Maze Explorer is an educational package that introduces the user to the basics of programming and control. To do this, it uses the simplest instructions and ideas from the Logo programming language.
The problems set by Maze Explorer are all based around freeing a small, robot bug from maze-like puzzles.
Who is it intended for?
Maze Explorer can and has been used with children from 7 to 13 years. Whilst part 1 is most suited for younger children, parts 2 and 3 are used by the author as part of an introductory computing course with 12 year old Secondary School students. They form a valuable introduction to the mechanics of turtle graphics.
Parts 1, 2 and 3
All 3 parts of Maze Explorer use the commands forward, back, left and right. However, each part uses these commands in slightly different ways.
Part 1
forward and back are used with numbers that indicate the number of places to be moved. For example: forward 5.
left and right simply rotate the bug through 90 degrees in that direction.
Part 2
forward and back work in the same way as Part 1 but left and right now need the angle to be specified. For example: right 90.
Only angles of 90, 180 and 270 degrees are allowed.
Part 3
Whilst the commands work in the same way as Part 2, they are not instantly executed. Instead they must be stored in a program and the whole program can be tested when complete.
In all cases, the commands, numbers and angles are entered using buttons. There is no keyboard work.
System Requirements
Maze Explorer is a Hypercard stack and as such needs a copy of Hypercard 2.0 or later or Hypercard Player to be present on your system. If you can run Hypercard you can run Maze Explorer but it’s worth setting Hypercard’s memory partition to 1200 or more if you can.
Maze Explorer will run on any processor but is slow on a Mac Plus and SE’s.
Maze Explorer uses colour and will appear at its best on a 14” monitor with 256 colours or more. It will, however, run in monochrome. On a Mac Plus screen, you may loose the top of each screen beneath the menu bar but, again, the program will still run.
Maze Explorer has been tested under Systems 6.0.7, 7.0, 7.1 and 7.5.
Installing Maze Explorer
If you are reading this, you’ve probably already extracted the Maze Explorer files from the self extracting archive. If that’s the case, you will have a folder on your hard disc called Maze Explorer v1.0 with the Maze Explorer stack inside it. If so, you’re ready to start.
Like any Hypercard stack, Maze Explorer runs faster from a hard disc than from a floppy.
If you are running an unregistered copy of Maze Explorer from a CD, you will need to copy it to your hard disc before carrying out the registration process.
Launching Maze Explorer
Open the folder called Maze Explorer v1.0 and double click the Maze Explorer icon.
Registering Maze Explorer
After you open an unregistered version of Maze Explorer, the first screen you see will offer you the chance to register.
If you don’t want to register yet (or you haven’t found out how to), click on the Not yet button.
If you don’t register you will only be able to use one maze on each level of the program.
If you choose the Register button then you will see a dialog box that allows you to enter the registration number you have been given and click OK.
As you can see, to register the program you will need a registration number. To get this, follow the instructions you will find in the Registration Details file in this folder.
The same instructions can be found by choosing About Maze Explorer from the Apple menu.
Menu Options
Maze Explorer is contolled from a single menu - File. The FIle menu allows you to
1) Choose a new maze
2) Print your program (the sequence of commands you used to exit the maze)
3) Return to the main menu
4) Turn off/on the help windows that appear with every maze
5) Quit
However, the unregistered version will display a second menu called Register. The single item in this menu displays the registration dialog box.
Using Maze Explorer 1
Choose Maze Explorer 1 from the menu that appears after the registration screen ...
Use the icons and numbers on the right of the screen to guide the bug out of the maze.
For example:
forward 2
right
After each command, click the Do it button.
Once you have finished one maze, you can click the Replay button. This will replay the steps you took to escape the maze
Using Maze Explorer 2
Choose Maze Explorer 2 from the menu that appears after the registration screen.
Use the icons and numbers on the right of the screen in the same way as Maze Explorer 1 but when you click on left or right, the numbers will change to angles.
You must use an angle with the direction,
such as right 90
Using Maze Explorer 3
Choose Maze Explorer 3 from the menu that appears after the registration screen.
Use the icons in the same way as Maze Explorer 2 but then use the Store icon to add each command to your program.
Click on the Run icon when you have finished.
If you make a mistake, you can use the editing tools to correct your program before running it again.
Printing your programs
One of the main aims of Maze Explorer is that, even in parts 1 and 2, the user should think of the commands they use as part of a program or sequence of instructions.
To help with this, all three levels have a Print your program option (the file menu).
When you choose this, all of your commands are displayed in a list ...
You must enter your name (or something) before clicking the Print button.
Before printing, the program name, the maze name, your own name and the date will be added as a header.
