Note 1: The software below can be purchased on floppy disk (@ £3 each) or alternatively from Diskovery on CD-Rom (@£20) The "Mega-CD" contains most of what is below plus alot extra).

Note 2: Click on EDIT, then FIND, then type ***** or **** to find Robbie's favourites !

Note 3: Congratulations and Thanks to Robbie for all the work he has done in sharing his software expertise with the rest of us. Let's make use of his efforts.

In October 1995 I established the Irish Library of Educational Shareware for primary schools. My intention was to provide an inexpensive, easily attainable resource to enable teachers explore the benefits of computer-aided learning with their pupils. There were thirty disks initially which I was able to expand to forty five in early 1996, due to the excellent response I received from teachers all around the country. I wish to thank all those who supported this initiative, and also express my appreciation for all the positive feedback I have received. Because of this tremendous response I have been able to gradually expand the library even further, to a total of more than eighty disks. (over 100 individual titles) Once again, only those titles which have attained a high standard, in educational terms, have been included, and hundreds have been discarded. For the benefit of new readers, I include in this article an explanation of the shareware principle, as previously published:

It is important to understand what the term shareware means. Above all, shareware is not a different type of software to the more usual commercial variety. Rather, it is a different type of marketing, where distribution and marketing costs are kept to a minimum, and the savings passed on to the end user. Often referred to as "try before you buy" or "evaluation" software, shareware differs from commercial software in a number of ways. Firstly, it is freely copyable. Secondly, it gives you the chance to evaluate the program before you pay the full price (which is normally significantly cheaper than the conventional type).

Many of these programs require you to pay a registration fee if, after using it for a period of time, you decide you wish to continue using it. Some rely on your honesty to do this, while others offer extra benefits of some kind to encourage you to do so. Shareware can be roughly divided into three types.

1. Freeware (Public Domain) - complete programs for which no registration is required, and freely copyable, providing it has not been altered in any way. eg. Correct, Berkeley Logo, Interactive Dental Office.

2. Restricted Programs - a number of programs are limited in some way, and on payment of the registration fee, you will receive the full package. These restrictions vary very much from program to program. In Camelot, for instance, you are limited to exercises on the identification and use of adjectives in the shareware version, but registration entitles you to a larger range of activities, including verbs and nouns. Similarly, if you decide to register Krazy Faces, you will receive additional modules which include Krazy-Kritters and Krazy Creatures, as well as printer support and an enhanced version of the basic program.

3. Advertisement Programs - some programs are released as full and complete versions in the hope that you will be so impressed as to purchase enhanced versions of the same, or other products from the same companies. Many will have been on sale as commercial software packages through retail outlets. Examples include PagePlus, McAfee's Anti-Virus.

· All of the programs contain instructions for use, and those which require registration contain a Readme file, which will give all details pertaining to procedures and benefits.

· All programs, except those specified for Ms Windows, should run on a 286 P.C., with VGA colour, 1 Mb Ram and a harddisk.

· A number of disks contain two or more separate titles. This has been done to maximise disk space, and to save on distribution costs.

· The asterisks represent my personal valuation on each program, out of five.

· The suggested class groupings for which the programs are suited are approximate, and may not be accurate for all schools.

· All programs are supplied on High Density disks and are thoroughly virus checked

· Disks cost £3 each, including postage and packing.

EARLY LEARNERS

Note: While this section is most appropriate for infants to second classes, teachers of this age group will also find suitable programs under other headings.

1. This disk contains two programs:
(a) Bozzball
A very attractive suite of activities for infants, including alphabet practice, spelling, colours, shape recognition, addition and subtraction. There are three levels of difficulty and appealing games for reward.. Well structured, bright and colourful. ****
(b) Word Gallery
A word recognition and spelling game for infants and juniors. Contains excellent graphics and animation, easy to use, with a simple colourful interface. Five games include: Flash Cards, Missing Letters, Word Guess, Matching and Spelling. ***

2. Seaschool
Superb, beautifully designed program for juniors to practice their maths. The hugely appealing graphics, solid structure and reward features combine to present a program high on educational benefits and visual appeal. Five areas, linked by the theme of the sea, include counting, number recognition, ordering, addition and subtraction.*****

3. Animated Clock
The best program to reinforce the teaching of time that I have seen. A very attractive graphical interface, with sound educational content - bright, colourful and fun to use.
****

4. Wonder Word
Crosswords for first to third classes, with attractive interface and animation. Contains 300 words to help children spell the names of common household objects. ***

5. Dollars and Dinosaurs
Excellent program dealing with word recognition, spelling and keyboard skills for juniors, with ten levels of difficulty. Very attractive graphics, animation, and simple to use. ***

6. Dotmania
Join the dots for juniors. Pupils use the mouse to click on the numbers - there are over twenty pictures to choose from, and the finished pictures can be coloured in. Finished work can be printed out. Simple to use with a friendly, attractive interface. ***

7. Addalot
"Sir Addalot's Mini Maths Adventure" - a charming adventure, dealing with addition and subtraction, in the context of a knights and castles environment. Increasing levels of difficulty, superb graphics and a friendly interface combine to produce a program which is highly attractive to the age group, and will make maths practice beneficial, enjoyable and appealing. Requires minimum 386 processor. *****

8. Math Bingo.
A charming and original bingo-type game for juniors which reinforces number recognition and addition skills. Children can play against a friend or against the computer (and it doesn't always win!). Very attractive graphics and sound for the age group. Requires Windows. ****

9. Kinder Carton.
A suite of 27 educational activities for young learners. They include phonics - I Spy, letter matching, blends and digraphs; maths - counting, addition, number line; and logic - tic tac toe, mazes, patterns. Lots of educational potential and a wide variety of activities. ****

10. Wordtrix for Windows
A suite of four different games concerned with the practice of initial letters, silent 'e' and vowel pairs. The games are enjoyable to play, with three levels of difficulty and excellent sound support. ***

11. Amy's Fun2-3
Absolutely charming program, featuring outstanding graphics, animation and visual appeal, designed to help infants practise their number recognition, counting and musical skills. There are four games to play, all introduced by the cutest puppy available on disk! (Winzip required, see below) ****

UTILITIES

12. McAfee Anti-Virus.
A good anti-virus package is absolutely essential for every computer user, to protect valuable programs and information from the havoc and destruction which can be caused by a virus. This shareware version of McAfee is one of the best and most comprehensive there is. There are three versions available: Dos, Windows 3.x and Windows '95 ****

13. The Gorin Desktop.
A graphical user interface for Dos. Instead of being presented with the rather unfriendly C:> prompt, programs are represented as icons, and can be executed simply by clicking. This makes using the computer much easier to use, as it largely eliminates the need for typing in Dos commands to run programs, change directories and work with files. The desktop is very easy to set up, customise and edit. Programs can be easily divided into categories and each one assigned an appropriate icon from the large selection available. (unnecessary for users of Quinnsworth's I.B.M. PS1 computers)
*****

14. Paintshop Pro
The ultimate program for working with graphic files. Users can convert between graphic file formats, view, edit and print graphics, either singly or as groups. Supports almost all file formats, and contains all the features you could wish for in this area of computing. If, for instance, you wish to use a particular graphic in Creative Writer, but it is in PCX. format, this program will convert it to BMP. format for this purpose, as well as allowing you to edit or enhance it in a number of ways. ***** Requires Ms. Windows

15. Winzip
(Windows) This is a program for compressing and decompressing files, to maximise disk space. It is very easy to use with a simple interface and detailed help files. It is particularly useful if, for example, you wish to fit a 2Mb program onto a floppy disk for transfer to another computer. *****

16. Easybase
For teachers who wish to create simple databases quickly and easily. No bells and whistles (designed for Dos based computers). Similar to an index card system, this database is used to create , edit, store and sort information. ***

17. Viabase
For Windows users, I have included a versatile, easy to use database. An ideal vehicle for producing and maintaining school and/or class records, which can include graphics if required. Comprehensive instructions for all procedures and options are included as well as templates and examples. ****

18. Drag n'View
An extremely useful utility that allows you view the contents of any file from File Manager (or Explorer) without opening the program in which it was created. File formats supported include most graphics, word processor, database and spreadsheet applications. There are two versions available, for Windows 3.1 and Windows '95. ****

19. Handy for Windows
A collection of over 30 utilities and games, which includes simple databases, calendars, art, stopwatch, weights and measures conversion, time zones, typing, mouse control and memory games, font viewer and many more. Well put together and a useful addition to any desktop. ****

20. Gradebook for Windows
Specially created for teachers' use, this program is designed to allow users to create and maintain class lists. It is a straightforward matter to keep track of pupils' attendance records and test results. Information is easily edited, sorted and printed, data can be compared and reports generated. A well designed utility with many options, but easy to use. ****

MATHEMATICS

21. There are three maths programs on this disk:
(a) Funnels and Buckets.
A "golden oldie" at this stage, but still, nonetheless, an excellent program to sharpen childrens' knowledge of tables, as they race to key in the answers to questions before they drop, and fill the buckets at the bottom of the screen. First to sixth classes. ***
(b) Long Division.
Simple but effective long division tutor. Step by step guide with practice and problems modules. A well structured aid to what can often be a difficult procedure for children to master. ***
(c) Tables of Doom
Excellent strategy game, which requires good reflexes and knowledge of tables. Helps to make revision of tables more enjoyable, as well as sharpening responses. ***

22. Treasure Hunt Maths.
This is the most recent version of last year's most popular shareware title. Mouse support is now included, as well as an extra tetris-style maths game. Excellent graphics and animation in this program, where children solve maths problems and in the process, search for hidden pirate treasure. Well structured, with record keeping facilities and certificates. Levels include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals and percentages. *****

23. Big Math Attack.
Arcade type game which gives practice in maths tables, spelling, metric conversion and typing skills. Adjustable difficulty levels. Forces pupils to think and react quickly - very beneficial as well as fun and challenging. ****

24. Hooray for Henrietta
A very attractive maths program from Lander Software. Children practise addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, in the context of an appealing rescue game, enlivened by excellent graphics, animation and music. ****

25. This disk contains two maths reinforcement programs:

(a) Fractions, Decimals and Percentages. This is the only shareware program I am aware of that deals specifically with this topic, and it does so superbly. It is well structured and attractive, with comprehensive, automatic record keeping, and self-adjusting difficulty levels. Highly recommended. *****
(b) Snakes and Ladders. An appealing and accurate rendition of the board game, which will help pupils practise their addition skills and have fun at the same time. They can play against each other or against the computer. ***

26. Two superb maths reinforcement titles from the same company:

(a) Math Sampler. This program features an excellent interface and attractive graphics and game-play. It deals with counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, with three levels of difficulty, and so can be used throughout the school. Children are forced to think and react quickly, and to control the mouse accurately. Its an ideal program to introduce computers to children, at all levels, and as such is one of the most useful shareware titles I have seen. *****
(b) Beat the Bomb. Addition practice only, but once again a superb interface and gameplay. Pupils must react quickly to click on the correct answer in a hundred square, as time ticks away. As with Math Sampler, a very efficient and attractive way to improve maths facts, mental dexterity and mouse control. ****

27. Maths Castle
Children can practise their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables in an attractive game format, as they shoot down the answers to questions to protect their castle from attack. Similar to Funnels and Buckets, but with superior graphics. ***

28. Crazygraph
An excellent Windows program which allows pupils to enter data, and then present it in a large variety of graphical formats. These include two and three dimensional pie charts, line and bar graphs, scattergrams etc. A very attractive interface, and graphs can be printed in colour or greyscale, or copied to the clipboard. ****

29. (a) Math in a Flash
(Windows) The four number operations can be practised and reinforced, with four levels of difficulty. A very attractive interface, and very easy to play. An enjoyable way for pupils to hone their computational skills. ***
(b) Arithmetic Tic Tac Toe
(Windows) Addition practice only, in a very attractive game format. Pupils can play three-in-a-row with each other, or against the computer. Bright attractive interface and appealing gameplay for this age group. ***

30. Math Flight
(Windows) Excellent graphics, gameplay and sound effects feature in this new program designed to give pupils practice in the four number operations, and have fun at the same time. A number of extremely useful features are included. These include the facility to focus on particular areas of difficulty, set difficulty and speed levels and to generate and print a report on questions answered and missed. This is a particularly attractive and user-friendly title, and a useful tool for teachers of all ages. *****

LANGUAGE

31. Andy's Word Games
English practice, suitable for first to third classes. Contains exercises on vocabulary development, spelling, sentences etc. A very solid, and popular program, used in many schools. ****

32. Eclipse and Drop-in.
Two separate programs, by the same author, both contain Cloze procedure type exercises, to be filled in by pupils (middle/senior classes). Both contain ready made passages, or teachers can create their own. Teachers also have control over which words, letters or parts of speech are omitted. ***

33. Henrietta's Book of Spells
Companion program to Hooray for Henrietta, which offers five well designed games to reinforce spelling. Once again the educational content is cleverly combined with an attractive interface of high visual appeal. Middle classes. ****

34. This disk contains three programs to develop pupils' English skills:

(a) Cipher. Quotations and sayings are cryptically encoded, and pupils strive to crack the code. This is quite a challenging program, and success is achieved only through the application of careful thought and deduction. Requires Windows. ***
(b) Markup. A very solid, no-frills punctuation tutor, with no graphics but full of educational content. It deals comprehensively with all aspects of this subject, with five levels of difficulty. Topics include capitalisation, commas, colons, quotation marks, possessives and contractions. ****
(c) Wordsearch Rampage. A Windows program which allows the user to create, edit, print or play wordsearch puzzles. There is a large selection of ready-made puzzles to choose from, which cover a wide variety of subjects. Middle and senior classes. ***

35. Crosspix
(Windows) Superbly designed crossword program for a variety of ages. Each puzzle has brightly illustrated clues, and a simple, attractive interface. There are four levels of difficulty, with two puzzles in each level. Because of the large amount of colour and sound effects in this program its size exceeds 1.44 Mb, but has been compressed for distribution. Therefore, Winzip (above) is required to install onto harddisk. ****

36. Word Games at Camelot
For senior classes, this program enables pupils to practise vocabulary skills, specifically the identification and use of adjectives. Once again a game format is successfully utilised to make an educational experience fun and enjoyable. Excellent graphics and challenging activities combine in a well balanced, attractive program. There are three levels of difficulty, a high score table and teacher's wordlist editor as added features. ****

37. Balloons
Hangman-type word game, where pupils try to work out a phrase. Many of the phrases are American (people, places etc) but word lists can be added to if required. A very attractive interface and ease of use enhance this Windows title. ***

38. Wordmix for Windows
Pupils are presented with a master word, and try to make as many smaller words as possible from its letters. Answers can be checked. Enjoyable but challenging way to practise spelling and vocabulary. ***

39. Spelling and Punctuation Tutor
High on content (for senior classes) but low on presentation. No graphics, and a basic interface, but scores highly on its structured content. Topics include: misspelt words, anagrams, word flash, full stops, speech marks, semi colons, commas and apostrophes. ***

PUBLISHING

40. Pageplus
Superb full-featured DTP package for Windows, not restricted in any way. Easy to learn and easy to use, it makes the creation of documents containing columns, boxes, headlines, graphics and text logical and straightforward. Ideal for project work, flyers, notices, newsletters etc., particularly in senior classes, and for teachers themselves.
*****

41. Envision Publisher.
If you don't have Windows, and would like to try desktop publishing, this is the ideal program to learn the ropes. It is straightforward to use, and to produce documents containing text, in a variety of styles, colours and sizes, and columns, lines and boxes and graphic images (.PCX format only). It's ease of use belies powerful features such as text rotation, spellchecker, leading and kerning etc. ***

42. Webit
(Windows) If you are interested in publishing on the Internet, but unsure, or daunted by HTML code, this program is an extremely user-friendly vehicle for getting started. Designed for novices, it takes a gentle step by step approach to first time publishing. It will allow you to create a basic page without having knowledge of HTML, and as such, is one of the best shareware Web editors I have seen. ****

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

43. Euroquiz
A challenging quiz game, to test pupils' knowledge of European geography, as well as mental dexterity. This program has been highly praised by teachers as a very effective method of revision of this subject for senior classes. *****

44. Eurowin
The Windows (and more up to date) version of Euroquiz, this disk also includes a similar program to aid the teaching of U.S. geography. *****

45. Insecta
A superb Windows program, one of the best shareware programs available. This title deals with the anatomy and identification of familiar (and some not so familiar) insects, including the dragonfly, butterfly and beetle. High on information, excellent interface and interaction, an invaluable resource for the study of insect life. *****

Irish Geography
46. Cities and Towns of Ireland
47. Mountains of Ireland
48. Rivers and Lakes of Ireland
49. Irish Counties

This is a series of Windows programs, authored by myself, with the aim of helping pupils revise their knowledge of Irish physical and political geography, in an enjoyable way. All four titles share a common format: at the start or the end of the program, the children can study the features to be tested on the appropriate on-screen map. In the quiz itself they are required to identify a particular a particular feature as specified. If correct, the next page/question appears: visual and aural responses are generated by the computer depending on the answer supplied. All programs are interactive, with colour graphics, sound effects and a simple attractive interface. 486 cpu recommended, and approximately 12 Mb disk space required per title.

50. Two History Programs
(a) PbGreek.
This title contains twelve pages of information, with graphics, about Ancient Greece. Topics include education, Olympic Games, Sparta, warfare etc. There are two questions to answer, based on each page, as well as hangman and wordsearch games. A very useful aid to teaching not only this topic, but also reading comprehension. ***
(b) Explore2
Short passages of information about two explorers, Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo. Each passage is followed by a series of review questions.**

51. Battle of Hastings
An in-depth exploration of William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings, the Bayeux Tapestry, in presentation format, utilising text, photographs and hypertext. ***

52. Interactive Dental Office
(Windows) Impressive graphics, animation and interface enliven this interactive guide to teeth and dental care. Topics include advice on brushing and healthy eating, avoiding cavities and dental terms. Described by its authors (American dentists) as "sugar coating a fundamental dental education with enjoyable multimedia education", this title scores highly on both content and interactivity. Intelligent use is made of animation, games and hypertext to effectively convey the important issues in an enjoyable manner. ****

EDUCATIONAL GAMES

53. I have included two memory games on this disk:
(a) Matchem.
A very popular memory game, for one or two players, like the card game "Concentration". Pupils use the mouse to click on squares, which reveal hidden pictures, and try to match the pairs. Great for observation and memory skills, and great fun too. First class upwards. ****
(b) Flaggame.
For one or more players, like Matchem but the mouse is not used and all the pictures represent different flags of the world. ***

54. Hangman
Easily the best childrens' version of this game that I have seen. Suitable for middle/senior classes, this program has graphic appeal, a simple interface, and allows teachers the option of adding their own word lists. ***

55. Literati Lite
A superb word game for Windows, almost identical to Scrabble. Up to four players can play, including the computer. Two levels of difficulty. Excellent learning potential, for senior classes. *****

56. Windows Brain Games.
This disk contains fourteen games and puzzles which will stimulate logical thought and problem-solving. Programs include Empipe, Tic Tac Toe and versions of Mastermind, chess and hangman. Middle and senior classes. ****

57. The Incredible Machine.
This is a demonstration program which contains ten levels of the full commercial version. Each puzzle contains the elements of an inventive machine: pupils are given various mechanical devices such as pulleys, ropes and ramps, and must attempt to use these creatively to operate the machine. There is great potential for lateral thinking, reasoning, discussion and experimentation - and, of course, great satisfaction if successful. Senior classes. ****

58. Winchess
A slick and attractive Windows chess game. Pupils can play against each other or against the computer. Three levels of difficulty, and games can be saved if required. ****

59. Jpuzzle
A Windows program where children rearrange the pieces of pictures, with lots of options. The beauty of this program, however, is that any Bitmap graphic on your harddisk can be selected, and then scrambled and rearranged. I have included a number of graphic files on the disk, such as a map of Ireland and various famous landmarks and animals. Lots of educational potential, and fun to use. ****

60. There are two memory enhancement games on this disk
(a) Amnesia is very similar to Flaggame (above) but with mouse support, and a huge selection of world flags. ***
(b) Doublematch is an excellent game in which a phrase is gradually uncovered as the pairs of tiles are revealed. First to type in the correct phrase is the winner. Great fun and a good aid to the development of concentration and memory skills. **** Both programs require Windows.

61. A compilation of three Windows programs' suitable for a wide age range:
(a) Hangwin, a very accomplished Windows version of Hangman, word lists can be added. ***
(b) Chalkboard Maths, a very attractive basic maths practice program, dealing with the four main number operations. ***
(c) School Crazy, a suite of user-friendly activities including typing, tables practice, logic, charting ****
62.
(a) Finders Keepers.
Excellent concentration type memory game, with a large variety of picture sets to select from, as well as how long they are displayed. ****
(b) Snowman
A very attractive version of hangman, most suitable for middle classes. For up to four players. Excellent graphics, interface and sound effects. ***

ART/CREATIVITY

63. Neopaint
A highly rated art package which is easy to use, and contains a comprehensive selection of tools for the creation of drawings and paintings. These include a large array of colours, patterns, ready-made stamps and text. Middle and senior classes. ****

64. Electric Crayon at the Zoo
An electronic colouring book for junior school pupils, based on visiting the zoo. Contains a good selection of pictures and a large range of colours and tones. Pictures can be printed out. There is a huge amount of programs of this kind available as shareware, and this is one of the best. ****

65. Krazy Faces.
A very attractive and entertaining program, for all ages. Pupils select from a series of blank faces (or start from scratch), and then add facial features, such as eyes, noses, mouths etc., to create their own imaginative "faces". Thousands of permutations, and many extra options. ***

66. Child's Play.
An excellent Windows art and drawing program, designed for children. Contains a comprehensive selection of art creation tools, erasers, stamps and special effects. Text can be added if required. Online help is available, and the sound effects add to the enjoyment and appeal of this program. Third to sixth classes. ***

67. Bert's African Animals
Children select from a series of backgrounds and then insert animals of various sizes onto the screen. The pictures can then be coloured in, and text added. Endless variations on the theme are possible, and the finished work can be printed out. Pupils derive much satisfaction from creating these pictures on screen - an original and imaginative program. ***

68. Bert's Dinosaurs
As above, with prehistoric scenes and creatures. ***

69. Bert's Whales and Dolphins
As above, with marine scenery and pictures of whales and dolphins. ***

70. Colorme
(Windows) For early learners, ten picture to colour, using the mouse. A large palette of colours and patterns, and pictures can be saved and printed. ***

71. Crayonbox
This title contains not only a basic sketching and painting program but modules on number operations, counting, memory and U.S. geography. Easy to use and an attractive interface. Juniors to middle classes. ***

72. Two programs for the creation of cartoon faces.
(a) Funfaces. A bit of a "golden oldie", with basic but effective graphics. Children have a huge selection of facial features to choose from and combine to create funny faces. A vast number of permutations is possible. Completed faces can be coloured in and printed if required. Suitable for most age groups. ***
(b) Facemaker (Windows) A very simple but attractive program for the same purpose. A much smaller range of options and permutations, more suited for juniors. ***

CLIPART

73. Educational Clipart. This disk contains

(a) 131 line drawings in .PCX format, all concerned with the theme of books and reading. They vary in terms of size, complexity and quality, but are ideal for adding impact to book reports, notices, project work and signs. Graphic images in .PCX format are recognised by the vast majority of word processing and DTP packages. ***
(b) 28 images, also in .PCX format, and all related to school and educational matters. These graphics are of particularly high quality and show images such as pupils at their desks or the computer, teachers, educational objects and school buildings etc. ****

74. World Geography Clipart
Over 50 high quality public domain graphic images of faraway places. Examples include Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower, Taj Mahal, Rome, London, Egypt etc. All images are supplied in .PCX format, as black and white line drawings. ****

75. Electronic Colouring Book. A collection of 131 drawings of varying complexity which are intended to be:
(a) coloured in in art/drawing packages (e.g. Windows Paintbrush, KidPix)
(b) imported into DTP packages to add impact to documents, or
(c) used in pupils worksheets to be printed out.

Subjects include animals, birds, children, toys, dot to dot, mazes, household and family. They are all in .PCX format. ***

76. Irish History
Approximately 65 line drawings, in .PCX format, which cover the whole range of Irish historical events and personalities. Some examples are: Irish saints, famine scenes, 1916 scenes, Parnell, Davitt, Cromwell. They are intended for use as illustration of childrens' written work in DTP or wordprocessing. All images are copyright free, and have been scanned from a textbook previously published by The Christian Brothers. *****

77. Irish Wildlife
As above, copyright free images of, for instance, badger, fox, thrush, frog, deer, butterfly, owl etc. These images have been scanned courtesy of Fallons Publishers. These two disks have been compiled and made available to teachers in an effort to provide a distinctly Irish resource for primary schools, with direct relevance to the Irish curriculum, and were first advertised in this magazine earlier this year. ****

78. Religious Clipart.
A large selection of .PCX line drawings for inclusion in documents with a religious theme. Particularly useful for Confirmation work, or projects connected with Christmas, Easter, Mass etc. *****

79. Image Commander (for Windows) It is a good idea to build up a collection of clipart, as suitable graphic images add greatly to the impact of childrens' (and teachers'!) wordprocessing or DTP work. This utility allows the user to build albums of graphic files and reads a large variety of file formats. One can then view the images as in a conventional photograph album, as thumbnails. One can also view each image full size, print images or albums, convert between formats, or view the files as a slide show. Despite the range of powerful features, Image Commander is very easy to use: almost everything is automatic, and the interface is extremely clear and intuitive. *****

AUTHORING/PRESENTATION

80. Neobook
Like Neopaint, this presentation package is user-friendly, yet very powerful. This program is ideal for the creation of computer projects or scrapbooks. Each project is made up of a number of pages/screens, which can contain text, headlines, boxes, graphics, buttons and even sounds. Senior classes. ****

81. Illuminatus
This is a Windows authoring cum presentation program which has many powerful features yet is very easy to use. It is an ideal tool for presenting projects, tutorials or databases of information. Each page can contain text, graphics, sound files and buttons (which can be hidden if required). In this shareware version of the program, which normally sells for £120, the publication option is unavailable. This means that completed projects cannot be compressed to disk for transfer to another computer. Otherwise, this is the complete version of a superb program which can be used in many different ways to present information and media in electronic form, and is extremely enjoyable to use. *****

MISCELLANEOUS

82. Berkeley Logo.
A Windows version of the famous programming language for children (4 Mb Ram recommended). Turtle graphics, procedures, on-line help all available - this is a high powered, full featured version of Logo, and a superb learning tool. Freeware. ****

83. There are two separate Windows programs on this disk:
(a) Correct
A slick, easy to use program for creating multiple-choice quizzes. It is a straightforward matter to create, edit, store and take quizzes on any subject. An ideal way to test and reinforce curriculum content. Contains one quiz (twenty questions) on mammals. ****
(b) IQ Test
A very useful IQ test, which is made up of 50 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in thirty minutes. Questions are answered by clicking the appropriate boxes. Designed to assess an adult's IQ, but will also calculate scores for children from the age of eight. I have found this test to be quite accurate. ****

84. PCFastType
There is a large number of typing tutors available as shareware, and this is one of the better ones. It can be used by typists of any level to improve their keyboard skills, so this is a program that can be used by teacher and pupil alike. Among its features are high quality graphics, a well structured learning hierarchy, and the ability for all users to record and view their individual progress.
Available for Dos or Windows. ***

85. Animated Beginning Typing
(Windows) Highly attractive childrens' typing tutor, with graded levels of difficulty, attractive graphics, simple interface and lots of animation and sound effects. Helps introduce children to use of the keyboard, but helps take the tedium out of the process. ****

86. Create a Quiz for Windows
Superb new quiz creation program with many options. A variety of quizzes (of up to 20 questions) can be created, and which may include graphics and sound files if required. Scores are automatically recorded and a report generated at the end of each quiz. Enormous educational potential. ****

Teachers who wish to acquire shareware disks, or who require further information should ring 01 2960230, outside school hours, or write to me at my school address. Alternatively, I can be contacted by email at olearyr@iol.ie. Diskovery can be contacted at info@diskovery.ie