The main educational purpose of Round-Up from Tynesoft lies
in the practicing of rounding up to the next multiple of 10, so that
27 becomes 30 and so on.
A fair enough idea, perhaps, but I am less than convinced
about the way it's then implemented.
It centres around a maze with a little figure moving around
trying to collect money by passing guards — no, I didn't see
the link either - who are dotted around the maze. In order to
successfully move on, an addition or subtraction question,
shown in the centre of the screen, has to be answered.
>
Three answers are illuminated in sequence. The child selects an
answer by pressing the spacebar when the desired answer is
illuminated.
An incorrect answer rather abruptly ends the game - no
three lives here - and I question the educational value ofthis kind
of failure. I personally like those programs which children are
forced to succeed at, rather than actually being told they have
failed.
Several children found the maze had no obvious destination, and they
also seemed to be bored a little too quickly for it to be considered
a worthwhile buy.
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It is a fair program and could probably be exactly what some
schools/parents are looking for but it won't be seeing much work
in my school.
1st May 1985
