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Number Concepts 2 with Penn and Gwen

Number Concepts 2 with Penn and Gwen from IntelliTools

IntelliTools is committed to developing programs that can be used by as many students as possible in a classroom. This new program has been designed specifically for inclusion, as all students in the class can access the package. Students are able to interact with Number Concepts 2 by moving a mouse around the screen, by pressing on an IntelliKeys overlay (four overlays are supplied with this program), or by operating a switch for students who have more severe physical disabilities. Installation is from a hybrid CD-ROM and can be run on PC compatible computers running MS Windows or on MAC OS computers. It is an interactive maths game designed for middle primary students as well as being an ideal package for older students who have special learning needs.

Maths Skills in a Game Format

Students travel to a far off land of ice and snow where they join forces with two amusing characters, Penn and Gwen - who are Penguins! They match wits against the enemy, Flame. Flame is a threat as he is a fiery menace, who retreats each time a maths problem is solved correctly. In the process, students master skip counting, place value, factoring, and use a hundreds chart. Each of the three activities involves solving maths problems with the opportunity to explore in open-ended activities. Students learn about numbers in a supportive, positive and fun way.

It teaches identification of numbers to one hundred. Skip counting skills are honed and practised. Place value up to millions is provided with factor work to one hundred. Students interact with the software in three environments. The game is set in a fictitious place, Polar World. There is the Ice Cave where you practise factoring, The Ice Machine for place value and the Ice Flow for skip counting and number chart. Penn and Gwen provide instructions and assistance as students attempt to answer questions and find the correct answer. The directions are auditory so it does not suit deaf or hearing impaired students. As with most software, though, after exposure and some practise, most children learn to "drive" it competently anyway!

Students can develop and practise maths skills in each environment. A corresponding IntelliKeys overlay is available for instant use as well. You simply start the program and press on the start up overlay. Students are invited to logo on as a visitor or they type in their name. A record keeping feature allows teachers to keep track of progress, set number limits, customise the activities, print daily statistics and monitor progress.

The three work areas are beautifully illustrated. You choose where you wish to begin working by clicking with the mouse or using your overlay. Therefore, mouse and keyboard users can play with an IntelliKeys and/or switch users. Voice and sound can be turned off or on in the program, or students can wear headphones for private listening.

It has a number of exciting features. Everything is animated; vibrantly coloured illustrated screens and high quality voice combine to provide learners with a motivating and captivating program with which to hone their maths skills. There are two modes for each environment:

• Question and Answer: In this mode, Penn and Gwen pose questions for students to answer
• Explore Mode: This mode allows users to set up their own problem and to explore numbers factors and rules.

Place Value Activity

Penn and Gwen greet the student and explain the aim of the activity which is to click on the cubes corresponding to the place value of units, tens, hundreds and so on, in order to match the number displayed. You can set number limits from 9 to 1,999,999 for each student in teacher options before a student attempts the activity. The place value buttons can be shown or hidden as well. Students can listen to the number displayed as well as the their answer at any time as they are either 'making' (addition) or "melting" (subtraction) their ice cube answer. When they consider that they have matched the number they press 'Go'. They are given useful clues and responses until they answer correctly. Then the screen animates and shows the character Flame being bombarded with melted ice and extinguished. Each place value cube has a corresponding sound (the units have a very high tone). The colourful animation will appeal to this age group.

Hundreds Chart

Students can practise number facts as they use a Puffin (a small bird) to skip count across a matrix or grid). The matrix range can be set from 10 to 100, where you decide upon the number of cubes. The problem type can involve filling in the blanks and counting problems, only skip counting problems, or only fill in the blanks. In Teacher Options, you set a number of blanks from 1 to 100 blank (from 2 to 15) and/or leave certain numbers blank or set a range. In Skip counting you set a random number (between 2 and 15) or skip count from designated numbers (e.g. 3, 4 or 5) so students can practise their knowledge of tables and readily see number patterns emerging.

You also allocate the number of problems before the reward animation is played. The Puffin moves after you click on each of the skip counting numbers (e.g. for 5 with a matrix set to 40, click on the numbers 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40). The Puffin is kept until you answer from 1 to 4 problems, then Flame is dealt an ice-cold deluge of water.

Factoring

In the Ice Cave, students have to answer with two factors, or all factors of number ranging from 2 to 100. Penn and Gwen provide a randomly chosen number from a range that you can set beforehand. Instructions are provided as spoken directions. Students click on numbers at the bottom of the screen and position the factors to the left and on top of the number. Then the student presses 'Go'. Where there are more than two factors (e.g. 28: 1 and 28; 2 and 14; 4 and 7) the student must respond three times before the factoring is complete. After 1-4 problems solved, Flame is dealt with a cold shower!

Teacher Options provide numerous opportunities to customise each activity for each student. The program features an automatic Tracking System that records how much time a child spends on the program, which problems were completed, and the answers given. Teachers and parents can quickly see how the student is working and whether they need to intervene or change the complexity or level of difficulty. The charts can be printed and displayed or stored for report writing time.

Children will enjoy these activities as the screens come alive with Penn, Gwen, Flame and other amusing characters. The artwork, although very 'busy' and quite cluttered, is of a very high quality. It would not suit a child who is visually impaired, as the figure ground aspect is too complicated with a great deal of detail on each screen. All spoken directions and prompts are clearly voiced and well articulated using cartoon-style voices. The package will appeal to students from Grade 2 to 4, depending upon their skills. Older students who have special needs will enjoy the program as Number Concepts 2 is quite age and interest appropriate - up to Grade 6. It depends on each child.

The inherent beauty of IntelliTools software is that all students can participate. As always, it is up to the teacher to ascertain whether the content is age appropriate, relevant and therefore, suitable.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MS Windows

Pentium processor, 133 MHz or greater, Windows 95 with 16 MB available RAM; Windows 98 with 32 MB available RAM; 15 MB hard drive space; 4x CD-ROM drive; SVGA monitor, Windows compatible sound card

MAC OS

Power Mac 8500/150; System 7.5 or higher; 17 MB available RAM; 15 MB hard drive space; 4X CD-ROM drive; 256-colour monitor.