http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs092/
This page includes links to all of the downloadable programs created in the Educational Software Seminar since 1992. From 1992 through 1997, the Seminar worked exclusively with teachers and classrooms with Apple computers, and programs were created using Hypercard. You can read about and download these Hypercard programs from the CS92 Hypercard Archive page, which groups the programs by subject area.
In 1998, as powerful computers became more common in area schools, and local teachers and students began to require more sophisticated multimedia programs, for a variety of platforms, the Seminar expanded in two respects. First, we began soliciting and receiving proposals not only from K-12 classroom teachers but from Brown University faculty members and educators in local non-school institutions (e.g. museums, hospitals, etc.) as well. Second, we began using a variety of programming environments and authoring tools, available in the Department of Computer Science as well as Brown's Multimedia Lab, that allowed Seminar students to create programs for various platforms as well as for teachers who proposed Web-based projects.
Below you will find more than two-dozen programs created since 1998 that are available for downloading. They include programs for Macintosh and Windows computers, as well as several Web-based applications. All of the programs are documented on their respective project pages.
Programs for Elementary School Education
Word Expander: This is a vocabulary program for Kindergarteners, designed for Ellen Lynch's class at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School in Providence. The program uses Mrs. Lynch's idea of "word families" to teach and reinforce spelling and word recognition. You can download versions of this program for Windows, Macintosh OS9, and Macintosh OSX, from the Word Expander Project Page.
Function Machines: Designed for Ellen Lynch's ESL Kindergarten class at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School in Providence, the program is a game intended to teach pattern recognition and a basic concept underlying mathematical functions. Written in Macromedia's Director, "Function Machines" can be played on-line and can be downloaded for use on a PC.
The Frax!: This program was designed to introduce the most basic ideas about fractions to students in Kindergarten whose first language may not be English. Built in 2001 for Ellen Lynch's students, at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, you can download a version for the PC from the project page.
Buzz!!: This program was built to teach the concepts of area and perimeter to Ellen Lynch's Kindergarten ESL students at Vartan Gregorian Fox Point Elementary School. A version of the program for the PC can be downloaded from the project page.
Pizarro's Haunted Mansion: A money-counting and time-telling game for the Macintosh, designed for Lona Robillard's first grade mathematics students, at the Blessed Sacrament School in Providence. The program, created with Hyperstudio, may be downloaded from the project page.
Providence Firefighters: Designed for Marcella Weinberg's 2nd grade class at the Charles N. Fortes Magnet Academy Museum School in Providence, this is a bilingual (English-Spanish) program intended to provide an exercise in critical thinking about history, using comparative studies of fires and firefighting through three centuries of life in Providence. Written in Director, and designed for both classroom and kiosk use, the program can be downloaded for use on a PC.
Building Blast: This program was built for Claudia Pietros' art classes at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, in Providence. The subject is architecture, its concepts and history, and the multi-module program was designed for grades 2-5. You can download versions of the program for both the Macintosh and the PC from the project page.
Bridges Through Time: Created for Connie Bryan's 3rd graders at The Lincoln School, in Providence, this program was designed to accompany and enhance a unit on the history of bridge design and construction. Written in Macromedia's Director, versions for Windows and the Macintosh can be downloaded from the project page, and a Shockwave version can be run directly over the Web.
Mad Math Minute: Created for Karen DiPrete's 3rd graders at Vartan Gregorian Fox Point Elementary School, this program provides a computer-based version of timed classroom exercises to test and motivate multiplication and division skills. A version for the PC can be downloaded from the project page.
Colonial Times: Built for Dianne Maranhas' 3rd grade "core knowledge" Social Studies class at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, in Providence, this program is designed to supplement classroom study of American Colonial History. The program includes an extensive Teacher's Guide, and a version for the Macintosh can be downloaded from the project page.
Math Bug: This program, designed to teach the concepts of, and develop facility with the calculations for, area and perimeter, was created for both Christine Mendonca's and Holly Polhemus' 4th grade students at Vartan Gregorian Fox Point Elementary School. A version of MathBug for the PC can be downloaded from the project page.
Campaign Trail: A game for the Macintosh that teaches aspects of the Presidential election process, designed for Mari-Ellen Boisclair's 4th grade social studies students, at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School (formerly Fox Point Elementary School) in Providence. The program, created with Hyperstudio, may be downloaded from the project page.
Wires: Inside the Internet: A Web-based tutorial and program about aspects of communication on the Internet, designed for users of Adam Blumenthal's computer lab, at Classical High School in Providence. The program is also suitable for students in the later years of elementary school and "middle" school. Created using HTML and Hyperstudio, WIRES is accessed directly at http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs092/WIRES, and can also be downloaded for local use from the project page.
Splash!: This Materials Science simulation and education program was built in 2001, for Nancy Nowack and her students at the Nathan Bishop Middle School. You can download a version of the program for the PC from the project page.
States of Matter: A program for the Macintosh that explains and reinforces distinctions between physical and chemical properties of matter, designed for Dorothy Garfield's 7th grade science students at The Wheeler School, in Providence. The program, created using Macromedia's Authorware, may be downloaded from the project page.
Steth E. and Howie C.: Designed for use by children in the Hasbro Children's Hospital, in Providence, this program provides an engaging, informative, and calming introduction to the process of coming to Hasbro for a medical procedure. You can see screen shots from the program, and download a version for the PC, from the project page.
Rima the Rat: A program for the Macintosh or PC that engages students in an exploration of the importance of the City sewer system, designed for the "City Streets" exhibit at the Providence Children's Museum, in Providence. You can download the Macintosh version of the program, created with Macromedia's Director, but the PC version will not be available here until after the "City Streets" exhibit has ended.
Recycling: Built in 2001, for use in a Recycling exhibit at the Providence Childrens Museum, this program gives children ages 6-10 a sense of what might happen to things they throw away. You can download a version for the PC from the project page.
My First Shot: Designed for Annie de Groot's "Club DNA", an after-school science program at Brown for students aged 7-14, this program is intended to teach children about the fundamental biological terms and concepts associated with vaccines. Written in Director, and incorporating student voices and creations as well as more traditional instructional material, "My First Shot" can be used on-line and can be downloaded for use on a PC.
Real Reading for Real Readers: This is a reading comprehension program designed for Martin Caruso's 8th graders at the Nathan Bishop Middle School, in Providence. Designed to help 8th graders meet the new English Standards adopted by the Providence Schools, the program motivates learning and practicing reading comprehension skills, and a version for Windows can be downloaded from the project page.
Splash!: This Materials Science simulation and education program was built in 2001, for Nancy Nowack and her students at the Nathan Bishop Middle School. You can download a version of the program for the PC from the project page.
A Night Out: This drug education and decision-making program was developed for Charly Adler and Suzette Thiebault and their 9th grade Health students at the Met School. Versions for both the Mac and the PC can be downloaded from the project page.
Sadina's Revenge: Created for Diane Cresto's 10th grade ESL and Special Education students at Mt. Pleasant High School, this program embeds elementary grammar exercises in a graphically sophisticated, narratively compelling video game. A version of Sadina's Revenge for the PC can be downloaded from the project page.
Aspects of Perception: These Java applets were created for Professor Leslie Welch and the undergraduates enrolled in her Perception course, PY0027, in the Department of Psychology at Brown University. Many of the applets are suitable for the study of visual perception by secondary students. The applets can be run directly from the project page.
The Watershed Project: This program was built for John Hermance's Geological Sciences course (GE 158) at Brown University, but the early modules of the program may be suitable for geoscience and environmental studies courses in secondary schools. The program is designed to teach fundamental concepts of hydrology and provide basic simulations related to the concept of watersheds. You can download versions of the program for both Macintosh and Windows, as well as a program manual.
Wires: Inside the Internet: A Web-based tutorial and program about aspects of communication on the Internet, designed for users of Adam Blumenthal's computer lab, at Classical High School in Providence. Created using HTML and Hyperstudio, WIRES is accessed directly at http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs092/WIRES, and can also be downloaded for local use from the project page.
Rima the Rat: A program for the Macintosh or PC that engages students in an exploration of the importance of the City sewer system, designed for the "City Streets" exhibit at the Providence Children's Museum, in Providence. You can download the Macintosh version of the program, created with Macromedia's Director, and the PC version will be available for downloading here after the "City Streets" exhibit has ended.
Color Theory: A Web-based program that explains and allows interactive exploration of aspects of color theory, designed for Roger Mayer's "Visual Art 10" and "Color Theory" students at Brown University, in Providence. Created with HTML and Java applets, the program is accessed directly at http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs092/VA10/HTML.
Aspects of Perception: These Java applets were created for Professor Leslie Welch's and the undergraduates enrolled in her Perception course, PY0027, in the Department of Psychology at Brown University. The applets can be run directly from the project page.
Mass Media: This tutorial and video annotation program was created for Professor Darrell West and the students who will take his PS111 course in the Fall 2000 semester at Brown University. The program teaches the structure and analysis of political advertisements, while providing students with a framework for writing annotations of your own. Versions for both the Mac and the PC can be downloaded from the project page.
Color Theory: A Web-based program that explains and allows interactive exploration of aspects of color theory, designed for Roger Mayer's "Visual Art 10" and "Color Theory" students at Brown University, in Providence. Created with HTML and Java applets, the program is accessed directly at http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs092/VA10/HTML.
The Watershed Project: This program was built for John Hermance's Geological Sciences course (GE 158) at Brown University. The program is designed to teach fundamental concepts of hydrology and provide basic simulations related to the concept of watersheds. You can download versions of the program for both Macintosh and Windows, as well as a program manual.
CardioViz: Designed for John Stein's Biophysiology class at Brown University (Bio80), this program presents an interactive simulation environment for exploring the conceptual and mathematical relationships between a number of variables involved in cardiac output (e.g. heart rate, capacitance of the veins, blood volume and contractility of the heart). Written in Director, "CardioViz" can be used on-line and can also be downloaded for use on a PC.
Note: The programs created in the Educational Software Seminar at Brown and available here may be used without charge by anyone for any non-commercial purpose. Redistribution of the programs is forbidden without the consent of their authors, the Seminar and Brown University, and charging a fee for their use is forbidden under any circumstances. If you find the CS92 materials and programs useful we hope you will let us know, and you can address all correspondence to cs92@brown.edu.
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