Student Aid CAN help you LEARN something FASTER than normal studying! --- ----- ------ WHY? because rather than reading the information and trying to remember it, Student Aid challenges you to THINK of the right answer! As you fail to answer - you learn (from your own mistakes). On top of that - YOU get instant feedback! and continue onward, with minimal delay, learning more. You can even monitor your progress on various tests over time. I've programmed student aid about 5 times now - each time it seems in a different language or different machine, and almost always for my own use. I firmly believe (YES - else I wouln't do this) that it has helped me in school, and in taking tests (Especially the ASQC Certified Quality Engineer test that has taken me forever to pass!). HOW DO I USE STUDENT AID? ------------------------- My favorite way has been in actually collecting the quizzes from my instructors as the semester goes on and then typing in similar questions (and from my class notes) as the semester goes on and then refreshing my memory with Student Aid before major tests & exams. Surprisingly - I found that I've learned the material better from typing in questions (Of course I can type pretty fast so it wasn't all that hard. In this latest version - I've tried to simplify data entry, so I could do everything from the keyboard, and of course I added gadgets everywhere to let me use the mouse [I hate programs which you have to go back and forth all the time!]). Another way I forsee Student Aid to be of use (If you don't want to type in your own questions) is by downloading premade tests from my BBS (I've establishing a collection of them - hopefully someday to cover a wide range of subjects). Of course, this option is available to registered owners only. If I can collect enough tests to fill a disk I'll try to notify all the registered owners of the new test disks which are available (directly from me). INSTALLING ON HARD DRIVE ------------------------ For faster operation you can install to hard drive by dragging the StAid DRAWER (With ALL files) to the Hard Drive. Note: If you just drag the StudentAid program icon - IT WILL NOT WORK! You need the other files in the drawer (not visible from workbench, but listed below as mandatory files). They must be in the same drawer as the StudentAid program. LOW ON MEMORY? -------------- If you have a 512K machine you may be able to get it to work if you create a special boot disk (with all the files listed below, DONT forget to copy the listed system files). I havn't tried this since both my machines have 2 meg or more, and all of my friends (except one) have 1 meg or more. I do know though, if you only have a little bit of memory after Student Aid loads (less than 100K) my program will flag it in the Main Menu and the listing of tests on disk may not work properly (In this version I've had to use RAM: for some disk I/O). WORKBENCH 1.3 USERS! -------------------- For some reason, Student Aid looses the location of the sa.list routine with workbench 1.3, therefore: TO RUN ON Workbench 1.3 you currently MUST run it from CLI! by changing your directory path to staid (or whatever you called the drawer) and then run the program by typine StudentAid, ie... cd ram:staid ;assuming the drawer is in RAM: StudentAid ;will run student aid (for WB1.3 users!) for workbench 2.0 and up it should work fine from either workbench or cli. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: -------------------- To run Student Aid, you need to have: Amiga 500,1000,2000, or 3000+ Workbench 1.3, or 2.0 (NOTE: FOR WB1.3 Read Above!) MINIMUM of 1 MEG (Yeah, I hope to fix this someday) RECOMMENDATIONS: ---------------- I've tested this program very thoroughly on my A3000 running under workbench 2.04, and under 1.3. I have also tested it on my A1000 and found it to run flawless. I'd also like to make a suggestion to anyone who wishes to use my program to create tests (and hopefully upload them to my board for download credits) and that is: Please limit the scope of the tests! I've found that in as little as 3-5 chapters of most school books you can easily come up with 50 questions (1 FULL TEST). Don't try to cover a whole subject such as MATHEMATICS in 1 test, but break it up and cover the different parts of it in many tests. An example would be a single test on FORMULAS IN ALGEBRA, another maybe on FACTORING APPLICATIONS. I think you will find, that the data entry seems a little tedious at first, but well worth the effort later. Suprisingly, in some subjects, like History and Humanities, I've found myself actually predicting the questions the teacher asked in the test practically word for word. STUDENT AID CONTENTS: (REQUIREMENTS) --------------------- Mandatory files: (DO NOT DELETE ANY OF THESE ELSE IT'LL HAVE PROBLEMS!) StudentAid - The Main Program sa.config - configuration file sa.list - external I/O function called by StudentAid sa.point - pointer sprite sa.hlp# - help files for the various areas (by nr#) of Student Aid sa.Q0# - ascii files of quotes for inspiration sa.intro - intro pic (to show) while loading & preparing other files sa.prtpic - image sa.monpic - image sa.ting - sound Optional files: (CAN BE DELETED AT WILL TO FREE UP SPACE) Note: you must keep test files in a seperate directory from StudentAid. specify the name in the configuration area. tests/#?.TST - Test files (#? is the amigados wildcard meaning anything!) tests/#?.HLP - Help file for related test (name #? must match test) tests/#?.GRD - Grade file for related test (name #? must match test) ReadMe.TXT - This file Revisions.TXT - History of s.a. Additional files: (You MUST provide - looked for from your workbench system) (If creating a SINGLE BOOTABLE disk - you must have all of these!) delete - normally located in your c: directory copy - same as above,... filenote - same as above, can change this path in config. run - MUST HAVE this else you won't even see a filelist devs/ramdrive.device - Student Aid process some info in RAM: (not in WB2.0) devs/printer.device - if you're printing l/ram-handler - same as above devs/printers/driver?- of course if you plan to print you need your driver NOTE: If the all of the above files are NOT available you may experience problems while in the file load/save/delete area (chances are, you won't even get a list of tests if the ram-handler is not available!!!). LICENSE AGREEMENT: ------------------ FOR DEMO VERSION 1.4 ONLY!!! (ONLY THIS VERSION IS FREELY DISTRIBUTABLE) You may use and distribute this program as long as the following terms are agreed to: (1) It may not be modified in any way. (2) If distributed, it must include all of the original programs and documentation it came with and all copyright notices must remain intact. (3) The Program may not be distributed for profit nor will it be made part of a "for sale" public domain software collection without prior written permission from author. Your use or distribution of the this program states that you agree to these terms and have accepted this license agreement. FOR REGISTERED VERSIONS 1.5 AND HIGHER!!! You may use this program as long as the following terms are agreed to. (1) It may not be modified in any way. (2) It may not be distributed to any other party for any reason. (This DOES NOT include any tests, help, or grades you created with this program). However, YOUR registration is non-transferable. Your use of the this program states that you agree to these terms and have accepted this license agreement. REGISTRATION & FINAL WORD: -------------------------- Thank's to everyone who has helped me with this product (especially all the registered owners and my beta testers). Please, if you want these kind of products to continue, support the programmer(s): For an official full featured, registered copy, please send $25.00 (Check or Money Order) and $2.50 for shipping and handling ($27.50 total) +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ |OKAY, | | S P E C I A L I N T R O D U C T O R Y P R I C E | | | | $ 9.95 Plus Shipping/handling & tax (if applicable) | | | | NOTE: This offer expires Jul 92, then we'll go back to $25.00 | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ [In the state of florida, please include 6-8% sales tax] [depending on YOUR county tax rate]. Rick Rojas or E-Mail-> SYSOP on SNARF's PUB BBS 2530 White Oak Drive (407) 267-8155 Titusville, Fl 32780 2400 soon to be 2400-14.4 HST NOTE: If you want a registered copy even faster, send me the check AND log onto Snarf's Pub asking for access. When the check clears I'll validate your account with access to the latest official release of Student Aid for you to download (Give US-MAIL and myself a week or 2 to get and clear your check). To fill out registrating on Snarfs Pub you must indicate: YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP, PHONE#, BIRTHDATE YOUR HANDLE & PASSWORD NOTE: When you send the check, Please state that you are/have logged on for access to the Student Aid Files, else you wont get it until I'm reminded and can confirm you're a registered owner. I reserve the right to DELETE any inactive accounts after 3 months. DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ! ----------- The Student Aid program is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will author be liable for incidental, consequential or other similar damages. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of The Student Aid Program is with you. Furthermore, I'd like to add that I give no warranties whatsoever that this program will work for you, I know it works for me (on an Ami 3000, with Workbench 1.3, 5 meg ram, 105 meg HD). Use at your own risk. This program is for amusement purposes only. Batteries are not included. Not to be used while operating heavy machinery - or driving a car. Avoid contact with eyes. Rinse thoroughly with water after use. Consult the advice of your personal physician before use. SO THERE! Oh yeah, and also: Author reserves the right to change this programs' copyright status and/or cost at any time, without notice. TRADEMARKS: ----------- Amiga, AmigaDOS and Workbench are registered trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc.