Unicorn Quest Typing Tutor
Copyright - 1996-1997
Sufficiently Advanced Technology
131 Bloor St. W. Ste 200/323, Toronto
Ontario, Canada
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
A multi media PC with a 486SX
4 MB of memory
Hard Drive
Colour Monitor
Keyboard
This is a shareware program and was originally set up as a one-handed typing tutor, it now boasts the availability for the program to be used, with either the right, left, or even both hands.
VALUE JUDGEMENT:
The price of this program is $15.00, this is quite a reasonable price for the amount of stages that the students can go through to increase their skills in the field of touch typing .
EASE OF USE:
This piece of software is reasonably easy to install, that is if you know how to unzip a file. However, this is only necessary if you download the software off the internet. The software includes specific instructions which makes the use easier.
Different coloured fonts were used to distinguish different instructions, such as the different levels that could be used. The instructions that were given were easy to understand, in fact they were quite basic for even a child in a grade 4 or 5 to use. As most of the instructions are given to the students in the form of a story about a missing unicorn and there is a wizard talking to the children, it provides a fun way for the students to take on instructions and information.
As the only features that were really needed to be used was the keyboard, it would not confuse the children into having to use the mouse as well as the keyboard. This program is mainly used to help the child learn how to get the most out of their keyboards therefore it would be worthwhile for the child to learn first about the keyboard and become more skilled with that before increasing their skills in the use of the mouse.
DOCUMENTATION ACCOMPANYING:
There was documentation that accompanied the software, such as detailed instructions that included such things as what the program is all about and what its objective is. It also states what it is that is included in the levels for touch typing. It also included the operating instructions which gives the instructions of how it is possible to start the program again and how to get into the different levels of the program.
The framework nature is that it allows you to change from, just using words, to letters, to sentences. However, it is not possible to change the content of the words, that is it is not possible to make up your own words to be typed, there are set words in the program to be typed.
DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION OF SOFTWARE:
The operation of this software is reasonably easy, all it requires is the use of the keyboard and of course ones fingers.
This software is a typing tutor program that it written in the form of a game. The overall purpose of the game is to increase the students typing the students typing skills, while on a journey to try and find the missing unicorn.
The program has three levels, these include typing letters, typing words, and typing sentences. In each level there is three different levels of difficulty. These include the beginner, the advanced and the expert stage. Only after you have finished one level can you progress onto the next level.
In this program you can either type with one hand or with both hands:
One-Handed Typing:
Beginner Stage: letters 5 words per minute, 10 words per minute, and sentences 10 words per minute.
Advanced Stage: letters 10 words per minute, 20 words per minute, sentences 20 words per minute.
Expert Stage: letters 20 words per minute, 30 words per minute, sentences 30 words per minute.
Two-Handed Typing:
Beginner: letters 10 words per minute, 20 words per minute, sentences 30 words per minute
Advanced: letters 20 words per minute, 30 words per minute, sentences 40 words per minute
Expert: letters 30 words per minute, 40 words per minute, sentences 50 words per minute.
As it was suggested above it is possible to change the levels of difficulty, to do this you need to go to the Select Programs Settings. After each stage of difficulty is reached the student is shown a picture of an animal as a reward. After you have finished level three, you can go further and go into the Practice Area and practice typing the story. The program will keep a memory of how far through the story you have reached, therefore you can eventually type (and read) the whole story of the quest for the unicorn.
If at anytime you wish to quit out of this exercise all that is needed to be done is to press esc.
The Unicorn Website, is as follows: http://www.esmerel.com
LOUISE O'CONNOR'S USE OF SOFTWARE
Even though Louise is not the ideal target audience for this piece of software, Louise still learnt some of the skills of touch typing. My expectations were that she would be able to use this piece of software to both increase her speed in completing assignments and increase her use of the keyboard.
Louise liked the way that the instructions were used in a way where a story was being told about a missing unicorn and how it was up to her to save the unicorn. She also thought that this would be a good way to tell children specific instructions.
However, Louise found that the graphics of the package were not that clear which may be a bother to the children. The graphics are, I admit a little unclear, but I think that the children would just accept the graphics as they are.
One of the levels that Louise enjoyed the most was the stage where she was able to write about the missing unicorn and then read about the unicorn after she had written her story. This maybe because she is older, therefore finding it more interesting. However, I feel that the students would enjoy all the aspects of the program. Louise also did enjoy the fish game where she had to try and kill the letters that were coming towards her so that she could swim across the stream.
Louise felt that this program would be used widely in grades 3-6, therefore I feel that it would be useful for students from years 4-5.
From this observation I feel that this program would be useful for grades 4 through to grade 5, it is a touch typing activity that includes both the elements of fun and surprise, as well as teaching the children a worthwhile activity.
Screen Shots