software reviews

616

Software ReviewsAnne MillerCathy Radziemski, Editors

Marcma MilliganArizona State UniversityTempe, Arizona 85287

Course Builder 2.0

TeleRobotics International8410 Oak Ridge HighwayKnoxville, Tennessee 37931

List Price: $395.00

Requires: 512K Macintosh and two 400Kdisk drives

Features: Programming Language withtext, graphics, animation, and sound

Copy Protection: None

Course Builder 2.0 by TeleRobotics International challenges new trends in education.This courseware authoring system allows the user to create still other programs whichstand alone and may be used independently in the classroom. Course Builder is avisually oriented programming language that allows the user to create complex courseswhile using graphics, sound, and animation.Once the user is accustomed with Mac’s powerful tools and ease of use, designing and

developing specific courses in line with designated objectives become a creative challengemade realistic with Course Builder. A major bonus is the program’s ability to be used asa stand alone application created specifically to meet the teaching needs of today’smodern day teacher�building on today’s basics, yet focusing on tomorrow’s challenges.

Getting Started with Course Builder�Boot Demo DiskDouble Click "Simulate" (A programming language of graphics, sound, and

animation)Course Map appears at the Desk TopTo the left are courseware development toolsA. Output Tools�allow you to present animation, text, graphics and sound to the

student.B. Input Tools�allow you to gather mouse info, text, new dialogue or numeric

responses from the student.C. Nest Tools�divides the course into chaptersD. Flow Tools�allow you to start and stop the courseE. Calculate Tools�allows you to perform mathematical operations.

School Science and MathematicsVolume 88 (7) November 1988

Software Reviews 617

First�Select Start ToolDouble click icon to create Start Block

Second�Select a Design Window ToolDouble click icon to create Design Window Block

Third�Select a Mouse Input ToolDouble click icon to create Mouse Input Block

Fourth�Using same method create two more Design Windows and a Stop BlockFifth�Connect all blocks with arrows

Double click and drag the arrows from one block to another. These blocksform simple questions�allows free flow of information.

THE COURSE STARTS HERE.Next we ask for a question in the Design Window and wait for a Mouse Input. If the

answer is wrong, give a hint then loop back to ask the question again. If the answer iscorrect, tell the student and end the course.Now you must fill in the contents of the Block.Each block has two parts:1. Information�Double Click to change block name and characteristics.2. Presentation�Double Click to change visual representation�draw the picture the

student sees at run time.When you have filled in all of the blocks, select Run from the Menu.In summary, the Course Builder introduces a new approach to programming

language. By simplifying the programming skills necessary to build courseware so thatteachers can learn to use Macintosh Equipment combined with Course Builder to designspecialize tutorial, remedial and advanced learning modules. An incredible new conceptin education and technology.

World Builder ^y Campbell��Silicon Beach Software, Inc. Arizona State UniversityP.O. Box 261430 Tempo, Arizona 85287San Diego, California 92126(619) 695-6956

Audience: Seventh and UpMacintosh 128K, Macintosh 512K,Macintosh Plus, Macintosh 512Enhanced, Macintosh XL90-day Warranty

World Builder is an artificial intelligence software package to be used primarily as agame creation tool. This computerized, role playing interactive fiction game allowscreative thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making on the part of the designer andthe player. The computer keeps track of moves, accompanying as a combinationstoryteller, scorekeeper, confidant, and referee.World Builder combines a text editor to describe the scenes in words, a graphics

editor to draw the scenes, characters, and objects, and a series of dialog boxes to create


618 Software Reviews

or change the characteristics of your worlds, to help create realistic and excitingadventures with interesting characters, plot, and action. It is used to generate the scenes,characters, and objects.Each scene, or location, in an adventure has four components that are designer

controlled:The Design: The picture that appears when the scene is entered.The Text: The words and descriptions that appear when the scene is entered.The Data’. Information about which directions are blocked, and which sounds are

automatically linked to the scene.The Code: The list of instructions that tells the program how to handle the player’s

actions in the scene.Characters in World Builder are defined by attributes: how strong they are, how

likely they are to fight, how open they are to offerings, and so on.Objects in World Builder can be of different types, and different types are assigned

different attributes. Armor and weapons, for instance, need strength attributes assigned;magical objects need spell accuracy ratings.World Builder is a resource-based program. The biggest advantage to this is that you

can make changes, save them, quit World Builder^ immediately go double-click on yournewly created game and the changes are there.World Builder has some drawbacks and you can find yourself frustrated with it. For

one thing, it uses so much of a Macintosh’s memory that it doesn’t leave much roomfor designing. You will need to copy some of the program on a data disk in order tobuild your game. The documentation needs to be more specific and designed to providehelpful suggestions for teachers about ways of using the program in the classroom. Theprogram would benefit teachers more if it were adapted to the Apple IIGS since manyschool districts are now purchasing that machine. However, until school districts beginupgrading their computer memory capabilities, the use of this program in the classroomwill not be possible.No piece of software is for everyone and this package is definitely not intended for

casual use. It requires a significant amount of class time and teacher involvement. Asuggested use for this program in education would be in the English or historycurriculum where students can create stories and combine graphics to enhance thewriting component of the English curriculum and the problem-solving component of thehistory curriculum. In the classroom, it is recommended students work in groupsdesigning games and individually playing designed games.World Builder is an outstanding, exciting, thought provoking piece of software that

gives us a glimpse of future artificial intelligence programs that soon will be designedfor use in the field of education.

# # #

Did you know that. . .

the original problem involving the equilateral triangle was first solved by theItalian mathematician Vincenzo Viviani (1622-1703)? In fact, Viviani showed thatthe house could be anywhere (inside or outside the triangle) if the perpendiculardistances of a point outside the triangle to the triangle’s sides are considered to benegative.


software reviews

Documents