Fastball Fractions has now been updated to version 1.1! Improvements include:
Choice of ONE or TWO-player game
Varying difficulty levels (for instance, lower levels have like
denominators and smaller numbers)
Faster game play
More sounds
Printable certificate if players have a winning high score
We have many customers around the globe who have given us positive feedback on this fractions game with a baseball theme. Lively sounds, animations, and many plays add to the enjoyment of the game while the users are working fraction problems.
System requirements:
This stack requires HyperCard 2.0 or above. If you do not have this version you should contact your authorized Apple dealer for upgrade information. It will run under System 6.0.7 or above, and is System 7 compatible. For optimal play, a Mac with a 68020 processor or above is ideal; the stack will run on a 68000 processor, albeit slowly. A hard drive will make the sounds and the stack itself play more smoothly. A printer will enable the user to print a certificate, shareware registration, or a fraction problem. See the information on printing hints below (#4) for memory tips when using HyperCard.
Using the stack:
1. After double-clicking on the stack, it will start up and take you through the introduction. Then you arrive at the Main Menu, from which you can choose the type of game you want to play, or other options.
2. If you choose Settings from the Main Menu, sound output can be adjusted or turned off from within the stack (for use in a classroom setting). You do not have to use a Control Panel to change the volume. The Settings card also contains choices of variable difficulty levels. These levels correspond to the following:
Level 1 (Very Easy)--like denominators; denominators are less than 6; numerators are less than denominators;
Level 2 (Easy)--like denominators; denominators are less than or equal to 10; numerators are less than denominators;
Level 3 (Medium)--possible unlike denominators; denominators are less than 6; numerators are less than denominators;
Level 4 (Challenging)--possible unlike denominators; denominators are less than or equal to 10; numerators are less than denominators;
Level 5 (Very Challenging)--possible unlike denominators; denominators are less than or equal to 10; numerators can be greater than denominators.
To save any settings you have chosen, click on the "Save All Settings" button, and you will then be returned to the Main Menu. Your settings will also be saved even after you quit from the game. The next time you start up the game, the volume and difficulty levels will be those you have chosen and saved.
3. Registering the shareware: You can choose to register your shareware from the Main Menu. Please respect the shareware concept; much time and effort has gone into the development of Fastball Fractions. We have purposely kept the fee for the game quite low--only $10. Upon receipt of your registration, we will send the latest version of Fastball Fractions on a floppy disk. Schools and other institutions may inquire about purchasing procedures and site licenses. We do accept school purchase orders. With the cost of postage, special mailing envelopes, diskettes, labels, laser printing, online subscriptions, and development, you can see that we aren't making much from this game. We will donate 10% of all proceeds from this game to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, on Labor Day of each year. Think of the product as "Donation-Ware" that is helping children and adults with muscular diseases.
4. Entering the game: From the main menu, when you choose the Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, or Division game, you go to the ball park. Announcements appear at the top of your screen, in a scrolling manner. If you are running a Macintosh with a 68000 processor (the Mac Plus, SE, or Classic, for example), the scrolling may be rather slow.
Note: You can stop the scrolling at any time by clicking the mouse button.
Enter the ball park by clicking on the "Enter Game" button. If you are a single player, tell the computer that one player wants to play the game (the Macintosh will take the part of the other player, and actually work problems before your eyes!). If two players wish to play the game, they may do so, and the computer will tell each when it is their turn.
5. Playing the game: After a fraction is thrown at you, you will see the blinking cursor in the field for the whole number. Type in the whole number from the keyboard. You can then move to the numerator field by pressing return or tab, or by moving the mouse and clicking in the field. Then type the numerator from the keyboard, and likewise, move to the denominator field and type it in. Check your answer to see that you have reduced it properly, and expressed it as a mixed fraction (if the answer is equal to one or greater than one). Finally, press return or click on the "Check My Answer" button to see if you are correct.
Correct answers are rewarded with sound, base hits (occasionally you will even make a home run!), and other interesting baseball plays. Incorrect answers result in a strike or out. You have three chances to answer correctly; after that, the computer will tell you the answer. After three outs, it will be time to switch to the other player. You can also let the other player take a turn by choosing the "Forfeit turn" option when the computer asks you if you want another fraction pitched at you.
Whenever Mac Computer is the second player, he will play for three hits (sometimes there are some balls, wild pitches, balks, etc. in between his three hits). After Mac Computer solves three fraction problems, he is very polite, and lets you have a turn.
6. Quitting the Game: After nine innings, the game will end. You are also given the option of quitting the game before each fraction is thrown. If one or both of the players have scored a high score, their names will be entered in the Hall of Fame. You can print a certificate for any high scorer who is in the Hall of Fame, simply by clicking on their name. Or, you can quit by clicking on the Quit button.
7. Printing hints: There are several places in the stack where you will want to print items. One is the shareware registration mentioned above. Another is the High Score Certificate. And thirdly, you may want to print a fraction problem on the playing field occasionally (teachers will find this valuable, and students will want to do this if they have a particularly challenging problem to show other students or their teacher). You can print a fraction problem by pressing command-P (after the fraction has appeared on screen). If you experience problems with printing, check all cables and printer lights. Make sure you have the appropriate driver for your printer installed in the System Folder. Insert paper correctly into the printer. Use the Chooser to select the printer. If the page still will not print, you may be experiencing a memory problem. HyperCard comes configured for a minimal amount of memory. Assuming you have enough available RAM, you can raise this allocated amount of memory by taking the following steps:
a. Quit from Fastball Fractions and HyperCard.
b. Find the icon for HyperCard itself (often it is located in a HyperCard folder). Click only ONE time on the HyperCard icon, to select (highlight) it.
c. From the File Menu, select "Get Info."
d. The current size of the memory allocated to Hypercard appears in the lower right corner of the Get Info window. Try raising it by 256 K.
e. Close out the Get Info window.
f. Double-click on the Fastball Fractions icon.
g. Try printing once again. If it still does not work, you will need to follow steps a through f again, repeatedly raising the memory allocation until you can print properly.
h. If you get an out of memory message that tells you that you do not have enough memory to run HyperCard, then you should consider buying more RAM in the form of SIMMs for your Macintosh. Your local Apple dealer can assist you in the selection and installation of these SIMMs. HyperCard runs optimally under more RAM, and you will find the extra RAM useful with many other newer programs and systems.
8. Curriculum Ideas:
a. Fastball Fractions makes an excellent whole-class activity. Divide the class into teams. Start up Fastball, and type each team's name into the game. As Fastball pitches a fraction, read it off to the class, or write it on the chalkboard if they cannot see the screen. Let the appropriate team work the problem at their desks, then come to an agreement on the answer. Choose a captain to type in the answer on the computer. Proceed with the game play, switching teams as the computer directs you. Cooperative learning peer groups such as these have been shown to increase comprehension of key math concepts. This is also a good way to introduce the game to the whole class before going into a lab situation.
b. Here is another suggestion for introducing the program before students actually use it. Ahead of time, use Fraction Fractions yourself. As you come to fraction problems, print them (the ball field will also print if you press command-P, making a visually attractive learning tool). Compile these printouts into a handout for your students, and photocopy. You can also reduce the size as you photocopy, if you desire. Use the handouts to show the students where they should place the cursor and type in their answers.
c. When students are first learning fractions, use the easy difficulty level setting (level one). It presents fraction problems with like denominators, and numerators of five or less. As the students progress in their mastery of fraction concepts, raise the difficulty level. They can print out difficult problems to share with their peer learning group later.
d. Encourage students to keep a pencil and piece of paper handy while they are working at the computer. When they are reducing fractions and converting to mixed fractions, these will be helpful. Later, as students learn to work the problems in their heads, they will not require the pencil and paper. Their computation skills should develop the more they play Fastball Fractions.
e. France & Associates makes a series of HyperCard stacks called the Instant Math Series. These stacks generate worksheets, tests, and answer keys for a variety of math problem types and difficulty levels. Build up your students' math skills with a combination of traditional worksheets and computer activities, using the Instant Math Series and Fastball Fractions in combination.
Ask about these and more educational stacks, also available from:
France & Associates
2215 Duntreath Valley Drive
Germantown TN 38139
Telephone Support Line: 901/755-3718
(10 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, CST)
We can also be reached electronically via E-mail:
GEnie: J.FRANCE
America Online: JanF
9. Fastball Fractions1.1 may not be copied, uploaded to online services, or given to others. There is a demo version of Fastball Fractions, which you can find on the "Best 100 Mac Games CD", or on America Online or GEnie. Disk services and clubs (this includes SMC Software of the Month Club) must contact the author for written permission before distributing the demo; they may not distribute the full version. Registered Apple User Groups may distribute the demo only on their disks of the month. You must ask permission, however, to use the scripts in either stack. SHAREWARE AUTHORS, INC owns the exclusive rights to the sale and distribution of this program on CD-ROM and all other high capacity (over 2MB) media. All other such distribution is strictly prohibited. You should register the shareware from within the stack.
Acknowledgements:
Much appreciation is due the beta-testers of this product (Matthew Boetker, Justin France, Kevin Harris, Bill Hawkins, Bill Massey, Keith Parish, and Geert Pauwels). This stack is dedicated to my nephew, Neal Meier. He is an extremely bright boy who excels in school. Neal was voted as the most valuable player on his baseball team in Colorado. He has muscular dystrophy, which makes it difficult for him to run fast. Neal says, "Maybe I will be in a wheelchair and maybe I won't. I wish everyone would live their life while they can. It may not last."
