Educational Software Cooperative 4/Educational Software Cooperative 4.iso/crayon41/crayon.doc

Text File | 1995-11-27 | 12KB | 289 lines

    Program: Crayon Box


    Version: 4.1


    Requirements: EGA or VGA graphics, Microsoft compatible mouse, hard
    disk drive, 512K free memory, one child.


    Author: Philip Kapusta, 406 Monroe Avenue, Falmouth, Va. 22405 USA


    Registration cost: $ 12.00


    Short description:

    A coloring and sketch book, plus math drills, counting tutor, USA
    quiz, piano, and Concentration memory game all rolled into
    one colorful program! Fun and educational. Young children will love
    it!


    Long description:

    Crayon Box has a little bit of everything for your little ones.
    First, it is a coloring and sketch book with over 450 different
    colors and patterns that can be used to paint predrawn pictures,
    or drawings that the child creates.  In addition, Crayon Box tests
    the child's math, counting, and color identification skills. The
    math feature displays large 1" high numbers and prompts the child
    for answers.  10 different skill levels from easy (2+3=?) to
    difficult (144/12=?). The counting and color identification
    feature displays a screen of randomly numbered and randomly
    colored marbles.  The child must identify and count the number of
    each group when prompted.  Spiral designs can also be created
    which can be painted on the screen.  To increase memory skills, a
    Concentration style puzzle is available where the child must
    correctly match picture tiles in pairs.  And lastly, for those
    older ones, a United States game where the child must point to the
    correct state when prompted.  Attractive user interface (with
    large colorful point and click buttons) makes Crayon Box simple
    and fun to use.

    A word about the skill levels found in the math section of Crayon
    Box.  It would be rather complicated to explain the algorithm
    behind the skill levels, but let it suffice to say that the higher
    levels are INCLUSIVE of the lower levels.  In other words, you will
    find repetition of levels 0-8 in level 9, and repetition of levels
    0-3 in level 4, etc.  If you spend enough time in each level, you
    would see that there is a difference between level 1 and level 9.

    You will find a problem like 182/14 in level 9, but you will never
    see anything harder than 48/6 in level 1.   Since the problems are
    displayed at random, it is possible for the user not to comprehend
    this during only a short evaluation period with the program.


    Command line options:

    You can receive a printed record of your child's math progress by
    starting the program from the DOS prompt in the following manner:

    C:>CRAYON GETNAME PRINTLOG   press [ENTER]

    The "GETNAME" command line parameter will prompt the child for
    their name.  You do not need "GETNAME" for the math printout.  It
    was added for a school environment where it may be difficult to
    know what printout belongs to which child.  The "PRINTLOG"
    parameter will cause Crayon Box to generate a summary log of the
    child's work in the math portion (+ - x /) of the program.  The
    printed summary sheet(s) shows correct and incorrect responses from
    the child.


    Turn off music:

    If you would like to disable the upper half of the "Music" button
    so that your young one doesn't drive you up the wall with the
    pre-recorded tunes, start Crayon Box in the following manner:

    C:>CRAYON NOMUSIC


    Math problems input:

    In the large number addition and subtraction problems, keyboard
    input is displayed from RIGHT TO LEFT.  For instance, if the
    problem was "100 + 72", the user would first press a "2", followed
    by a "7" followed by a "1" (i.e, 271 then ENTER).  But right
    to left is backwards you might point out.  True, but next time you
    add an entry into your checkbook note how you add up the numbers
    in each column!  Where do you start first?  At the right!
    Exactly!  Well this is how the addition and subtraction problems
    expect keyboard input.  Once you know this, it makes sense.
    However, when you are using multiplication and division problems,
    the default input is LEFT to RIGHT.

    If you prefer to stick with LEFT to RIGHT input for ALL math
    problems (add/subtract/multiply/divide), then add the "L2R"
    command line parameter at the DOS prompt (see example below):

    C:>CRAYON L2R     press [ENTER]


    More than one attempt:

    None of us are perfect, especially our little ones.  Should you
    wish to allow your children more than one attempt at a marble
    counting or math problem if they answer incorrectly, then use the
    following command line parameter:

    C:>CRAYON RETRY=x

    In the example above, replace "x" with a number from 2 to 9.  This
    number will specify how many times to repeat a problem should the
    user enter an incorrect answer.


    Division display options:

    When using division math problems, there are two methods of
    displaying the dividend and divisor.  One method is to place the
    divisor below the dividend.  For example:

                                24
                               ÷ 8         DIVISOR BOTTOM
                               ---
                                 3

    The other method is to place the divisor to the left of the
    dividend.  For example:

                                 3
                              ____
           DIVISOR LEFT     8 ) 24

    Since both methods are acceptable in the math world, the program
    supports both methods.  The question then is, how do you display
    each type?  The easiest way is keep in mind that the large division
    button displayed on the far right side of the screen is divided
    into two invisible regions.  When your mouse cursor is over the
    upper half of the division button (when you click the button) the
    program will display the divisor to the left of the dividend.  When
    your mouse is over the lower half of the division button, then the
    divisor will be place below the dividend.

    If you would rather not worry about where to press the division
    button, you can OVERRIDE these invisible regions by using a DOS
    command line override parameter.

    To display ALL division problems where the divisor is located to
    the left of the dividend, type --> CRAYON DIVISOR LEFT at the
    command line.

    To display ALL division problems where the divisor is located to
    the bottom of the dividend, type --> CRAYON DIVISOR BOTTOM at the
    command line.


    Music button - dual function:

    From the opening screen, you will notice that the top right button
    contains musical notes and a piano keyboard.  This button (when
    clicked with the left mouse button) can be used in two ways.  When
    you position your mouse pointer over the MUSICAL NOTES and press
    the mouse button, a pre-recorded tune is played.  Once the music
    stops, a large keyboard is displayed.  The keyboard works just
    like a real piano.  Click one of the ivories, and a corresponding
    note is played and displayed.

    Now, if you would like to skip the pre-recorded tune and jump
    straight to the keyboard, go to the top right main menu button and
    instead of clicking on the upper half containing the musical
    notes, click instead on the lower half (which displays the
    KEYBOARD icon).  When the lower half of this button is pressed,
    the piano keys pop up immediately.


    Microsoft Windows: Crayon Box will run under Windows 3.1...most
    of the time.  The most often encountered problem with running
    Crayon Box in MS Windows is that Windows fails to share the
    mouse with Crayon Box.  The best way to insure that the mouse
    driver is available to Crayon Box from within MS Windows is to
    load your mouse PRIOR TO running MS Windows.  This can be done
    by adding a line to your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file that
    will load your mouse driver when you turn your computer on.


    Distribution: Crayon Box is distributed as shareware software.
    Shareware is a "try before you buy" software marketing concept that
    allows the user to obtain fully functional copies of programs for
    evaluation.  The distribution and copying fee that you may have paid
    to obtain this disk does not cover the cost of the software contained
    on this disk.  Shareware programs such as the one that you are about
    to try require separate payment to the author if it is found to be a
    useful product and if it is used beyond a reasonable evaluation
    period.


    Vendors: Please contact the author/sysop with a SASE or e-mail
    message on The Mustard Seed BBS prior to distribution of Crayon
    Box IF THE FILE DATE STAMP ON CRAYON.EXE IS OLDER THAN 2 YEARS.  We
    simply want to insure that you have the latest version of the
    program.  Thank you.


    Other programs: If you like Crayon Box, you may be interested in
    trying some of the author's other programs.  Most of our programs are
    family, educational, or Bible related.  For shareware evaluation
    copies, you can obtain the latest versions from our 24-hour BBS
    (bulletin board system) if you have a modem:

    The Mustard Seed
    Falmouth, VA
    BBS phone number: 540-372-9680
    Supports 1200-28.8k baud v.32/v.42/v.34 N-8-1-ANSI

    After logging in, go to the "FILES" area named "PKSOFT" and feel
    free to download any of our other shareware products.


    Problems?: If you have any questions about Crayon Box, and you have
    not yet registered, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope to
    insure a speedy reply.  Please do NOT send us defective disks unless
    you obtained CRAYON BOX directly from the author.  At the DOS prompt
    type "CHKDSK" and if you find any bad sectors or lost clusters or file
    allocation errors, contact the SOURCE from which you purchased the
    disk.  CRAYON BOX was released after extensive testing, and if you have
    any problems, most likely it will be a result of damaged or missing
    files during the copying process from your vendor or a pinched floppy
    sleeve during mailing.


                            CRAYON BOX REGISTRATION

                Indicate disk format desired (mark with an "X"):

                          3.5"  720K low density  _____

                          5.25" 1.2M high density _____

                          3.5"  1.4M high density _____

           Please print your name and address below VERY CLEARLY!

  Individual's complete name _______________________________________________

  Mailing address __________________________________________________________

  City ____________________________  State __________  Zip Code ____________

  Country ________________________  Phone __________________________________


                          Make U.S. funds payable to:

                               Philip P. Kapusta
                               406 Monroe Avenue
                           Falmouth, Va. 22405 U.S.A.

                        CRAYON BOX REGISTRATION COSTS:


         Basic registration (includes 12 pictures)  $12.00    $______ *

         Additional pictures at $0.10 each
         (maximum of 20 extra pictures)       ____ x $0.10    $______

         Virginia residents, add 4.5% sales tax               $______

         Canadian addresses add $1.00 shipping      $ 1.00    $______

         Overseas/foreign addresses add $2.00       $ 2.00    $______

         Total enclosed:                                      $______ **


    * Prices are valid  through December 31, 1997.  Contact  author with a
    self-addressed stamped envelope  after this date for the latest prices.

    ** For registrants in Canada, U.K., Australia or Europe, payment can be
    made by International money order payable in U.S.A. dollars, or you can
    pay by mailing CASH (your native currency).  If mailing cash, wrap well
    for the author will not be held responsible for lost mail.  No coins!