The program starts the student building and programming a successful model in the first hour, moving quickly from the concrete to the abstract. Immediate student modification of given programs is encouraged and soon makes it clear that creativity is the norm here. At the same time, however, detailed activities in the Technology Investigations and Inventions Book, for instance, show teachers of many disciplines how to integrate Control Lab into science, math, language arts, social studies and technology curriculum. Macromedia Director None of the products in this grouping are directed specifically toward the standard school subject areas. They do, however, enhance any and all of these areas as computer competency is built.
Logic is brought to bear in every aspect of creative construction in the paradigm.
Along the way reading, writing, applied math and language skills in the computer languages of Logo and Lingo are acquired as one heads for the production goal. The value of making the effort to spell correctly, compose meaningful text and apply mathematics becomes apparent as a modus operandi for success. The educational bonus for teachers at the end of the rainbow is the Multimedia Lab. Macromedia Director, MacroModeler, Swivel 3D and related software and hardware provide a quality multimedia lab where, with minimal instruction, middle and high school students quickly learn to master computer animation, sound and graphics tools when self-motivated to create their own projects. Once a functional expertise is in place, the student becomes aware of its real world applicability in supporting context.