JAMES WALSH, OUR PINT-SIZED EDUCATION REVIEWER, THE TERROR OF HIS SCHOOL IN LOUGHTON, TAKES A LOOK IN THIS iSSUE AT THREE EDUCATIONAL PACKAGES, FOR THE ZX81 AND SPECTRUM.

In this edition I have been asked to look at three educational packages for the ZX81 and the Spectrum, The first one that I'll look at is CALPACs new Spectrum "JUNIOR EDUCATION" cassette which (I quote) "contains eight attractive, easy-to-use programs for the 7 to 11 age group, including Maths, English, Junior Science and History. Colour graphics and sounds are used extensively".

The other two packages are both for the ZX81 and are produced by ROSE CASSETTES. I use the word package intentionally, as both cassettes contain no less than 6 full length programs. The two packages that I will look at shortly are: JUNIOR ENGLISH 1 and G.C.E. "O" level FRENCH.

As I said earlier (if you were listening), I would first like to look at CALPAC's JUNIOR EDUCATIONAL cassette or the ZX Spectrum, so here goes:...

The cassette itself comes well packaged with a specially prepared leaflet of teachers notes. Though they are brief, they do give the teacher, parent or pupil for that matter, a reasonably good idea of what each program aims to do and hence whether they fit their requirements. My only suggestion is that some hints on loading could be included for the uninitiated user.

DRAWING PICTURES

The first program is called DRAW. The idea is simply that you can guide a dot around the screen and draw pretty pictures with it. It is reasonably advanced as it allows you to control a number of functions listed below: iNK, PAPER, FLASH, BRIGHT, OVER, INVERSE, INVISIBLE, ON, OFF, SLOW, FAST, COPY and ENOUGH. Though this program holds very little educational value as such, it is a very good way for a newcomer to find his or her way around the keyboard, and generally feel that they are in control.

The second program is called "HOMEOPHONES", or in other words, words that sound the same but mean different things. You are given a sentence with a blank space and two or three alternative answers. You then type in the answer that you think is right. If you are correct then a graphically represented plant will grow and if you get to the end it will flower. If however you are wrong it makes a raspberry noise and goes onto the next question. Though the idea and application is good there is no variety, and I feel that most kids of the prospective age-group would get bored with the same questions and only one special drawing at the end. Next on the tape is "SUB", which is a basic subtraction program. It deals with the subtraction of larger numbers from smaller numbers in a very understandable way. If you get a question right then you get a pleasant tone and the bridge gets a little longer. If you get it wrong then the program will carefully take you through the right way of doing it. At the end a tank will drive across the bridge and stop if it cannot get to the other side. A very thoughtful addition is the facility to choose how the answer should be explained, depending upon the way in which the pupil has been taught so far. This is a reasonably good program, but it gets rather boring after a while.

NATURE STUDIES

"FLOWER" is by far the best program on the cassette so far. It first draws an accurate diagram of a typical flower and all its parts. It then goes on to tell you what they all do and how. It also tells you where they all are and test you on their location. This program is ideal for 2nd year science/biology pre-'O' Level course candidates, as this is a major subject.

We now flip the cassette over and start looking at the second four programs.

TABLES

The first program on side two is called, quite aptly, TABLES. You are allowed to specify a particular table from 2 to 12, or if you prefer then a variety up to a specified table, (3 to 12). It will then ask you 20 questions. If you get a question right then a bit more of your graphic train is drawn. If you get one wrong you hear another raspberry tone and the offending table is displayed. When you have finished your score is displayed and your train is shown driving through the countryside. This program is very good, ideal for Junior school and lower secondary school pupils.

Next we come to "COMP" - an English comprehension program. A sentence is given with a blank and you have to choose one of four words to fit m that space. The special value of this program is that it allows you to enter your own words and phrases. Again, if you get the answer right a bit more of the plant is drawn, and if you get it wrong it... you guessed it, makes a raspberry noise.

CHARIOTS

"ROMANS" is a simple question and answer program on Roman history. If you get enough questions right the horse will gallop away with its chariot. Personally I found that this was reasonably advanced for a Junior school and so would be useful in Secondary school as well.

The final program on this cassette is called "SPELL", which is quite naturally a spelling program. The difference being that you type in the words and clues so that pupils can be tested. This way a large library of words can be built-up.

In all this is a good cassette. There may be certain programs that you will decide not to use, but this is mainly due to the incredible variety on this one cassette. I agree with the maximum age of 11 for the programs, except for FLOWERS and ROMANS, which may be useful in secondary schools.

This cassette can be obtained for £5.50 from the address below: CALPAC Computer Software, 108 Hermitage Woods Crescent, St. Johns, WOKING Surrey. GU21 1 UF.

This is definitely a worthwhile cassette for any junior school teaching using a SPECTRUM in class.