Foods

This program uses food names and pictures to help the student to learn listening, identifying, and naming skills. There are ten sub-programs with 36 food items.

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.

About

Click on the “About” button to view the profile of this company.

Enter

After selecting a sub-program, click on the “Enter” button to open the program.

Exit

To close this “Actions” program, click on the “Exit” button.

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:

1. Food Matrix

Select the option “Food Matrix” and click on the “Enter” button to open this program.

Food pictures are shown here in a two-row, two-column matrix. When the mouse pointer moves over the picture of a food, an animation related to the food plays in the box on right side of the screen. There are, in this program, two pictures and animations for each food. Click on the picture to view the next picture and animation.

>> and <<
By clicking on “>>” or “<<” the student can view the next or the previous set of foods.
Auto Play
Check this box to run the “Food Matrix” program automatically; the student can just sit back and watch. To stop the automatic run, uncheck the box.
Sound
This option is selected by default. When this box is checked, the program pronounces the word for the food. If unchecked, it doesn’t say the name.
Label
This option is selected by default. When this box is checked, the word for the food appears just below the picture. When unchecked, the word doesn’t appear.
Descriptive
When this is checked, a descriptive sentence (for instance “The boy is eating an apple”) will be displayed in the text box under the animation box.
Done
Click on the “Done” button to close “Food Matrix” and return to the main program.
2. Progressive Method
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, Distracters, and Selection.
Mode
Training
This option is selected by default. When this is selected, the program can be used to train the student.
Test
Select this option to measure the student’s progress. The “Report” button under “Test” mode is enabled. The “Prompt (Animation)” option is disabled.
Report
This displays results of the “Test”. The report features are similar to those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.
Settings
Prompt (Animation)
This option is selected by default. When this is checked, the correct food picture animates in ten seconds to help the student to identify the correct answer. Uncheck this feature to disable it.
Command Text
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.
Distracter
A “distracter” here means an incorrect choice.
Food 
This option is selected by default. When this is selected, distracters are all foods.
Non-food 
If this option is selected, distracters are not foods but some other items.
Mixed
Distracters are either food or non-food items.
Selection
The first food, “Apple”, is the default. Any food can be selected from the list shown under “Selection”
Ok
Click on the “Ok” button to open the program.

This “Progressive Method” is designed to introduce the foods to the student one by one. This method allows the student to master the food names gradually.

This “Progressive Method” runs through seven stages:

Stage 1

 

Introduction. The selected food picture moves from the left side to the center of the screen and a character points to the picture and pronounces the word for the food. This continues until the student clicks the “>>” button to move to the next stage.

Stage 2 

 

No Distracters. In Stage 2, the student is asked to find the food introduced in Stage1. When the student clicks on the food picture, he/she is taken to the next stage.

Stage 3 

 

One Distracter. The food introduced in Stage 1 and another picture as distracter are shown and the student is asked to find the food. When the student clicks on the correct food, the next “find” question comes up. As long as the student clicks on the correct food he/she stays in Stage 3. The student can move on to the next stage by clicking the “>>” button. If the student clicks on the wrong food picture, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

Stage 4 

 

Two Distracters. In Stage 4, the food introduced in Stage 1 and two other pictures as distracters are shown on the screen and the student is asked to find the food introduced in Stage 1. As long as the student clicks on the correct food the student remains in Stage 4. When the student clicks on an incorrect food, he/she is taken back to Stage 1. The student can move forward by clicking “>>” button.

Stage 5 

 

Three Distracters. The food is shown with three other pictures as distracters. If the student clicks on the wrong food, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

Stage 6 

 

Combinations. The food item that the student identified in Stages 1 through 5 will appear as a distracter or as the food to be identified. Another food (which the student learned earlier) will also appear as a distracter or the food to be identified. If the student clicks on the wrong picture, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

Stage 7 

 

In this Stage, the student is asked to identify all the foods he/she has learned so far. If the student clicks on the wrong food, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

>>

 

When the student clicks on the “>>” button, the program introduces the next food in the list.

<<

 


At any time the student can move backward by clicking the “<<” button when the button is visible.
Done
Click on the “Done” button to close this program.
3. Matching Foods Using Pictures

Click on “Matching Foods Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

The default selections for this program are: Level 3, Training Mode, Food Distracter, Command Text, Prompt with Blink, Congratulatory Animation, and Select All.

Here a food item is shown at the top of the screen. The student is asked to click on the matching food shown among others at the bottom of the screen.

Level1
When this option is selected, one food picture appears at the top of the screen. One food picture is shown at the bottom of the screen to be matched with the one at the top, without any distracter.
Level2
When this option is selected, one food 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 Food or Non-food distracter. “Mixed” gets disabled.
Level3
This level is selected by default. One food picture 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 Food, Non-food, or Mixed distracter.
Training
The Training mode is selected by default. This program uses food pictures to train listening and matching skills.
Test
Here, the student can test him/herself. “Prompt” and “Congratulatory Animation” are disabled. The test results are recorded and “Report” becomes enabled.
Report
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.
Detailed Report
This screen shows test results including the grade, object identified, distracters, and time taken to finish the test.
View Old Records
If there are old test results, they will be shown on this screen. The current test result is always on top.
Bar Chart
If you wish to see test results on a bar chart, click this button.
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.
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.
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.
On the top left corner, the display indicates which record is being shown out of total records.
Print
When this button is clicked, the printer prints the current screen.
Delete
All existing records will be erased if this button is clicked. (But a warning message box pops up and asks for confirmation.)
Done
Click on this button to close the screen and return to the previous screen.
Distracter
Food
This option is selected by default. When this option is selected, the distracters are foods. This option is disabled for Level 1 and available for Level 2 and Level 3.
Non-food
When this option is selected, the distracters are some items other than foods. This option is disabled for Level 1 and available for Level 2 and Level 3.
Mixed
This option is available only for Level 3. When this is selected, one distracter is a food item and the other distracter is non-food.
Command Text
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.

User Defined

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 (Food 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 food.

For Level 2 and Level 3, the teacher/parent has to select the matching food, its location, and distracters from the User Defined “selection” screen before clicking the “Ok” button.

The picture-matching screen has a “Back” button. The teacher/parent can return to the User Defined setting screen by clicking this button. Click the “Done” button to close the User Defined program.

Prompt

This is checked by default. If the student fails to match the correct food picture within ten seconds, the program guides him/her to the correct picture. This is available for “Training” mode but disabled for “Test” mode.

Uncheck this box if the prompt is not needed in “Training” mode.

Prompt with Blink
This option is selected by default. If the correct food picture is not chosen after ten seconds, it blinks.
Prompt with Label
The words for the food items appear below the pictures.
Prompt with Animation 
If the correct food picture is not chosen after ten seconds, it animates.

Congratulatory Animation 

This box is checked by default. This is available only for the “Training” mode. When this is checked, clicking the correct food 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.

Selection All food items are selected by default. Click on the check box to select or deselect any item.

Select All
This is checked by default. Check this box to select all food items. Uncheck to deselect.
Ok
Click this button to open this program after choosing settings.
Done
Click this button to close this program and return to the main menu.
4. Matching Foods Using Similar Pictures

Click on “Matching Foods Using Similar Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

This program runs like “Matching Foods Using Pictures,” but the pictures shown are similar but not identical.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.
5. Matching Foods Using Words

Click on “Matching Foods Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

This program runs like “Matching Foods Using Pictures,” but instead of pictures, words for the food items are used. The student is required to click on the correct word which represents the food shown on top of the screen.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.

6. Discriminating Foods

Click on “Discriminating Foods” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

Here, the student is asked to find and click on the correct food picture shown on the screen.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.

7. Identifying Foods Using Pictures

Click on “Identifying Foods Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

Here, the student is asked to identify the food item being eaten by a boy/girl in the animation shown at the top of the screen. The student should click on the correct food item shown (with/without distracters) at the bottom of the screen. When the correct food item is clicked, it moves up and the program congratulates the student for his/her correct choice.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.

8. Identifying Foods Using Words

Click on “Identifying Foods Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

Here, the student is asked to identify the food item being eaten by a boy/girl in the animation shown at the top of the screen. The student should click on the correct food name shown (with/without distracters) at the bottom of the screen. When the correct food name is clicked, it moves up and the program congratulates the student for his/her correct choice.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.

9. Eating Foods Using Pictures

Click on “Eating Foods Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program. 

Here the student is asked to click on the correct food picture shown (with/without distracter/s) at the bottom of the screen. After the student clicks on the correct picture, it moves up, the boy/girl eats or drinks the food item, and the program congratulates the student for his/her correct choice.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.

10. Eating Foods Using Words

Click on “Eating Foods Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.

Here the student is asked to click on the correct food name shown (with/without distracter/s) at the bottom of the screen. After the student clicks on the correct name, it moves up, the boy/girl eats or drinks the food item, and the program congratulates the student for his/her correct choice.

The settings are the same as those of “Matching Foods Using Pictures”.