SPECTRUM LESSONS

Mike Edmunds checks his facts with some revision programs.

Exam fever? This month's review packages may be just the medicine for those of you faced with Science examinations. Even if your exams are over they may still come in useful!

Collins, well known for revision aids in the educational sector have now put together a package containing software and a Gem dictionary of Basic Chemistry facts for students up to 'O' level, CSE and O grade.

The pack consists of a suite of nine programs, being a mixture of Testing, Diagram, Questions and Games. The programs are comprehensive and there are a variety of topics to choose from, ranging from the pH of common substances, Titration, preparation of gases, through to the sources of the elements. The Diagram section revises your knowledge of diagram and the ideas linked with them. Again you have a wide choice of topics and for each topic you can choose whether to have the subject explained to you or to answer questions from two types of test, these being either multiple choice or a simple True/False.

'Questions' jumble up a limited number of different posers and give help if required. The drawback here is that the questions start repeating after a time. The Games program is a Darts 'simulation', in reality just a slightly different way of asking more questions, the hazard being that incorrect responses give points to the computer.

The whole series of program is easy to use and well presented. A redefined character set condenses a lot of information into screen displays and the graphic sequences and diagrams are exceptionally well done. As a revision package I can see this being very useful to most students, incorrect responses are handled well and references to the Gem Dictionary point to possible solutions or areas for further study. One minor error message caused the program to crash and if this were sorted out I would recommend this package to anyone with an impending chemistry exam. Good value for money!

Packs for Biology, Physics and Computer Studies are also available.

MERIT

The Chemistry package from Merit covers many of the same areas as the Collins program but although aimed at a similar age range it approaches the subject in a rather different way.

The package is intended for users up to 'O' level and the programs are designed to be used in conjunction with the Merit range of Chemistry sets or as an introduction to fundamental Chemistry topics. There are six programs which cover Titration, Metals, Reactions, Gases and Electrochemistry. The introductory program explains how to get the maximum benefit from the package and stresses the safety aspect necessary in the use of such experiments.

The introduction program is, on the whole, a waste of time, detailing, as it does all the available Merit Chemistry Sets and indulging in flashy screen sequences, mediocre graphics and comments which are more suited to a cassette inlay! The program seems to aim at the younger user and is out of keeping with the generally high standard of the rest of the programs. Could this be the first computer advertisement break?

The programs proper though, are of real value to those who need something more than a basic introduction to the areas covered. The simulations are well laid out and, in the often difficult area of Titration for example, help with step-by-step sequences. A wide range of parameters can be changed to suit the user's requirements.

The Metals' program comes in two sections; Metal fact-sheets and a Space Adventure game. The fact-sheet tests existing knowledge and suggests areas for further investigation. The game is a Lunar Lander type with hazards! These get more and more complex providing your answers are correct.

'Reactions' improved even this humble reviewer's chemical knowledge, even though I had to use the HELP routine on numerous occasions!

'Gases' contains a database of common gases which can be interrogated by the user to compare a range of the properties of these gases. This program also has an investigative game starring inspector Kluedeau who has to discover the identity of a gas by asking for clues. The whole series of programs uses a variety of techniques to introduce, test and revise chemical facts. Given the comprehensive nature of the programs and the popularity of Chemistry sets(?) together with the price, I think this is a bargain buy if you require a general Chemistry package.

It seems that 'Revision' packages give software companies the opportunity to present a lot of text, spice it up with a few graphics and then ask a lot of related questions. That has been the case with the last two companies and it seems that MegaCYCAL with their Revise Physics is no different. Then again, I suppose we should ask why be different if the formula works?

Many of the comments already made could equally well apply to this program. It provides revision and testing of the main topics in 'O' level and CSE courses. The format is again multiple choice questions, (90 of them) covering six sections; Mechanics, Matter and Motion; Waves, Light and Sound; Electricity and Magnetism; Electrons, Atoms and Nuclei; together with two Miscellany sections.

Menu options lead you through this program, which covers a wide range of questions, based on past examination papers and provides the usual Help option if you appear to be struggling. If Physics is causing you problems or if you just want to brush up your knowledge then try this program. Comprehensive and competent!

PAUSE...

Time to interrupt the secondary science programs with a little light relief from Stell Software in the form of their Tables Invaders/Tables Tutor. This has been around for quite a time now and is a drill and practice program in an invaders disguise. This is fairly average example of its type and is not really of much use in these heady days of 'computerate' youngsters. Tables Tutor is of far more worth, especially for the younger user and attempts to teach tables knowledge for the 2 to 5 times tables.

The sound, colour and graphics in this section are bound to appeal to young children and learning is made a fun activity. The second part shows, again with appealing graphics, how the tables are developed by using sets of objects. If you need a tables type program then try this.

Finally, to another Revision package in the Science line, this time from SciCal who offer Images, Motion and D.C. These come with fairly hefty teachers' booklets and a software pack which gives the user the opportunity to create scientific 'models' to their own specifications. Menus lead the pupils through the packages and each program contains a wide range of options. I do not profess to be any kind of authority on the subject matter contained within these subject areas but even for me the learning was painless. Text is broken up by effective diagrams and the option to 'tailor' the equations is valuable.

Each program has similar option facilities based upon graphic models. There is a demo of the basic model and then the option to change given parameters and see the result. I particularly liked the Motion package which, amongst other things deals with velocity, time and distance, acceleration, velocity/time graphs, distance/time graphs and gravity experiments. There is also a test section on each of these areas.

Given that each pupil has different strengths and weaknesses which need to be catered for, I nevertheless found that all the revision packages mentioned this month have a great deal of potential. All provide detailed notes, which of course can be backed up with additional text readers, and each gives a degree of flexibility to the difficult area of exam revision.

With packages such as these I tend to suggest a good book instead but with these packages I feel it would be money well spent. So it only remains to select an area which gives you difficulty and work through some of these programs - they are bound to help. Now all I have to do is await the results of the examinations.......!