Spelling Can Be Noisy...

Laser Letters, from Shards Software, is crammed full of programs, with six separate spelling games, each of which can be used with its own word store of more than 500 words.

This allows the program to be utilised with a wide range of children, from six years of age upwards.

A menu is displayed which allows each game to be selected, as well as for changes in the on-screen printing speed, difficulty level and so on.

Amazingly, there is no control whatever over the rather loud sound effects, which would soon prove to be annoying in a classroom.

Although the sounds are effective in one ofthe programs, in the others it tends to be more distracting than anything else.

Word Tangle and Letter Shuffle share the same purpose, that of testing alphabetical order.

In Letter Shuffle, this is tested on individual letters, while the other program extends the idea to words.

In neither case is there any attempt to correct or to teach, with the only screen responses being to award a score, or to ask for another try.

In fact, the computer will not give up, and stubbornly carries on asking for answers ad tedium. Whether a program like this has any advantage over a book or a blackboard is for the reader to decide.

Next Letter merely asks the child to enter the next letter in the alphabet after a given list, and seems to be of very little real purpose. Certainly the children I tried it with didn't want to know this part at all.

Back to Back simulates a spelling competition in which the child tries to enter missing letters from a certain list in order to tip a bucket of evil-looking gunge on to the opposing figure before it ends up all over the picture of the child.

There are various combinations of letters which can be selected, but I am still not entirely convinced of the real value of a program of this kind.

By far the best idea on the tape is an original-looking idea called Bridge of Words.

A simple clapper-type bridge is made of three words, one each for the supports and one for the centre span. Certain letters are missing from each word, and these are gathered together near the top of the screen.

An asterisk is moving continuously across the bridge, and can be replaced by a letter by pressing the appropriate key. When the letter is in the correct position, it is released by pressing the Spacebar, and in this way the bridge can be completed.

This game has much potential, and as a teacher, I would have liked to see a chance to enter my own choice of words to suit my own children.

As it stands, this program alone is almost good enough to make it worth buying the cassette.

The last program on the tape, Laser Letters itself, continues the theme of missing letters, but with the child having to fire the right letter exactly into place as it moves erratically up and down the screen.

The scrolling effect makes it quite exciting for a child to play, and, with Bridge of Words, tips the balance in favour of this tape.

However, I see its use much more at home than in schools.

Phil Tayler