Microelectronics in education

Abstract

‘Children have fun … while their spelling vocabulary builds quickly’ …

‘An amusing display rewards correct answers’.

Two sentences from one company's advertising materials for new school-based derivatives of the electronic calculator. The Little Professor sets addition, subtraction, multiplication and division questions at four levels of difficulty to help children of six and upwards ‘explore basic arithmetic at their own pace’ … ‘It makes learning fun’. Dataman provides an intriguing variety of maths games and activities for children of seven plus. ‘The incentive to learn is built in’. Spelling B uses a picture book of objects and the child punches in the spelling of the object, while Speak and Spell creates speech using micro-electronics. ‘A revolutionary product with electronic voice and brain and not a single moving part to go wrong.’