Math Mysteries: Advanced Whole Numbers

PC version requires:
Pentium, 120 MHz, Windows 95/98, 16 Mb RAM, 4xCD-ROM, QuickTime

Mac version requires:
PowerPC, 132 MHz, Sys 7.1+, 16 Mb RAM, 4xCD-ROM, QuickTime

Description:

You are spending the week-end in Casa Loca, home of your friend Theo, assorted odd characters and a ghost. You are invited to explore and to listen to all the residents - help them with their math problems and they'll help you to solve the mansion's mystery. Math difficulty level is aimed at grades 4 to 7, with multi-step word problems involving the 4 basic operations.

Essentially you move around the mouldy mansion, down hallways and up staircases, and meet Casa Loca residents (you need to meet some more than once). They are all very chatty - keep clicking on 'Listen' and they speak a series of sentences. Click on 'Grab a Note' to save a sentence that states the problem to be solved, as well as any sentence that has information useful in the solution. Once you have collected enough notes, click on the MathPad button.

In MathPad, drag the sentence that describes the problem into the problem box, and then start computation. This is done as a series of mathematical operations. For each one, pick amongst +, -, x, and /, and drag numbers from the notes into the box. Compute each calculation (a note of the result is then added to the saved sentences) and go on to the next until you have the solution. Drag the solution into the answer box. Once a problem is solved listen to what the character says next - they may share clues to the mystery.

2 different versions of the program are provided. The Mystery CD is for individual use as explained above. The Whole Class CD is intended for use with one computer in a classroom, the teacher models the process of solving word problems and students work in teams. Whole Class includes 7 problems in order of difficulty, and 2 worksheets (a problem sheet and a solution plan) are provided for each problem. The Mystery CD involves 15 problems.

Features:

• 2 CD-ROM's - Whole Class & Mystery
• 7 characters to be located
• 15 math word problems (+, -, x, /)
• Worksheets for notes
• Hints available
• Progress reports
• 62 page Teacher's Guide
• Create and share math problems online

Technical Aspects:

QuickTime is required to run the program, but is available on the CD. The program would be fine for someone with auditory difficulties as a character's information is both spoken and shown as text on the screen. Program response was often slow. At one point the program ended up in a hung state and the saved file could not be restarted - I had to begin again.

Report and Conclusions:

Negatives are that the user interface is fiddly to operate and the title is costly for the number of problems provided - 15 problems in the Mystery CD for about 2 - 3 hours elapsed time on the program. My 10 year old needed a little pushing to keep working on it, though he did enjoy the spooky atmosphere and the touches of humour in the surroundings and dialogue ... and it's worth solving all the problems as the ending is rewarding for all involved!