MATH GAMES TEACH, ENTERTAIN.Byline: Josh Barbanel New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times News Service Think about the challenges of teaching math to children on a computer at home. First of all, the software can't be boring. Second, it should teach as well as drill. Third, it should not make children feel stupid if they don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. the answer. Fourth, it should use the magic of the computer to do more than transfer paper lessons to the screen. Here are a couple of offerings, in a new generation of math programming, that try - with varying degrees of success - to go beyond the basics. ``Mighty Math Calculating Crew'', Edmark, Box 97201, Redmond, WA, 98073, (206) 556-7552, $39. Http://www.edmark.com. (Windows 3.1 or higher, 33-megahertz 486 or Pentium processor recommended, CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). and sound card and SVGA monitor (hardware, graphics) SVGA monitor - A monitor capable of displaying the output of an SVGA card. , or Macintosh system 7.0.1 or higher, 68030 at 25 megahertz One million cycles per second. See MHz. MegaHertz - (MHz) Millions of cycles per second. The unit of frequency used to measure the clock rate of modern digital logic, including microprocessors. or faster, or 68040 processor, 13-inch monitor with 256 colors or better. For ages 4 to 12.) Designed for students in the third through sixth grades, ``Mighty Math'' works through problems from simple addition and subtraction subtraction, fundamental operation of arithmetic; the inverse of addition. If a and b are real numbers (see number), then the number a−b is that number (called the difference) which when added to b (the subtractor) equals to long division, decimals, number lines and geometry. There is a mix of work and silliness, but the going can get heavy. Fill in the blanks on a division problem, get it wrong and you are told to try again. If you try again and get it wrong, you are told ``that number is too high'' or ``too low.'' You can guess again, but you often don't get help in solving the problem. ``The Fennels Figure Math'', McGraw-Hill Home Interactive, (800) 937-4663, $35. (Windows 95, 486 66-megahertz processor or faster, with 8 megabytes RAM, 8 megabytes hard-drive space, 256-color SVGA monitor, sound card, CD-ROM. For ages 8 to 12.) Is ``The Fennels Figure Math'' an interactive adventure? A math game program? Or a ``constructivist con·struc·tiv·ism n. A movement in modern art originating in Moscow in 1920 and characterized by the use of industrial materials such as glass, sheet metal, and plastic to create nonrepresentational, often geometric objects. math problem-solving environment,'' as the promotional literature says? It is all three, and it is one of the more risky and adventurous educational CD-ROMs I have seen. The idea is that the interactive adventure will encourage children to solve problems, solidifying what they know and developing new thinking and practical math skills. Here you are basically on your own, wandering down hallways, using your wits and powers of math and observation to solve the adventure. You learn by doing rather than by drill, and you remember it longer. ``The Fennels Figure Math'' does provide some help. You can click on the note pad There are several software applications known as Notepad or Note pad.
But as an adult lost in an interactive game, it took me the better part of an hour to get from the adventure to the first math activity, even after I figured out how to use the star-shape mouse pointer See cursor. . (You can skip the interactive adventure and go directly to all the math games.) And if you can't solve all the games, you can't feed the ferocious guests and win the adventure. On the other hand this may bring you and your child closer as the program demands lessons in angles and map reading. ``Pajama Sam This article is about the Pajama Sam games. For the character, see Pajama Sam (character). The Pajama Sam series is a collection of children's adventure and puzzle games created by Humongous Entertainment. in No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside'', Humongous Entertainment, 16932 Woodinville-Redmond Road NE, Woodinville, WA, 98072, (206) 486-9258, $39.95. Http://www.humongous.com. (Windows 3.1 or higher, 33-megahertz 486 processor, 8 megabytes of RAM, SVGA monitor, CD-ROM, or Macintosh system 7.0 or higher, minimum 25-megahertz 68040, 8 megabytes RAM, 256-color monitor, CD-ROM. Ages 3 to 8.) Educators might say ``Pajama Sam'' is another ``problem-solving environment.'' The publishers call it an interactive adventure. Children will call it fun, and become deeply engaged in Pajama Sam's earnest struggles to master his whimsical adventure world. When you are lost, you can turn to the friendly blue tree, which offers fairy-godmotherlike clues. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the designers, each time a player starts a new game, the interactive adventure changes, new places appear and Pajama Sam's tools are scattered to different places. Alas, we have many games saved on my computer, but no story has yet come to an end. As is the custom, Pajama Sam includes a few mini-games. Sam and his helpers must correctly answer four questions, in a trivia game show format, to get past the doors of knowledge. LOS ANGELES Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. BOARD OF EDUCATION There are seven elected members of Los Angeles Unified School District's Board of Education who represent various geographic areas. Districts 4, 5 and 6 include San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. areas. Here is a list of the board member for each district: District 1 - Barbara Boudreaux - (213) 625-6382. Areas include south central and south west Los Angeles
District 2 - Victoria Castro - (213) 625-6180. Areas include south Los Angeles South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central Los Angeles, and is still sometimes called South Central. , including the Bell and Cudahy area. (Castro's term is expiring, and she is running unopposed in the April election). District 3 - Jeff Horton, board president - (213) 625-6386. Areas include Hollywood and West Hollywood. District 4 - Mark Slavkin - (213) 625-6387. Areas include the Westside and portions of the West Valley. (Slavkin is stepping down in June. Four candidates are vying for the open seat in the April election). District 5 - David Tokofsky - (213) 625-6383. Areas include east and northeast Los Angeles, the eastern portion of the San Fernando Valley and San Fernando. District 6 - Julie Korenstein - (213) 625-6388. Areas include communities in the west and central San Fernando Valley and the Sunland-Tujunga area. It is the only seat entirely in the Valley.(Korenstein is up for re-election, running against three other candidates this April). District 7 - George Kiriyama - (213) 625-6385. Areas include south Los Angeles, Gardena, Carson and the Harbor area. CAPTION(S): Box Box: LOS ANGELES BOARD OF EDUCATION (See Text) |
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