problems and number of problems at each level.
- Practice: Set the number of problems, whether you can try to solve each problem more than one time, how many retries are allowed, and whether retries count towards determining skill level. Choose to Limit Time by an amount of time that you set.
- Assignment: Set the number of problems in a homework set.
- Student Select Operation: If this is on, the operation can be set at the main window.
- Student Select Skill Level: If this is on, the skill level can be set at the main window.
- Guide Student’s Solution: If this is on, the program prompts for number input in each position in the solution. If this is off, numbers can be entered anywhere.
- Show Work in Solution: If this is on, the program prompts for numbers in all steps of the solution. If this is off, only the numbers in the final answer are necessary.
- Enable Talking: This must be on to be able to select Talk in the Tutor activity.
- Grid on by Default: Select this if you want the grid to automatically appear in Diagnosis and Practice. The grid is useful for placing numbers in the correct row or column in a solution. You can also turn the grid on and off during the activity.
- Criteria: You can change the criteria for Promotion and Demotion of skill levels during Diagnosis and Practice. Type different numbers in the boxes if you want to make it easier or harder to advance through the skill levels.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DEMO VERSION AND THE COMPLETE PROGRAM
* Saving Files
The complete program saves multiple users’ records of progress. Not only can users return to the program at the skill level they last achieved, but they can also view Reports of their achievements. The demo version does not save records.
* Simulated Student Records in Reports
In the complete program, Reports (on the menu bar) shows each user's current status and a history of scores and times at the different skill levels, in Diagnosis, Practice, and Assignment. Reports are shown in both data and graph form and can be printed. In the demo version only the current user can see scores and times for just the current day’s work. Since the demo version does not save files, there is a simulated student record named “Jamie” included to give an idea of what Reports can show. To see Jamie’s reports, choose File, choose Open, choose Jamie, then choose Reports.
*Assignment and Check Assignment
In the complete program assignments can be printed and saved, so they can be checked later with Check Assignment. The demo version does not print or save Assignments, so Check Assignment is not available.
*Practice
In the complete program, each Practice session can present as many as 50 problems (set the number in Preferences). The results of the Practice are saved and used to determine the user’s appropriate skill level, as well as being shown in Reports. The demo only presents one problem, and Practice results are not saved.
*Skill Level Definitions
In the complete version of the program, the lists of Skill Level Definitions (Skills on the Menu Bar), can be printed, with and without example problems. These lists cannot be printed in the demo version.
*Ordering Information / Alert Boxes
The demo version has Order on the menu bar, but this is not part of the commercial program. The demo version shows alert boxes to warn about disabled functions that also provide an option to order. These alert boxes do not appear in the commercial version.
