Navigating the Web
Continued from page 6
This multimedia portrait of Canada is designed to promote the effective use of information technology and is the result of a collaborative effort of many provincial and territorial partners. The site was produced by young people across Canada, under contract to Industry Canada's SchoolNet Digital Collections (SDC) Program. The collections are arranged alphabetically and by subject, and new collections are added on an ongoing basis.
The SchoolNet Digital Collections (www.schoolnet.ca/collections/) displays over 100 collections from the holdings of Canadian archives, libraries, museums, associations, businesses, labour unions and other organizations.
The collection will soon include Technology, Literacy and Employability forAt-Risk Youth, at: www.schoolnet.ca/ collections/ca/street
AlphaCom Presents New Literacy Publications
AlphaCom has recently added new literacy publications to its site, as well as information on desktop publishing.
There is currently an added incentive to visit this site. Leave a comment about the new publications and you may be eligible for their contest. The World Wide Web address is www.alphacom.gbrownc.on.ca
SHAREWARE REVIEW
Big Math Attack
BY ED LOWERY
Many people are usually put off when they see or hear the words "Arcade
Type Game" describing an educational I computer program. Perhaps they
j should take a few minutes to try Big Math Attack. True, it
operates in a "fun, graphical arcade environment" to test math,
spelling, typing and metric conversion skills, but it does so in such a
manner that it can be both enjoyable and addictive for many learners,
regardless of their age or skill level. I have even seen literacy
co-ordinators get hooked on it during training seminars!
Big Math Attack has several adjustable skill levels that make this program suitable for both adults and children. Scores can be recorded to track progress, and the user can create personalized spelling lists for use with the program. It is also possible to slow down or even completely stop the 'arcadetype' action, if desired.
While this program, like most simple computer games available on the Internet, is not designed to replace nonnal tutoring materials, it can definitely be a useful and inexpensive addition to a tutor's toolkit. Besides being educational, it can also be fun!
Big Math Attack can be downloaded from various Internet sites. The NALD Links to Internet Resources/ Educational Resources/ Software page (at: http://www.nald.ca/netlinks/ed_res_l.htm) has an entry for "The SimtelNet MS-DOS Programs". This Website carries Big Math Attack in zipped format as "bigma250. zip".
Ed Lowery created and maintains the literacy software site at NALD from his home in New Brunswick.