Monday, November 6, 2000		Kids Chat

View Earth from Sun

Hello friends and welcome to kids chat.

Cliparti: How-z your school going on?

Fluppy: Nothing much is happening nowadays. With the weather getting cooler and examinations over, schools are preparing for annual day or sports day. Apart from practicing drills, we don’t do much at school.

Cliparti: So that means most of the time you are free. So don’t let the idle mind become the devil’s workshop.

Fluppy: What can I do? After spending so much time on the school field practicing, I don’t feel like going out to play in the evenings. And with almost negligible studies at school, there is hardly any homework to do at home.

Windy: That seems a nice opportunity to catch on with the backlogs.

Fluppy: What do you mean?

Windy: Oh Fluppy, with the schools running at full swing, you hardly get time for yourself or catch on with something that you didn’t understand.

Cliparti: Yeah. And this is a nice time that you can utilise. Be it your spellings, grammar or reading.

Windy: Painting or typing on the keyboard.

Cliparti: Yeah, even getting your fundas straight in Physics or Chemistry.

Fluppy: Okay, now I understand.

Cliparti: So why don’t you start right away?

At http://overware.com/nhome.htm you will find virtual tutor who would assist in learning spellings. It sure is an excellent tool with a user-friendly interface and controls. Spelling lists can be altered or created as per the users requirements. What’s more, you can use it in either practice or spelling mode. In the former, your word is displayed and heard. You will then be required to type it. On misspelling, the digital voice will tell you that you have committed an error. On the other hand, in the latter case, the word will not at all be displayed. And on hearing the word you have to type it before the time runs out. And guess what, if you succeed you are treated to a fireworks show at the end.

Fluppy: That’s nice. Let’s see how many fireworks I can see.

Windy: Good. Then at http://www.meritsoftware.com you will find another software that would improve your vocabulary and comprehension skills. These would also enforce a factual recall, reasoning and drawing conclusions. Before advancing to the final level, there are various other levels to be crossed. First of all, you begin with the tryout mode. The program, using multiple-choice format, determines your capabilities or the strengths and weaknesses. Then you are sent to the warm up mode, where you work on your weaknesses. Then comes the workout mode, followed by crossword puzzles. After crossing all these hurdles you come to the finals. Your track of performance is kept over time and you can see it anytime by entering your name to the program.

Cliparti: Okay, lets give this a break. How about some painting for relaxation? Get creative with www.crescentvision.com and paint on a vast canvas with a wide selection of brush options. What’s more, you can even add some special effects and 3-dimensional images to your painting. Get them printed and paste them on the walls of your room. If mama says no-no, then save them on the disk.

Windy: You know, to be really at ease with the computer typing skill is most essential. When your fingers get sore or speed is slow, you lose the charm after some time. But you can retain it if typing is fun. Log on to http://www.zoogma.com where you can play a game with captain keyboard where the alien monster invades the screen. After a successful completion of a set, you advance to the next level and next and so on. At each level, the words get longer, time shorter and the game more challenging, and even before you know, hey, you have mastered the art of typing.

Fluppy: This is surely a nice one. Learning is fun when you don’t know you are actually in the process of learning.

Cliparti: Rightly said. There is another software where you don’t get the feel of learning, yet you learn so much. It is at http://www.kidwaresoftware.com. Although this is an educational program dealing in math, spelling, comprehension, geography and more, yet its games and mind puzzlers lead you to think that you are playing.

Windy: One of my favourite fun time download is at http://www.openuniverse.org

Fluppy: What does it have?

Windy: It has stars, sky, sun, moon and spacecraft. It is actually an astronomy program where you can view your target option from the source object. For example you can view Earth from say, Sun or Moon. You can move through the space faster and faster or guide your camera using the cursor keys. This program offers top-view map, labels and detailed display information. Get set on your star ship and travel through space. Explore our solar system which very few have the chance to, in real life.

Fluppy: Hey, we are running out of time and ____

Cliparti: And we have not yet told you of your game site.

Fluppy: Yes.

Windy: Fluppy all the sites that we talked about today are basically
 fun site ____

Fluppy: Accompanied with education!

Cliparti: Okay, log on to Nashville Public Library. You will find lots of fun stuff, games and puzzles, movies, sports and pen/key pals on it. Log on to http://www.nashv. lib.tn.us/kids/links/fun.html and look what is in store for you?

Fluppy: Thanks. I thought we would end our chat without any games site.

Windy: With you around, I don’t think we can ever dare to do that. Can we, Cliparti.

Cliparti: Na, Na, Never.

— Ira Verma