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For Macintosh Computer and PC Compatibles running MS Windows

Oshi is a seaside character that assists and guides young students in learning and practising number skills. Designed to be used in pre-school through to Grade 2, it can be used with older students who have learning difficulties or special needs. Number Concepts 1 with Oshi the Otter is a hybrid CD-ROM and so can be run on either Apple Macintosh or PC compatible computers.

It has a number of exciting features. The lively animation, beautiful illustrated screens and high quality voice combine to provide young learners with a motivating and captivating program with which to hone their maths skills. Oshi can be played in two modes.

• Question and Answer: In this mode, Oshi asks questions for user to answer or Oshi asks them to complete a task
• Explore Mode: This mode allows users to set up their own problem and to explore number facts and rules.

The package concentrates on counting, addition and subtraction as well as greater than and less than.

Cleverly designed as a thematic package, you have three adventures with number with Oshi the Otter who becomes your instructor and tutor. You are situated in an ocean environment. You count sea animals on seashore, which can be counted as they move onto the seashore. Oshi counts them for you in a human quality voice. Numbers are displayed and students can learn to count from one to twenty. In teacher options, number ranges can be set (e.g. 5-8) for students who require specific practice. Different sea creatures appear one by one. In Explore Mode, you can choose your animal character. When the student's answer is checked, each animal "counts out" with its number displayed. Upon completion of the number, the sea creatures animate with fun graphics and music playing. Oshi makes a comment, making learning interesting and fun.

When you visit the coral reef, Mary the Moray Eel decides which side of the reef has more sea animals. This area concentrates on the concept of "equals", "more than " or less than". The instructions provided are clearly stated. The student must decide which number is greater or less than. The corresponding maths symbols of "<" and ">" are represented by a large open mouth of an eel. Students will respond to the colourful animations as the enticing graphics invite participation.

When you elect to go to the tide pool, sea creatures are washed in and out of pools, representing addition (flooding in) and subtraction (washing out) with the tide. I particularly like this activity, as the innovative use of graphics and animation presenting the concepts of adding and taking away are clear and unambiguous. The instructions provided by Oshi could be too complex for some students. With added assistance from teachers, aides or parents, young students will cope admirably. For children who require one step at time instructions, some preliminary exposure and practice with directions from another student or adult will be required.

Errors are handled in a sympathetic and realistic manner. Questions and/or instructions are clearly repeated. After each mistake or incorrect response, more assistance is provided. NOTE: For students who are deaf, a buddy or adult will be needed to interpret the voiced instructions. The teaching practices and feedback given to users is mature and well programmed. The high quality of the package is typical of IntelliTools.

There are four overlays (two overlays that are double sided). These are provided in the US legal sized kit. A comprehensive 50 page User's and Teacher's Guide provides clear, well written instructions. There are a number of overlays on the CD-ROM that can be customised and re-printed. If you have your IntelliKeys connected (into the ADB port on a Macintosh, or to your AT or PS/2 keyboard port on your PC); overlays will be sent automatically. The Menu Page has its own overlay, where children can navigate to and from the menu page by themselves. Simply by sliding in the appropriate overlay artwork, the user can work independently or work with a partner or in a small group. The mouse or trackball and keyboard are still active, which is ideal for inclusion.

One of the real benefits in using Oshi, as a maths package in a mainstream classroom is that all children can access this software. They can elect to use their preferred input device, whether it be one or two switches (using the two switch ports on IntelliKeys), membrane surface of IntelliKeys, mouse, trackball, touch screen or standard keyboard. You can create addition overlays as well if you possess Overlay Maker. Some examples of Custom Overlays (i.e. Add Subtract to 10, Counting to 5 and Greater Less to 10) are provided.

There is an online help system to direct and guide teachers and students alike in using this entire program's many features.

Number Concepts is designed to be switch accessible. You can work with automatic scanning or step scanning. Clear instructions in the User's manual guide you through the set up procedures, which are straightforward and easy to follow. The default setting upon launching the software is automatic scanning.

There are individual settings for each of the three activities. When a user 'logs on', they sign in and type their name. Teachers and parents can track progress on each user at any time. You can nominate days and preview a user status, with a print option to record results on hard copy. You can alter what the child hears using the 'Counting Hand' audio feature. Overlays can be sent to IntelliKeys as custom or default overlays. You can view (using preview) or print student records. Ranges can be set (e.g. 1-10, or from 5-16). In the' Counting' activity at the seashore, the solution can be provided or you can elect to have the user solve the problem. In 'Greater Than/Less Than', the problem frequency can be set to random, mostly "equal to", "greater than" or "less than" problems, within a range. Ranges can be also set in 'Addition and Subtraction' activity in the wave pool. Numbers from 1-20 can be set to A and B ranges (e.g. A can be from 5-10 with B being from 1-10).

The Teacher's Guide is extremely valuable. Black line masters are ready to be photocopied. Background information to assessment, planning and preparation, introducing the concepts of number sense, preparing and modifying manipulatives, and strategies for introducing cooperative learning are well written and illustrated. Off computer activities are described and encouraged.

Number Concepts 1 with Oshi the Otter is a delightful package. It offers a great deal to all students of all abilities. Catering directly to young children, it will serve to motivate and enthuse students in P-2 classes to practice and learn number concepts with their new friends at the seashore! It is comprehensive, expertly designed and beautifully executed software. Children will thoroughly enjoy counting and exploring numbers!