Actions

This program uses action names and pictures to help the student to learn listening, identifying and naming skills. There are eight 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.

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

Actions are shown here in a two-row, two-column matrix. When the mouse pointer moves over the picture of an action, an animation related to the action plays in the box on the right side of the screen. There are, in this program, two pictures and animations for each action. 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 actions.
Auto Play
Check this box to run the “Action 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 name of the action. If unchecked, it doesn’t say the name.
Label
This option is selected by default. When this box is checked, the name of the action appears just below the picture. When unchecked, the word doesn’t appear.
Done

Click on the “Done” button to close “Action 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)” is disabled.
Report
This displays results of the “Test”. The report features are similar to those of “Matching Actions Using Picture”.
Settings
Prompt (Animation)
This option is selected by default. When this is checked, the correct action 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.
Action
This option is selected by default. When this is selected, distracters are all actions.
Non-action
If this option is selected, distracters are not actions but some other items.
Mixed
Distracters are either action or non-action.
Selection
This selects the actions that student will learn. The first action (Brushing) is the default. Any actions can be selected from the list shown under “Selection”.
Ok
Click on the “Ok” button to open the program.
This method is designed to introduce the actions to the student one by one. This method allows the student to master the action names progressively.
This “Progressive Method” runs through seven stages:

Stage 1

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

Stage 2

 

Single Action. In Stage 2, the student is asked to find the action introduced in Stage1. When the student clicks on the action, he/she is taken to the next stage.

Stage 3

 

One Distracter. The action introduced in Stage 1 and another picture as distracter are shown and the student is asked to find the action. When the student clicks on the correct action, the next “find” question comes up. As long as the student clicks on the correct action, 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 action, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

Stage 4

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

Stage 5

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

Stage 6

 
Combinations. The action that the student identified in Stages 1 through 5 will appear as distracter or as the action to be identified. Another action, “Brushing”  will also appear as a distracter or the action to be identified. If the student clicks on the wrong action, then the program returns the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

Stage 7
This is the last stage. In this Stage, the student is asked to identify all the actions he/she has learned so far. If the student clicks on the wrong action, then the program takes the student to Stage 1, the Introduction Stage.

>>

 
When the student clicks on the “>>” button, the program introduces the next action 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 the program.
3. Matching Actions Using Pictures
Click on “Matching Actions Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open the program.
The default selections for this program are: Level 3, Training Mode, Action Distracter, Command Text, Prompt with Blink, Congratulatory Animation, and Select All.
In “Matching Actions Using Pictures” an action is shown at the top of the screen. The student is asked to click on the matching action, shown among others at the bottom of the screen.
Level 1
When this option is selected, one action appears at the top of the screen. One action picture is shown at the bottom of the screen to be matched with the one at the top, without any distracter.
Level 2
When this option is selected, one action 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 an Action or Non-action distracter. “Mixed” gets disabled.
Level 3

This level is selected by default. One action appears at the top of the screen. Three pictures are shown at the bottom of the screen, to be matched with the one at the top of the screen. Among the three are one correct choice and two distracters. You can choose an Action, Non-action, or Mixed distracter.
Training
The Training mode is selected by default. This program uses action 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 teachers/parents 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
Action
This option is selected by default. When this option is selected, the distracters are actions. This option is disabled for Level 1 and available for Level 2 and Level 3.
Non-action
When this option is selected, the distracters are some items other than actions. 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 an action and the other distracter is non-action.
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
When this box is checked, the next screen will be the “SELECTION” screen. This screen allows the teacher/parent to choose the matching object (the Action picture to be identified) and its location on the screen. Also allows the teacher/parent to choose the distracter/s.
There are no distracters for Level 1. Therefore teacher/parent should select only the matching action.
For Level 2 and Level 3, the teacher/parent has to select the matching action, 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.
Prompt
This is checked by default. If the student fails to match the correct action picture within ten seconds, the program guides him/her to the correct action 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 action picture is not chosen after ten seconds, it blinks.
Prompt with Label
The names of the actions appear below the pictures.
Prompt with Animation
If the correct action picture is not chosen after ten seconds, an animation appears (the correct action plays).
Congratulatory Animation
This box is checked by default. This is available only for the “Training” mode. When this is checked, clicking the correct action invites a congratulatory animation. This animation runs for ten seconds. Click anywhere on the screen or press space bar to stop the congratulatory animation.
Selection
All actions are selected by default. Click on the check box to select or deselect the action.
Select All
This is checked by default. Check this box to select all actions. Uncheck to deselect.
Ok
Click this button to open the program after choosing settings.
Done
Click this button to close the program and return to the main menu.
4. Matching Actions Using Similar Pictures
Click on “Matching Actions Using Similar Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
This program runs like “Matching Actions Using Pictures” but the pictures shown are similar but not identical.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Actions Using Pictures”.
5. Matching Actions Using Words
Click on “Matching Actions Using Words” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
This program runs like “Matching Actions Using Pictures”, but instead of pictures, words that name the actions are used. The student is required to click on the correct word, which represents the action shown on top of the screen.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Actions Using Pictures”.
6. Discriminating Actions
Click on “Discriminating Actions” 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 Actions Using Pictures”.
7. Activity with Actions Using Pictures
Click on “Activity with Actions Using Pictures” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
Here, a boy or girl is shown at the top of the screen. The student has to help the boy/girl to do an activity. There are items shown at the bottom of the screen. The student should choose the correct action needed to complete the activity named in the sentence. (The sentence is always spoken.) The student clicks on the action picture, the action picture moves up to the boy/girl, and the animation showing the activity plays.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Actions Using Pictures”.
8. Activity with Actions Using Objects
Click on “Activity with Actions Using objects” and then click the “Enter” button to open this program.
Here, a boy or girl is shown at the top of the screen. The student has to help the boy/girl to do an activity. There are words (names of actions ) shown at the bottom of the screen. The student should choose name of the correct action needed to complete the activity named in the sentence. (The sentence is always spoken.) The student clicks on the word, the word moves up to the boy/girl, and the animation showing the activity plays.
The settings are the same as those of “Matching Actions Using Pictures”.