old PC XT's, I have 10 of them working in my lab. First thing is
to find a computer "recycler" who will sell you old CPUs. I get mine
"as is " for $15 each. Each of the " as is's" have Hard disks of 20-60
megs and about 80% of them work.
I suggest DOS version of Microsoft Works. If purchased with other
Microsoft producst in combined number of 50 or more the cost is $17
per copy. The same keystokes, menu commands, in the DOS version are
used in the Windows version, so whatever is learned will translated
to newer versions.
And the NC Department of Public Works has a curriculum and lesson
plans all ready for Works. You can down load the spreadsheets and
database files from East Carolina University.
http://wwwmathed.math.ecu.edu/
Florida State has a nice collection of educational software for Dos (XT
machines).
I use a nice wordsearch and puzzle shareware program called Bingo,
that will also run on an XT. I have a quiz program, called
(shareware) called Quizmaker that will give quizes on the computer
and score the students, plus write their grades to a file. Also
another shareware program, called word attack that is good for
practicing keyboard skills. Look at Florida Stata they have grade
books, games, all kinds of things that will be useful to you.
An XT will also run programing languages, like Basic, Lego, ect.
Tom Wetsel
twetsel@ac.net
Middle School Technology Teacher
Troy, Montgomery County, NC