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1985-01-23
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WORD PROCESSING FOR KIDS
We developed this program "WORD PROCESSING FOR KIDS" because we feel
that more than any other kind of program, a word processor can do much
to help children learn to communicate through the written word. While
those word processors developed for adults have the features required
for professional writing, they do not serve children. They simply are
much too complex. We undertook the task with the major design goals to
be that of simplicity while serving the needs of the target age group,
beginning writers. We think writing should be a fun experience for kids
opening up a whole new world of communicating in a new way. Everyone we
have shown it to, including the children who have tested it, were
enthusiastic about it. It can be used by very young children with but a
brief training period since it uses only a few keys. It uses the large
type font typically taught in school rooms today and so will be familiar
to the child.
We would like to make this program available to as many children as
possible. Therefore, we are making it available to you through the
freeware concept. Clubs and individuals are invited to copy and
distribute it. Share it freely with your friends and copy as many
personal disks for classrooms or your own personal use as you wish. We
do believe that a program of this quality would easily retail for about
$30 and feel justified in requesting a contribution of $10 if you find
it to be useful to your child. We do this for several reasons. First,
copy protection would nullify the usefulness of the program. Second,
you should have the chance to evaluate the software with your child
before you commit to its purchase. Third, personal computer educational
software should be supported by those who use it. Fourth, if the
response is satisfacory to us, we will make subsequent efforts available
in the same freely distributed way.
If you can't afford the ten spot or just want to use it without paying,
that's OK. Just make some copies and give them to some friends because
the more people that get it, the more opportunities there are for those
who might support such a distribution concept.
Finally, we are interested in hearing about your experiences with the
program. How effective is it in aiding children to learn to write?
What features should it have? How can it be improved? Drop us a line
with your contribution. We can not promise an answer because frankly we
do not know what we are getting into. We developed it in our free time
and as such have at least a 40 hour a week commitment.
Please drop a ten spot, a $10 check or money order to:
Sidney D. Nolte
13858 Peyton Drive
Dallas, Texas 75240
è
WORD PROCESSING FOR KIDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION FOR THE PARENTS OR TEACHER.......................2
WHY A WORD PROCESSOR FOR KIDS?................................2
HOW TO CREATE A PERSONAL DISK.................................2
HOW TO GET THE PROGRAM STARTED................................3
THE MENU SCREEN...............................................3
THE WRITE OPTION..............................................4
THE OLD MENU.................................................4
THE NEW MENU.................................................5
HOW TO WRITE YOUR STORY.......................................5
MOVING THE CURSOR............................................5
THE INSERT KEY...............................................5
ANOTHER COLOR................................................6
ANOTHER SIZE.................................................6
HELP!........................................................6
WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED........................................6
THE LIBRARY MENU..............................................6
THE PRINT MENU................................................7
THE DELETE MENU...............................................7
ENDING THE SESSION - QUIT.....................................7
A PRACTICE SESSION............................................8
è
page 1
INTRODUCTION FOR THE PARENTS OR TEACHER
This section is addressed to the parent or teacher. This program is
intended to be a first word processor for first writers, children who
are learning to write. The computer word processor has much to
contribute to this activity. It requires two skills for a child to
produce written text, the mental skills required to put ideas together
into complete sentences and the physical or motor skills necessary to
make the pencil move properly to produce the written page. Frequently
it is found that the motor skills are not sufficiently advanced for
successful writing. That's where the computer can help. The messy
paper syndrome is gone with a simple press of the delete key instead of
the eraser smudge. Writing can be fun when reduced to the mental
activity that it should be. This program was designed to make it fun
for kids to learn to write.
Like any computer program, it will take some familiarization for the
child to get used to it. This program has been designed to require a
minimum number of keys so that it is writing that is being learned and
not how to use the program. That's where you come in. It is suggested
that you first learn how to use the program so that you may lead the
child in its use. To do this, simply read these few pages and use the
program for a while so that you know how it works.
WHY A WORD PROCESSOR FOR KIDS?
Have you ever attended an open house at school where there are beginning
writers? You probably will see their very best pinned to the bulletin
board. Obviously with some labor and maybe a few eraser smudges, a
single sheet of lined paper presents a few simple ideas. That scene was èthe inspiration for this program.
Most of us consider writing as an activity that will require several
passes to perfect the way we express thoughts in writing. A first draft
is prepared, marked for improvement and rewritten for another look.
Sometimes when the communication is very important, several passes are
made and each time there are improvements. Unfortunately, because of
the labor required, children can not regard writing as this kind of
activity. Their first draft is their last one. Word processors on a
computer help us to make the rewrites easier. This one will help the
child begin to regard writing as most of us do, an editing of previously
prepared text.
HOW TO CREATE A PERSONAL DISK
It is suggested that anyone using the program have a personal disk. The
disk should contain the system, the program, some examples and those
stories created by the person using it. You should save the original
disk in its original form so that at any time you can perform the
following procedure to make a new disk. First place the system disk,
the one that came with the computer marked DOS 2.0 into drive A, the
one on the left. The number should be at least as big as 2.0 because
the program uses some of the features not present in DOS 1.0. Place a
new and unused disk into drive B, the one on the right. In case you
page 2
have only one disk drive, you will get instructions as to how to
proceed. Now type:
FORMAT B:/S
and then press enter (the big key with the crooked arrow pointing left).
After some whirring and purring and everything calms down and you see A>
appear on the screen, insert this program disk into drive A: and type
COPY WPK.* B:
and again press enter. Then type
COPY *.WPK B:
followed by enter and you have a disk ready to use in drive B. Remove
it from the drive and find a sticky label and write the name of the
person who will use it and the name