ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN LIMA NEWSLETTER -- 1993 ~~~~~ TI-101 ~~~~~ OUR 4/A UNIVERSITY by Jack Sughrue Box 459 E.Douglas MA 01516 #6 THE COURSE TEXTS In order for you to pass this course, Class, you have to have a decent working knowledge of the texts. Now, here is where we practice lots of flexibility (which, you may have noticed, abounds in this classroom). There are so many wonderful texts (and a few dogs) available for our TI, even now, that you should consider at least three for essential reading and the final projects. These will be worth one-third of your entire grade. By texts I mean textware: the printed materials for your TI's. These would include your very best source, of course: the newsletters that come with club membership. This newsletter networking is THE BEST SOURCE of all because you are part of a group, even by long-distance mail. Another essential source of educational and survival materials is the magazine devoted to your specific computer. There have been many, but there is only one left: MICROpendium. It's the only international source for all things (including advertisements) TI or Geneve. To own and use your computer to the fullest extent and not subscribe to MICROpendium is like owning a marvelous pair of eyeglass frames but not getting around to putting the lenses in so you can see properly. The subscription (from P.O.^Box 1343, Round Rock, TX 78680) is only $25 per year. Tiny price to keep your great computer great. The third source is what we're discussing today, Class. And, yes, Ms.^Bronte, this will include references to adult learners as well as to children. The third source is the texts available. Note the word "available," Class. Availabilty of text written a decade ago may seem impossible, but not so. Most user groups have extensive libraries of texts for long-term loan. Individuals within groups sell off their text materials often. Such text materials can be found very inexpensively at every TI fair in America and Canada. And, again, MICROpendium lists agents and individuals from whom you may purchase lots of printed materials. For example, if you all look up here for a moment. I am holding the latest copy of THE magazine. Those up back can't see it, so I'll read it to you. "99-cent Book Blowout!" It's a publisher's clearance. You can buy books at 99 cents each. These include the following: THE ELEMENTARY TI, GAMES TI's PLAY, COMPUTER PLAYGROUND, PROGRAMS FOR THE TI COMPUTER, USING && PROGRAMMING THE TI, INTRO TO ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE, and Volumes I && II of GAME WRITERS PACK and STARTER PACK, both packs from England. Some come with disks and/or cassettes at additional charges. But the point is this: these are still new books that cost on the average $12-plus when they first came out. They are still the same good books, still new to anyone who has not read and used them, and still available at almost giveaway prices. Not all ten of these books will suit every learner, but there is certainly something for everyone included in this collection. And that's just from the TEXCOMP ad (P.O.Box 33084, Granada Hills CA 91344; Phone: 818 366-6631). There are other advertisers in classifieds that also offer all kinds of text materials. So, Class, the stuff is available to anyone who wants it. And did I mention Barry Traver? No? Wow! How is it possible that we are practically through this semester on such an important topic as the TI-99/4a computer and I did not mention its greatest advocate, the man who has done as much for the TI as any spokesperson for any organization that I know of. Rather than list all Barry's writing and speaking and programming efforts, his work on BBS's and for various magazines, his appearances at numerous fairs, I will just mention the relationship he has to the present topic, though I'm not sure it might be better saved until we discuss things next class. Ah, well, what the hell. Barry has a wonderful educational tool in the form of a diskazine. This diskazine is called GENIAL TRAVELER. The "zines" have been nothing short of remarkable. Volume after volume have been rich with educational wonders and remarkable, big bonuses. You have to experience GT to appreciate the jam-packed series. There's nothing like it. Though I've given you Barry's address in a previous class, I'm well aware that some of you have not taken careful notes. Barry can be reached at 835 Green Valley Drive, Philadelphia PA 19128. I think when you send off for your magazine subscription today, you should also send a note to Barry asking about the cost of the numerous disks in his volumes of great materials. What made me think of Barry is that one of the disks includes the second most complete list of all TI publications there ever was. A little synopsis goes with each. The first most complete list was in a series called NEW-AGE/99 by some old geezer from Massachusetts. I can't think of his name now, but I'm sure you can find references to him when you go searching through newsletters. He did a lot of reviews, too, but I think he approached things more from a visceral level than an intellectual one. Anyway, Barry's your better source here because of all the other things contained in the GT disks. Now where was I, Class? Oh, yes, texts and tests. You'll be having some of this on the final, so wake up in the back, stick your gum behind your ears, and listen up! With your pencils. Before I go any further, TI-ing or otherwising, I have to insist you get your hands on a copy - any copy - of THE SECRET GUIDE TO COMPUTERS by a bizarre and hilarious genius by the name of Russ Walter (22 Ashland Street #2, Somerville MA 02144-3202). This 8X11, 600-plus page, mindbogglingly wonderful book for layman or technowhiz is bursting at the seams with all you'll ever need to know about computers. Now in its 16th edition, it's a steal at $15, but if you order two they are $12 each. Four or more are $9 each, shipping and taxes (except Massachusetts) included, so hook on with some friends or your user group. Once you have this remarkable and remarkably readable book in your hand (considered the world's top-rated tutorial by a list of experts and novices as long as your arm and a lot longer than mine), you will never again be the same; nor will your computer. You simply have to experience "Russy-poo" in order to understand that his is THE essential book for any person who owns a computer. That aside, let's look at some very specific educational text materials for our TI. First, there's a problem. When we talk educational text material, we must eliminate the modules and anything related to LOGO, as we will deal with these educational items on a particular basis in future classes. Second, we must define educational in the specific context with which we have been structuring these classes. That means we really have to eliminate the "learning" that comes only from learning about the computer. Texts that teach us how to write programs, for instance, or texts that teach us how to balance a budget using our wonderful machine, are not really appropriate here, but typing in programs that specifically deal with education DO fit our class requirements. For example, the C.W.Engel book STIMULATING SIMULATIONS FOR THE TI-99/4A published in various forms from 1977 to 1984 by Hayden Publishers, was the first important educational tool for me. Not only did it have detailed instructions and flowcharts for each of the type-in programs, but it had enough errors from translating the programs from other computers to the TI that the intellectual puzzles of figuring out what went wrong and correcting it were wonderful educational opportunities. Many of the programs were "intellectual" games, rather than arcade. Later, with toots and whistles, they became more "arcadey" in other people's books, including other Hayden books. Hayden published the most TI-specific books. I wish they still did. Ah, well. STIMULATING SIMULATIONS, though, is not the kind of text we need to locate and use for educating our youngsters and new oldsters. The best book of the learning to program type is KIDS AND THE TI-99/4A, which also leads to some eduational programs, too. It's the clearest, most direct, easiest "programming" book. Done in 33 lessons, it is still used in many classrooms today; not just with TI's but with other computers, also, and at very young grade levels. THE ELEMENTARY TI, mentioned in that TEXCOMP list earlier, is probably the best of that sort for adults. But the kind of books which best exemplify the educational aspects of the programs typed in - in other words, the LEARNING FUNCTION - are the ones I'll hold up now and give a say a word or two about. Another one from the TEXCOMP 99-cent list is COMPUTER PLAYGROUND (Datamost's TI version). Although this can be classified as a beginner programming book, it is so unusual that the logic it teaches in an incredibly entertaining way makes it a real winner for any learner. (It's geared for Grades 2-7.) The book is a combination workbook/coloring book and deals with BASIC in such a puzzle-solving way that it becomes, itself, a complete course in thinking. It stands alone. This is not to be confused with TI PLAYGROUND by Fred D'Ignazio, another Hayden book. Fred also wrote a similar book called TI WONDERLAND. Both books include programs written by students, and ALL the 40-plus programs are written FOR students. Each chapter is an educational game that is introduced with a section for parents and teachers and another for kids. Each game has one educational feature (such as subtraction) and follow-up activities that allow an almost unlimited number of modifications. The programs aren't just alphabet and number programs. Because it's a TI, the computer is able to have programs that teach color and music and drawing and hand/eye coordination very readily through these marvelously childlike and truly sophisticated programs. Very easy to type in and change all along the way. Lots of very positive rewarding, too. Lest you think Hayden was the only publisher for TI - though I'd recommend you seek out their other books - there were many others, as you can see from these piles on my desk. Take, for example, TI GAMES FOR KIDS put out by COMPUTE!, one of the very best publishers of TI stuff, including Regena's two classics. TI GAMES FOR KIDS proclaims its purpose right on the cover here: "Turn your TI into a teacher. Thirty-two games that teach and entertain, ready to type in and run." This book takes the trouble to identify each of its activities by age level (3 to 17/adult) and educational function and subject: strategy, logic, memory, coordination, language arts, social studies, math, etc. (Strategy games include an excellent version of Fox and Geese, by the way.) As I look over these other books, it's hard for me to say which I would recommend the most for educational use. I have a public school teacher friend who still uses the TI in his class. His favorite educational book is TERRIFIC GAMES FOR THE TI99/4A by Hal Renko and Sam Edwards. Let's see, this is published by Addison-Wesley. It has small size and type but is plenty thick. It contains some neat little drawings, to which you people up front can attest, for the 30-plus games. There are some unusual ones here: Genius at Work, Escher, Rainbow Square Dance, The Wolf and the Five Little Goats, Shakespearian Shuffle, Mini Mancala, and so on. Good stuff. Remember, now, most of these are not made to be super arcade games. They are made to be typed in - usually with lots of explanations and helpful hints - and are meant to teach something while entertaining. And they do that well. One of the most popular books ever of this sort was (and is) Steve Davis's PROGRAMS FOR THE TI HOME COMPUTER, self published in large 8X11 format. Although the type-in programs included many utility programs, the majority were educational or verging on the educational (like "Bar Graph Printer" and "Talking Calculator," for examples). There are very few people who did not get hung up on the probabilty games like "Ten-Up" and "Lucky Seven" or the maddening "Echo" of Simon fame. He even has a "French Teacher" program and a "Speed Reader." One of the best. Scholastic book publishers released a pile of multi-computer large format books, each containing about 40 programs for elementary school children to type in and use. Here's an example: COMPUTER OLYMPICS. Each of the books has a theme. This one is all Olympics. It opens with the torch that lights the Olympic Flame. There are programs that teach words in various languages; some that let you recall other records; some that require some math skill (like the weightlifting one) or word skill (like the rowing one). All are simple to type in, no matter what your computer, if you follow the rules on the various basics, and all are simple to execute. Actually, with the built-in motivation of the Olympics in Spain, this book on summer Olympics is perfect for teaching at home or school. Look into the other Scholastic books, too. They also teach you lots about the various basics, if you want to do some explorations. With the TI, though, you can easily slip in some color and sound not readily available on other computers listed in these books. Because our time is running short and we only have a couple more classes this semester, I've got to finish off with these last two books, but, as you can see, I haven't even been able to talk about all these others in these piles. At the last TI fair I went to, Ipicked up additional copies of 19 different titles of TI books! (And paid a grand total of $15, by the way.) Now everyone will be able to take two and give a two-minute review of each next time. You may come up and sign out two (or three, if you're interested in extra credit) to do for your reviews and your end-of-term projects. Meanwhile, let me just mention these last two books. If you can get yourself a copy of Richard Mowe and Ron Mummaw's ACADEMIC TI, do it; even if you have to pay the full $12.95. It's worth it. Published by Reston in 1984 (one of the newer books mentioned today), it was one of the few books totally devoted to TI as an educational tool. It told parents and teachers how to get the very most out of our computer EDUCATIONALLY. When you read the articles and do the worksheets and explore the options from modules to disks to LOGO to word processing and so on, you will be astounded at how magnificent our machine is and how out-of-date it isn't. It still does all the educational things it was geared up to do better than any other machine out there. Which is not to say it is as sophisticated as some of the biggies, but what it does educationally it still does better than anyone. And the last book. Remember this, anyone? Ah, it's good to see so many hands up. THE BEST OF 99er is still around a lot of fairs and user groups. It's 368 8Xll pages are jampacked with all the goodies that made the 4a the prize goodie of all. And Regena was really kicking up her heels in this one. Do you recall "Name That Bone" and all the Homework Helpers? The Computer Assisted Instruction was so popular with the TI then, the term was simply CAI. And everyone understood it. There was so much of it around for parents, teachers, and other kinds of humans. The BEST OF 99er is one of the very best. So, Class, unless there are any questions, come and sign up for your books and ... Yes, Mr.^Shakespeare? What do I consider the Mother of All TI Books? Hmmm. Well, my personal favorite for more reasons than I can begin to list, including some super educational reasons, has got to be Paul Garrison's THE LAST WHOLE TI99/4A BOOK: PROGRAMS AND POSSIBILITIES, published by Wiley Press in 1984. Even after all these years it is still my preferred TI piece of textware. It's 460 pages are lucid, witty, intelligent, relevant, and very worthwhile. The tutorials and the programs are excellent. They DO provide unlimited possibilities for growth. I never loan out my only copy of that one. Sorry. Until next time then. Don't forget to bring your book reviews and all of your modules.