User Guide 2Simple Modelling Toolkit v2
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Contents 2Simple Modelling Toolkit 2Simple Modelling Toolkit ................................................................................................. 2 Minimum System requirements ...................................................................................... 2 Installing 2Simple Modelling Toolkit .............................................................................. 2 Overview of the software ..........................................................................................
page 2 2Simple Modelling Toolkit 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Minimum System requirements PC Mac Multimedia computer Multimedia computer Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP or NT OS 8.1 to X Keyboard Keyboard Mouse Mouse Printer Printer 64MB RAM 64MB RAM 285MB Hard Disk space 250MB Hard Disk space Adobe Acrobat Reader 3 Adobe Acrobat Reader 3 Whilst 2Simple Modelling Toolkit can be installed on a Network it is advisable to install the software locally on individual machines.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 3 Overview of the software 2Simple Modelling Toolkit is aimed at the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. It consists of a suite of five core modelling activities, each with three differentiated levels, known as tasks. Each activity has been designed with opportunities to support core subject areas. It can be used to teach ICT or as a resource to support Literacy/English, Numeracy/Mathematics and Science.
page 4 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Snapshots Within 2Simple Modelling Toolkit there is no utility to allow the children to save their work. It is intended that the children should choose to print one or more screens as they progress through a task when appropriate. However it may occur that the children do not print or accidentally fail to print a particularly interesting or noteworthy piece of work.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 5 To view the snapshot files, • If you do initially see any files • Click on: in the ‘File of type’ drop down menu • Select: JPEG (*.JPG;*.jpeg) or All Picture Files A list of pictures file names will be displayed, one for each of the last 45 completed tasks. • Select: a picture file • Click on: ‘Open’ Your chosen image will be displayed and can be printed or saved in the normal manner.
page 6 2Simple Modelling Toolkit How to guide Getting started Start 2Simple Modelling toolkit, from the ‘Start Menu’ or using an icon on your desktop, Introducing the splash screen Starting 2Simple Modelling Toolkit will launch the splash screen which will remain while the program loads. Splash screen When the program has finished loading you will automatically be taken to the Activity Menu screen. Using the Activity menu you can select which activity and task you wish to start.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 7 Exiting 2Simple Modelling Toolkit 2Simple Modelling Toolkit has been designed to provide task based modelling opportunities for use in the classroom by pairs or small groups of children, and as such has built in options and constraints to allow children to fully explore any given activity.
page 8 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Option 2: Exiting after a task is complete 2Simple Modelling Toolkit can be set up to ensure that children are provided with a limited number of goes to explore any one task before they exit and return to the main Activity menu where they can choose to explore another task or to exit the program altogether.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 9 Activity 1 In activity 1 the children are required to sequence a series of actions using a mouse to create a pattern on a grid. In task one the children are required to arrange coloured squares and rectangles on a 4x4 grid. In task two an irregular polygon is added and the grid size increased to 5x5. In task three a triangle is added. In each of the tasks before positioning and placing their chosen shape the children can rotate it clockwise, in quarter turns.
page 10 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Activity 2 In activity 2 the children are required to colour or construct real and imaginary animals. In task one they are required to use a simple stamp tool to colour a butterfly, an alien, a starfish, an octopus or any combination of these animals and characters. In task 2 they use a variety of painting tools to camouflage a chameleon. In task three they are required to construct an animal using a variety of body parts.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 11 Activity 3 In activity 3 the children are required to colour in a selection of random or themed pictures. In task two the colouring activity is extended by the introduction of a tabbed menu providing clip art characters that can be added to their composition. In task three a third tab is available allowing the children to add both clip art characters and objects. In all the tasks the children can wipe their image clean by clicking on the bin.
page 12 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Activity 4 In activity 4 the children are required to plan and create a meal, either a sandwich, pizza or burger. The children use a mouse to drag and drop ingredients onto the work area. In task 2 each ingredient has an allocated monetary value allowing the children to view the cost of their meal.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 13 Activity 5 Activity 5 the children are required to instruct a car or character graphic to move around a grid. Task 1 is a simple letter matching activity. Task 2 is either an alphabetical lettersequencing task or a CVC word-spelling task, (consonant, vowel, consonant). Task three is an alphabetical word-sequencing task. In addition in task 3 the children are required to plan, revise and test their route before choosing to run it in full.
page 14 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Teacher options The Teacher’s utilities can be accessed by using the keyboard shortcut: < shift>, and, The Teacher’s utilities allow you to control how you would like 2Simple Modelling Toolkit to work in your classroom. Some elements of the Teacher options menu determine global functionality, some are specific to individual activities and allow you to define specific parameters. Eg.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 15 Back to menu By selecting ‘Back to menu’ only, you can temporarily customise the settings without modifying your preferred defaults. The selections you have made will only be retained whilst the software is in use, once it is closed the selections you have made will be lost and the defaults reinstated when the software is started again.
page 16 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Disabling the Exit button/Goes per task Once you have installed 2Simple Modelling Toolkit on your computer it is advisable that you modify the default program settings to better suit the needs of the children you work with. 2Simple Modelling Toolkit has been developed for use in the classroom by pairs and small groups of children working collaboratively.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 17 Currency The currency option allows you to stipulate a specific monetary symbol to be included in activities where monetary values are present. The default currency is Sterling. To select a currency other than sterling, • Scroll through the list of alternative currencies • Select: your currency of choice Settings for activity 2 In task one of activity two you can choose from a variety of animals and characters; a butterfly, an alien, a starfish, or an octopus.
page 18 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Settings for activity 4 By placing a tick in one or more check boxes you can choose whether the children are presented with a sandwich, pizza or burger menu. Alternatively select any combination and the children will randomly be presented a menu. Monetary values are introduced in tasks two and three of activity four.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 19 Keyboard shortcuts 2simple Modelling Toolkit has three keyboard shortcuts that are available to assist adults using the software.
page 20 2Simple Modelling Toolkit Using the Support materials Accompanying each activity is a complementary set of paper based support materials that can be completed away from the computer. These materials are supplied as computer files and will be installed on your computer when you install 2Simple Modelling Toolkit. To be able to view and print these resources you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader v5 a copy of which is supplied on the CD-ROM. For more information visit, http://www.adobe.co.
2Simple Modelling Toolkit page 21 Uninstalling 2Simple Modelling Toolkit To uninstall 2Simple Modelling toolkit On your desktop, • Click on: • Press: on your keyboard • Click on: This will open the Control Panel window In the Control Panel window, • Click on: To open the Add/Remove Programs window • Select: 2Simple Modelling Toolkit • Click on: Having removed 2Simple Modelling toolkit Click on: ‘OK’ and close all remaining windows to return to your desktop © The IT Learning Exchange 2003 not
