| | This
program is pretty easy and intuitive to use. As you can see from the panel below,
the colored blocks on the left are the manipulatives which can be clicked on to
magically make new blocks. These blocks can then be dragged into the working
area. There is no limit as to how many blocks you can make and move around.
The three blocks used by this program are the standard blocks used in the physical
version of the base 10 blocks.
| Once the blocks are in the working area you can move them
around by clicking on them and dragging the cursor to a new location. You will
notice that the blocks can only be placed on a particular grid location (i.e.
they snap into the grid). This is made to facilitate their arrangement and relative
placement. |  | To
get rid of any of the blocks you simply move them right into the recycling
bin on the lower left corner. Here is a
short description of the three blocks used in this program:
 | This
is the 1-block or unit block the smallest of all the blocks. |
 | This is the 10-block
corresponding to 10 units. It is also referred to as a rod or long. |
 | This
is the 100-block and corresponds to 100 units. It is also called a flat. |
Let's now describe all the other
tools or icons on the left and top panels. These are used to change the action
that you get from clicking at the mouse. Another way to describe this is to say
that you change the mode of the program. The following table describes all the
functions available: | Icon
Symbol | Description |
 | Clicking
on this straight arrow, which looks like a normal cursor, puts the program in
normal mode which is the most common one. This is the mode where you can make,
select, and drag blocks. |  | Clicking
on this icon changes the mode to rotate mode. In this mode, clicking on any of
the blocks within the working area, will rotate them by 90 degrees. Obviously, this will only have an effect on the
blue 10-block which can be horizontal or vertical. You need to click on the straight
arrow ( )
to go back to normal mode. |  | This hammer is used
to break any of the large pieces into the next size down. Select the hammer and
click on a 100-block to break it into 10 10-blocks or click on a 10-block to break
it into 10 1-blocks. Click on the straight arrow ( )
to revert to normal mode. |  | The glue does the opposite
of what the hammer does. If you align 10 1-blocks in a straight line or 10 10-blocks
to form a perfect square, click on the glue and then on your arrangement of blocks
and they'll be glued together to form the corresponding size up block. Click on
the straight arrow ( )
to revert to normal mode. |  | You can click on this
nice lasso to group together any number of blocks. After clicking on the lasso,
click on the working panel and draw a shape enclosing all of the blocks that you
want to group together. Once grouped together they can be moved to a new location.
The group can be moved again and again as long as it is selected. To unselect
the group you can click again on the lasso, the straight arrow, or anywhere outside
the group. You can move a whole group into the recycling bin
to recycle all of the selected blocks! |  | If
you want to find out the name and a few details on the different blocks and icons,
you click on this icon and then on the block (or icon) that you are interested
in. Again, click on the straight arrow ( )
to go back to normal mode. |  | You
click on the broom to clear, all at once, all the blocks from the working area.
Rest assured that they also get recycled, just like that individual ones that
you can recycle yourself. |  | This
icon allows you to switch the backdrop or background in the working area without
disturbing the blocks already there. Each of the backdrops provided is used for
different exercises. Check the complete list of available
backdrops. |  | This
is where you can drop any blocks that you don't need any more. You can recycle
them one at the time or as groups when they are lassoed together. | This
table shows the complete list of backdrops available
with this program and it includes the operations where it makes sense to use each
of them: Backdrop
name | Backdrop uses | | Default
grid | This can be used for general work and division using
the measurement method. | | Place value
[100, 10, 1] | This backdrop is used to work on place value
concepts as well as additions and subtractions. | | Place
value [1, 0.1, 0.01] | This can be used when working with decimal
numbers to work on place value concepts as well as additions and subtractions. | | XY
axis | This backdrop is mainly used for multiplications and
divisions. This is also the backdrop that one would use for algebra. |
Another
function that needs to be described is the hidden command to count all of the
blocks inside the working area. A control-C on a PC (that is, hold down the
control key while you press the C character) or an Apple-C on a Mac
(that is, hold down the apple key while you press the C character) will count,
add up, and report all of the blocks in the working area. One of the features
of this program is that if one completely covers any of the blocks with a larger
block an X will be drawn in its place. This is done to make sure that blocks
don't get lost. From here you can now go to any of the following
pages: Last Updated: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 07:31:20 GMT
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