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Be it children or adults, quite a few have a phobia of mathematics. Now software can help one crack problems with ease.

SAY `mathematics' and often children, not to mention adults, pull a wry face. A fear of math plagues many and some people still have trouble calculating even supposedly simple things. Today, software can help one solve those problems and one's fears too. There are various software tools generally packaged as Math Skill Builders. These vary in structural design and deal with the very basic issues with numbers and also the highest scientific statistical calculations. They are designed to teach children as well as adults. Their very purpose is to demystify the numerical world.

The Whole Number Arithmetic software tool, prepared by the SS Software company where educators make learning tools for students, is an easy-to-use tool for learning arithmetic. Built to help one learn increasingly difficult arithmetic skills, it offers individual placement and pacing, tutorial help, independent practice, visual tutorial aids, and structured progression. It also provides record keeping, automatic progress tracking, and can be customised for individual learning needs. It contains 52 levels of difficulty for learning addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills, with one new step learned per level with an infinite number of randomly-generated arithmetic problems. Careful explanations with visual demonstrations of step-by-step solutions are provided and status reports on screen at the end of each activity with printable promotion certificates are available. The "Check Assignment" feature compares homework answers with the correct answers, and shows how the problem ought to be solved while the Skill Level Definitions explain each arithmetic skill being learned.

Packaged in a handy three-ring binder, including a Parent's Guide and documentation explaining how to run the program and use it as a learning tool, the program is meant for anyone with a second to third grade reading level and understanding basic number concepts, such as counting.

The Parent's Guide is important since it explains to teachers and parents how to use arithmetic in daily activities and thus increase familiarity and ease with numbers. This software can be used in the Windows 95, Macintosh 68k, and Power Macintosh settings.

The Talking Arithmetic Tutor software teaches arithmetic by step-by-step animated, spoken and visual tutorial instructions via an animated talking tutor. The speed of the demonstration can be varied according to different learners' needs. The problems for the tutor to solve are usually automatic problems where the user selects the difficulty level, and the program randomly generates arithmetic problems for the tutor to solve at that level. The manual problems are where the user creates an arithmetic problem for the tutor to demonstrate how to solve. Fitted with a 1MB-application RAM, this is compatible with Windows 95, Macintosh 68k, and Power Macintosh systems.

The Count Money software tool provides three animated, spoken and visual activities that facilitate identification of coins and counting of money. While the kind of foreign currency depicted is unsuitable for India, the software is apt for explaining basic skills to the hearing-impaired while the animation may help visually-impaired users.

The Worksheet Generator is aimed at the teacher and helps make arithmetic worksheets with up to 50 problems. Along with the worksheet, an answer key with just the answers or with the problem and answer, or with the problem and the complete solution (step-by-step) can be printed out. The Worksheet Generator randomly generates problems within the rules for each skill level, which can be further varied by a choice of combination of operations and skill levels, so each worksheet is unique. These software cannot be bought retail but can either be downloaded (the electronic version) by registering online or ordered via mail phone or fax.

Scaling more difficult levels

Away from the basics, mathematical software also provides advanced solutions like the Algebra Interactive, which promises "learning Algebra in an exciting way". Focussing on algorithms (constructional aspects), real-life applications and covering Modular Arithmetic, Polynomials and Permutations along with Monoids and groups, this is meant to supplement mathematical studies at the university level. The rich visual presentation of data helps make ideas clear though students with programming experiences have clear advantages since the navigation here is complicated. This can be used on Windows 95/98 or Linux or Unix system with a 32 MB RAM.

The Arizona Mathematical Software developed by the Arizona State University with the aid of faculty and students serves a unique purpose. These programs can be used by instructors for classroom demonstrations as well as by students for exploration and solving problems. A major consideration in designing this software, say the developers, was to keep the number of keystrokes the instructor needs to make in front of the class to a minimum, particularly as far as entering numbers is concerned. Instead of creating one massive package that will take weeks of class time to learn, the program offers many small packages.The best thing about it is probably the Arizona State University's declaration "This program may be freely distributed by any means, including bulletin boards, provided that there is no fee or charge or consideration of any kind which is in excess of $8. However, we retain all rights to this program" which allows anyone to take copies of the software and thereby benefit from it.

Using computers in education has certain disadvantages like an annoyingly clumsy or dated user interface or the sometimes slick but distracting presentations of expensive software. Research has proved conclusively that very few students can actually spontaneously doodle with symbols on screen and the programs relying heavily on them can therefore be restrictive. Sometimes educational software can be unreliable and unforgiving, especially if it is infected and that goes undetected. Yet navigational aids make it easier to present a mathematical narrative. Appropriate animation often provides striking visual insights into various numerical processes. Using programs to calculate quickly and accurately offers unlimited opportunity for experimentation and discovery.

Contact and purchase inquiries: SS Software, Phone: 1-520-384-3844, Mail: S&S Software, 5181, S. Gold Rush Rd, Willcox, AZ 85643.

E-mail: margaret@sssoftware.com

The Arizona State University: Mail:askasu@asu.edu Add: Arizona State UniversityTempe, AZ 85287 Phone: 1-480-965-9011

Compiled by Paromita Pain, a freelance journalist who can be reached at paromita_pain@hotmail.com

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