Different Categories
This program uses names and pictures of items from ten different categories to help the student to learn listening, identifying, and naming skills. There are ten sub-programs.
Select a program by clicking on the option and then click the “Enter” button to open the program.
Help |
Click on the “Help” button to view the help contents. The help file opens in a separate window.
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About |
Click on the “About” button to view the profile of this company.
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Enter |
After selecting a sub-program, click on the “Enter” button to open the program.
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Exit |
To close this “Actions” program, click on the “Exit” button.
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Note: In most of our matching and activity programs, the student must wait until the command voice has finished before he/she clicks on the object. For instance, the voice must finish “Match catching” before the student clicks on the catching picture. (If the student clicks on the catching picture before the voice command is finished, nothing will happen.) Therefore the teacher/parent needs to instruct the student to wait for the voice command to finish.
These sub-programs are:
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Select the option “Different Category Matrix” and click on the “Enter” button to open this program. Pictures of items from different categories are shown here in a two-row, two-column matrix. When the mouse pointer moves over the picture, an animation related to the picture plays in the box on the right side of the screen. There are, in this program, two pictures and animations for each item. Click on the picture to view the next picture and animation. |
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>> and <<
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By clicking on “>>” or “<<” the student can view the next or the previous set of pictures of items from different categories.
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Auto Play
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Check this box to run the “Different Category Matrix” program automatically; the student can just sit back and watch. To stop the automatic run, uncheck the box.
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Sound
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This option is selected by default. When this box is checked, the program pronounces the name of the item. If unchecked, it doesn’t say the name.
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This does not affect the sound of the animation.
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Label
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This option is selected by default. When this box is checked, the name of the item appears just below the picture. When unchecked, the word doesn’t appear.
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Done
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Click on the “Done” button to close “Different Category Matrix” and return to the main program.
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Click on “Progressive Method” and then click the “Enter” button to open the setting dialog box. The setting dialog box offers four categories of choices. These categories are Mode, Settings, Distracter, and Selection.
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Mode
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Training
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This option is selected by default. When this is selected, the program can be used to train the student.
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Test
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Select this option to measure the student’s progress. The “Report” button under “Test” mode is enabled. The “Prompt (Animation)” option is disabled.
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Report
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This displays results of the “Test”. The report features are similar to those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures”.
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Settings
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Prompt (Animation)
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This option is selected by default. When this is checked, the correct item picture animates after ten seconds to help the student to identify the correct answer. Uncheck this feature to disable it.
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Command Text
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This option is selected by default. When this is checked, a short text appears at the bottom of the screen. It tells the student which items to identify. If unchecked, the text won’t be visible.
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Distracter
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A “distracter” here means an incorrect choice.
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Different Category
This option is selected by default. When this is selected, distracters are all items from different categories listed under “Selection”. |
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Non-different Category
If this option is selected, distracters are not items listed under “Selection” but some other items. |
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Mixed
Distracters are either listed under “Selection” or some other items. |
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Selection
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The first item in the list (Bear) is the default. The student can select any item from the list shown under “Selection”.
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Ok
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Click on the “Ok” button to open this program.
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This “Progressive Method” is designed to introduce the items from different categories to the student one by one. This method allows the student to master the items from different categories’ names gradually. This “Progressive Method” runs through seven stages: |
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Stage 1
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Introduction. The selected item picture moves from the left side to the center of the screen and a character points to the picture and pronounces the name of the item. This continues until the student clicks the “>>” button to move to the next stage.
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Stage2
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Single Picture. In Stage 2, the student is asked to find the picture of the item introduced in Stage1. When the student clicks on the picture, he/she is taken to the next stage.
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Stage3
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One Distracter. The item introduced in Stage 1 and another picture as distracter are shown and the student is asked to find the item. When the student clicks on the correct picture the next “find” question comes up. As long as the student clicks on the correct picture, he/she stays in Stage 3. The student can move on to next stage by clicking the “>>” button. If the student clicks on the wrong picture, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.
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Stage4
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Two Distracters. In Stage 4, a picture of the item introduced in Stage 1 and two other pictures as distracters are shown on the screen and the student is asked to find the item introduced in Stage 1. As long as the student clicks on the correct picture, the student remains in Stage 4. When the student clicks on a wrong picture, he/she is taken back to Stage 1. The student can move forward by clicking the “>>“button.
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Stage5
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Three Distracters. The picture of the item is shown with three other pictures as distracters. If the student clicks on the wrong picture, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.
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Stage6
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Combinations. The item that the student identified in Stages 1 through 5 will appear as distracter or as the item to be identified. Another item (which the student learned earlier) will also appear as a distracter or as the item to be identified. If the student clicks on the wrong item, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.
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Stage7
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This is the last stage. In this Stage, the student is asked to identify all the items he/she has learned so far. If the student clicks on the wrong picture, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.
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>>
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When the student clicks on the “>>” button, the program introduces the next stage. (If the student in Stage 7, clicking the “>>” button moves him/her to Stage 1.) |
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<<
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At any time the student can move to the previous stage by clicking the “<<” button when the button is visible.
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Done
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Click on the “Done” button to close this program.
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Click on “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program. The default selections for this program are: Level 3, Training Mode, Different Category Distracter, Command Text, Prompt with Blink, Congratulatory Animation, and Select All. Here a picture of an item from the “Different Category” list is shown at the top of the screen. The student is asked to click on the matching item shown among others at the bottom of the screen. |
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| Level 1 |
When this option is selected, one item picture appears at the top of the screen. One picture is shown at the bottom of the screen to be matched with the one at the top, without any distracter.
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Level 2
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When this option is selected, one picture of an item appears at the top of the screen. Two pictures are shown at the bottom of the screen to be matched with the one at the top of the screen. There is one correct choice and one distracter. You can choose a Different Category or Non-different Category distracter. “Mixed” gets disabled.
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Level 3
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This level is selected by default. One item from the “Different Category” list appears at the top of the screen. When this option is selected, three pictures are shown at the bottom of the screen to be matched with the one at the top of the screen. There is one correct choice and two distracters. You can choose a Different Category, Non-different Category, or Mixed distracter.
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Training
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The Training mode is selected by default. This program uses pictures of items from the “Different Category” list to train listening and matching skills.
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Test
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Here, the parent/teacher can test the student’s progress. “Prompt” and “Congratulatory Animation” are disabled. The test results are recorded and “Report” becomes enabled.
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Report
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Only under “Test” mode is “Report” enabled. After doing any number of test problems, you can click on “Done” to see the report. When you click on “Done” the settings screen appears. Now click on the “Report” button under “Test” to see test results. First the current test result will be shown with the date, starting time, end time, and level of the test. It also shows the percentage of correct answers. There are also buttons for showing test results in different forms. “Report” allows the teacher/parent to measure the student’s progress. The following are available.
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Detailed Report
This screen shows test results including the grade, object identified, distracters, and time taken to finish the test. |
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View Old Records
If there are old test results, they will be shown on this screen. The current test result is always on top. |
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Bar Chart
If you wish to see test results on a bar chart, click this button. |
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Overalls
This button appears on the Bar Chart Screen. Here, the student can see the average of all test results of up to the last ten attempts. Written vertically on the bar are: overall percentage of correct answers, and date and starting time of the tests. When there are any old results, they will be shown, left to right, from oldest to latest. |
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Right Arrow
This changes the display to the next more recent set of test results. When the current test result is on the screen, this button is grayed. |
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Left Arrow
This changes the display to the previous set of test results. When this button is grayed, there is no earlier test to see. |
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On the top left corner, the display indicates which record is being shown out of total records.
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Print
When this button is clicked, the printer prints the current screen. |
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Delete
All existing records will be erased if this button is clicked. (But a warning message box pops up and asks for confirmation.) |
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Done
Click on this button to close the screen and return to the previous screen. |
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Distracter
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Different Category
This option is selected by default. When this option is selected, the distracters are items from the “Different Category” list under “Selection”. This option is disabled for Level 1 and available for Level 2 and Level 3. |
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Non-different Category
When this option is selected, the distracters are some other items other than those from the list under “Selection”. This option is disabled for Level 1 and available for Level 2 and Level 3. |
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Mixed
This option is available only for Level 3. When this is selected, one distracter is an item from the “Different Category” list under “Selection” and the other distracter is not listed under “Selection”. |
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Command Text
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This is checked by default. When checked, a short command text is visible at the bottom of the screen. If unchecked, the command text will not be visible.
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User Defined |
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This feature allows the teacher/parent to customize the screen by selecting particular matching objects and distracters and choosing their locations on the screen. When this box is checked, the next screen will be the “SELECTION” screen. This screen allows the teacher/parent to choose the matching object (item to be identified) and its location on the screen. It also allows the teacher/parent to choose the distracter/s. There are no distracters for Level 1. Therefore the teacher/parent should select only the matching item. For Level 2 and Level 3, the teacher/parent has to select the matching item, its location, and distracters from the User Defined “selection” screen before clicking the “Ok” button. The picture-matching screen has a “Back” button. The student can return to the User Defined setting screen by clicking this button. Click the “Done” button to close the User Defined program. |
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Prompt
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This is checked by default. If the student fails to match the correct picture within ten seconds, the program guides him/her to the correct picture. This is available for “Training” mode but disabled for “Test” mode.
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Uncheck this box if the prompt is not needed in “Training” mode.
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Prompt with Blink
This option is selected by default. If the correct picture is not chosen after ten seconds, it blinks. |
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Prompt with Label
The names of the items appear below the pictures. |
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Prompt with Animation
If the correct picture is not chosen after ten seconds, an animation appears (the correct picture animates). |
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Congratulatory Animation |
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This box is checked by default. This is available only for the “Training” mode. When this is checked, clicking the correct picture invites a congratulatory animation. This animation runs for ten seconds. Click anywhere on the screen or press the space bar to stop the congratulatory animation. Uncheck the box if the student doesn’t need congratulatory animation. |
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Selection
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Click on the check box to select or deselect any item.
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Select All
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Check this box to select all items from the “Different Category” selection list. Uncheck to deselect.
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Ok
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Click this button to open this “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures” after choosing the settings.
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Done
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Click this button to close this program and return to the main menu.
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Click on “Matching Different Categories Using Similar Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
This program runs like “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures,” but the pictures shown are similar but not identical.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures”.
Click on “Matching Different Categories Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
This program runs like “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures,” but instead of pictures, words for the items from the “Different category” list under “Selection” are used. The student is required to click on the correct word which names the item shown on top of the screen.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures”.
Click on “Discriminating Different Categories” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
Here, the student is asked to find and click on the correct picture shown on the screen.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures”.
Click “Identifying Different Categories by Sound Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
This program runs like “Discriminating Different Categories”. But here, the student has first to listen to the sound and then to identify the item that makes the sound.
Settings are similar to those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures” except that there are fewer items under “Selection”. Here only the eight items which make some sort of sound are listed.
Click “Identifying Different Categories by Sound Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
This program runs like “Identifying Different Categories by Sound Using Pictures,” but instead of pictures, words for the items from the “Different Category” list under “Selection” are used. The student is required to click on the correct word.
Click “Activity for Different Categories Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures”.
Here a person is shown at the top of the screen (except when there are animals). From one to three items (depending on the Level) are shown at the bottom of the screen. A command text (for instance, “Let the pilot fly the airplane”) and voice tell the student to select the correct item to perform the activity. When one of the items is an animal, there is no person at the top of the screen; the command text and voice say (for instance) “Make the bear growl”. The student should click on the animal to make it move to the top. An animation replaces the animal.
If the correct item is clicked, the corresponding animation plays.
Click “Activity for Different Categories Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Different Categories Using Pictures”.
This program runs like “Activity for Different Categories Using Pictures,” but instead of pictures, words for the items from the “Different Category” list under “Selection” are used. The student is required to click on the correct word.
If the correct word is clicked, the corresponding animation plays.