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by Jamie Hataway
Battalion Reporter
ith closed eyes, the sounds
ic room create an image of a
a video arcade. An excited,
suppressed, “ptchoo” or
;’im” occasionally interjects
“chug-chug” of aliens as they
ch in on their victims,
ut open eyes reveal four
nentary students in class,
iintent on shooting the alien
>re it gets them. The chil-
ican outsmart the alien only
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[orau ver. These children are ini
tial d
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ople,
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th easiei
proving their math skills with
the help of computers.
One computer-assisted in
struction program now being
used in Bryan schools is called
Chapter I. The program was
started in Bryan in 1975, but in
cluded only fifth, sixth and
seventh grades. Now grades two
through seven are included and
140 computers are used in the
program. The federally funded
program is for students who
nave fallen behind in math or
reading.
“We have found that this type
of child responds well to instruc
tion through computers,” Bryan
Independent School District
computer education supervisor
Sanara Davis said.
“The kids love the compu
ters,” she said. “They are not the
least bit intimidated by them and
you’d be surprised to see how
quickly they learn to use them.”
Second grade students are in
troduced to the computer and
its use as a learning tool, but no
work is done on them.
From third grade on, the
computer is the teaching
method used to get children
caught up in school. The chil
dren are taken out of regular
class — usually physical educa
tion — for 30 minutes two or
three times a week.
Third grade students try to
master games such as Alien
Addition, while fourth grade
students tackle Meteor Multipli
cation and others.
Sylvia Colwell, who teaches
remedial level courses at Hen
derson Elementary School and
St. Joseph Parochial School, said
that fun games are played at
times to relax the students. They
become so intensly involved in
the learning games that at times
a break is needed. Fun games
also are a reward for good work,
she said.
But all games have education
al qualities. A child is given in
centive to practice reading skills
when a reward message flashes
before him or when instructions
for playing the games are on the
computer screen.
“The children have become
extremely enthusiastic about
learning by using computers,”
Colwell said. “Some of these
children have failed so long they
just don’t care anymore.”
But computers are changing
that attitude.
As one group of students
lined up to leave the one-room
f iortable building housing the
our computers at Henderson
Elementary, four other children
burst through the door, anxious
to get busy. Computers started
beeping and aliens commenced
bombing as each student tried to
beat the computers so they could
move to a faster level.
“Look Mrs. Colwell,” one stu
dent exclaimed, pointing to the
computer screen. “Hits — 66,
Misses — 1” flashed before him.
After praising the accomplish
ment, Colwell set the computer
at a higher level and the child
once again became absorbed
with outsmarting the aliens.
“They love it,” Colwell said.
“The computer is one of the best
things that’s happened to educa
tion. At home it’s so hard to com
pete with television and the
video industry.
acuity offered
ree counseling
by Kimm Daulton
Battalion Reporter
ea $ygoi Tree counseling service is
" wasdj iliable for Texas A&M fa-
lotj ty members who are ex-
'iencing pressure or job
The Faculty Assistance
imm, which began in Sep-
iber, is aimed at preventing
tor problems from becom-
serious ones, Associate
in of the College of Liberal
sDr. Candida J. Lutes said.
‘We feel like many people
't get help in the early
ges for a number of
ns,” Lutes, who is chair-
of the Faculty Assistance
gram, said. “Either they
't know where to go, they
afraid of going, or they
lack of confidentiality.
“There is a great deal of
illy pressure existing at
M and we wanted a prog-
that would ensure con-
ntiality so people might
sider counseling,” Lutes
ince the visits do not re-
e University payments,
e are no insurance forms
back that might reveal
cone’s identity,” she said,
acuity members are
wed six free visits a year
with psychologist Dr. Sara
Jones, who works 10 hours a
week with the program, Lutes
said.
“We wanted someone who
was familiar with the Universi
ty who could deal with short
term crisis off campus,” Lutes
said.
Jones, who works with the
College of Medicine, also has
an office located in a profes
sional building off campus so
participants “won’t be seen,”
Lutes said.
Jones meets with the com
mittee to report head counts
and general response to the
program, but her contract re
quires that she keep identities
confidential, Lutes said.
Jones deals with two types
of counseling; short term or
diagnosis and referral. Facul
ty usually are referred to local
services when a need for long
term counseling is diagnosed,
Lutes said.
Although the program has
not been well publicized, the
response has been over
whelming, Lutes said. About
82 percent of those who have
used the program have had
problems that they felt
affected their job perform
ance, whether stress related or
otherwise. Lutes said.
The program, the first of its
type at Texas A&M, is on a
trial basis and has not been
funded yet. Lutes said.
Police beat
The following incidents were
reported to the University Police
Department through Tuesday:
THEFTS:
• A red 10-speed bicycle from
the Legett Hall bike rack.
• A red 10-speed bicycle from
the front of Puryear Hall.
• A red 1980 Honda motor-
Burglars
plague
restaurant
cycle from the staff lot east of
Kyle Field.
RECOVERY:
• A white 10-speed bicycle
was found on Front Street in the
Married Student Housing area.
The bike was taken to the police
department.
ARREST:
• A person was arrested for
the possession of a pipe that con
tained marijuana. The person
also was wanted for two unpaid
traffic tickets issued by the
Texas Department of Public
Safety, University Police said.
The person was taken to Brazos
.County Jail.
Immigration Law Firm
Samuel PI. Tidwell & Associates, P.C.
Complete Immigration Law Practice
Samuel M. Tidwell is Board Certified in Immigration Law.
OPEN SATURDAYS
Dallas (214) 699-9599 Austin (512) 476-1247
£
Sometime during the night of
Oct. 30, burglars broke into
Ben’s Bar-B-Que at 1600 San
ancinto St. in Bryan — the third
urglary at the restaurant since
February. More than 100
pounds of cooked meat, seven
cases of beer, and other items
were taken.
Any information about the
crime or the persons responsible
should be reported to Crime
Stoppers at 775-TIPS. If infor
mation submitted this week
leads to an arrest and a grand
jury indictment. Crime Stoppers
will pay the caller $ 1,000 in cash.
Callers will be given a special
coded identification number for
their protection.
Crime Stoppers also pays
cash for information on any
felony crime or wanted fugitive.
A Picture Worth a Thousand Words
That Costs But a Few Dollars
MSC Camera
Bonfire
Print Sale
Pre-sale: 1st floor tables MSC
10am-2pm
Nov. 14-18,21,22
8x10 - $3.50
11x14 - $8.00
16x20 - $15.00
Official TAMU Bonfire photo
Prints ready Nov. 26th
Prices increase after Bonfire
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MSC • TOWN • HALL
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An evening with the
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over/)' 1
uit sipj
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Friday, November 25, 9pm
'“Bonfire**"
Tickets $10.00, $9.50, $8.50 MSC Box Office 845-1234
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