CompuServe Thread

#Discovery-Math

12 messages in this thread
#68From: Thomas HoladayJul 12, 1988 8:26 PM
I wish there were a way to get a simpler level than 'A' on Discovery-Math edition. My six year old is pretty good with adding and subtracting numbers from 0 to 6, but gets overwhelmed by 8 + 9. Any chance of a Disocovery Question Toolbox?
#74From: Mike BerroJul 12, 1988 9:25 PM
Thomas, I will pass your request along to the Education Software manager, and get back to you. —Mike
#119From: Mike BerroJul 15, 1988 5:46 PM
Thomas, A clever hacker should be able to create his own questions. The questions are standard ASCII text, with just a few embedded control characters (so I am told). There are no plans for a Discovery Toolbox at the present time, but I have passed along your suggestion to the programmer. Thanx! —Mike
#145From: Thomas HoladayJul 16, 1988 11:38 AM
Maybe there's a market for a Discovery Hacker's Tipsheet with a guide to the control codes? Trial and error, here I come …
#153From: Mike BerroJul 16, 1988 9:03 PM
Thomas, I will see if I can get the specs on making your own questions. —Mike
#188From: Mike BerroJul 18, 1988 8:02 PM
Thomas, Unfortunately, the MATH questions are not in a data file; they are created randomly by the program. Most of the other subjects use text files for the questions and answers. —Mike
#199From: Thomas HoladayJul 19, 1988 8:46 AM
Alas. I spent some time with the Discovery / Math Edition diskette looking for a lesson document, without success. I am glad to know I failed due to "item missing." I like the way Discovery Math teaches "carry" addition. Maybe there's another product that will do the simpler sums. My kid can do the addition table up to 5 + 5 because nature gave her ten fingers, so it makes her feel good to be able to open the doors. 8 + 9 is 17 though, and that's more than she can handle just yet, so that makes her feel inadequate.
#200From: Mike BerroJul 19, 1988 12:01 PM
Thomas, You are just going to have to teach her to use her toes! Seriously, I will pass on your suggestion. —Mike
#205From: Thomas HoladayJul 19, 1988 6:57 PM
Would you kindly ask the Discovery Math programmer how much money he'd want for a personalized version? One that'd boot up "Especially for Louisa" (with the simplified arithmetic)? She has a birthday coming up …
#208From: Mike BerroJul 19, 1988 9:32 PM
Thomas, It is the same person who is working on Music-X, so I don't expect him to have much time until it is done! 8) I am not familiar with Discovery, but perhaps you can modify the startup-sequence for a personal message? —Mike
#217From: Thomas HoladayJul 20, 1988 8:37 AM
Discovery's "Cast of Characters" is an IFF file which I can modify with Photon Paint (that's a MicroIllusions product, right?) so there _are_ home remedies. My main desire was for the simplified math routines, and I was thinking of ways I could make it worth the programmer's time to recompile the code as a one-off so that it wouldn't have to go through all the layers of quality assurance and discussion that program changes usually require.
#222From: Mike BerroJul 20, 1988 5:19 PM
Photon Paint is indeed a Microillusions product. I will present your proposal to the programmer, but his contract to Microillusions (which I am not privy to) may preclude him from doing this. —Mike