COMPUTER ASSIGNMENT
1. IDENTIFICATION OF SOFTWARE
TITLE:Unicorn Quest Typing Tutor version 3.1, copyright 1996-1997
ADDRESS: http://www.esmerel.com
AUTHOR: Rob Ewan and story and graphics by Ann Ewan.
PUBLISHER:
Sufficiently Advanced Technology
131 Bloor Street
W.Site
200/323
Canada.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
A multi media PC computer
4MB of memory
Hard drive
Colour monitor
2. VALUE JUDGEMENT
Unicorn Quest Typing Tutor is a share ware product, but can be bought for
$14.95. This software is definitely worth the price because it can be used with
grades ranging from three up to six. Therefore, it caters for all different levels
in the classroom, as the software could be set on beginners to experts. Children
who do not have confidence using the computer, can work at their own level and
where more confident children can improve their speed and typing skills.
This program was easy to use because there were instructions on the computer,
for every screen, for example, press enter to continue, press exit to go back. I
think even young children will be able to operate this program. It also
incorporates the use of colour well to distinguish different settings, for example,
the different levels are in red and the exercise range is in blue.
It was fairly easy to install. If downloading from the internet, you need to know
how to unzip programs, however, if buying it it comes on a disk.
3. DOCUMENTATION
Unicorn Quest does not contain any help systems or student worksheets. It does
contain however, operating instructions. It gives easy to understand instructions
that anyone could operate.
Unicorn Quest does not allow the operator to change the content of the program
but however, it does allow very restricted choices, such as displaying the letters
or not.
4. OPERATION OF SOFTWARE
This is an example of the very first screen, where it shows the different stages you can choose from.
This program has been adapted from a story and the aim is to look for a missing
unicorn. The wizard talks the children through the stages, and tells them what to
do. Once you are in the program, it gives you a choice of typing with the left or
right hands or both hands. Next, there is a choice to choose what stage you want
either beginner, advance, or expert. Just click on the desired one. The beginner
stages allows you to type five words per minute, advanced-10 words per minute
and expert-20 words per minute.
The child can also receive a certificate to show how well they have done. To do
this they must go to the print certificate screen, using the arrows or the letter C,
then press enter.To leave the screen, press esc.To change the stages, after levels
1-3 in the beginning stage, you go to select program settings, change the
difficulty to advanced, then change the words to letters. At the end of every
stage, the child will receive a reward ie a picture of an animal. Once the child has
advanced to the highest level, they can type the story out from the very beginning.
Here is another example of a screen shot. I have made it big so the writing is
slightly readable.
The shots are not very clear, but when you are going through the program, you
do not notice it as much.
5. OBSERVATION OF SOMEONE ELSE
I had my cousin Jack to evaluate this piece of software. He is in grade three. I
was amazed watching him go through the program, as it come so easy to me. He
was using the beginning stage, and completed it quite well. He had some trouble
with the advanced stage as he could not type the letters as fast because they were
from one side of the keyboard to the other. He told me that in the beginning
stage, the letters were highlighted, but on this one they were not. So maybe the
children, should have the letters highlighted, just until they get use to that level.
I just assumed that he would be able to type by just looking at the screen as he is
use to using a keyboard. But, he kept confusing the letters and therefore, took
longer to complete. I thought he would enjoy the story and the graphics, but he
found the graphics a little boring and dull, but enjoyed the story a lot. I thought
that with the time he spent playing this program he would have improved a lot
faster than he did. But, now I realise that all students are different, and work at
their own levels.