Get ALGEBRA PINBALL for YOURSELF,
your FAMILY, your CLASS, your SCHOOL!

• TEACHERS and INDIVIDUALS:
  WHY should I start my own Algebra Pinball?



• INDIVIDUALS:
  I only have an internet connection; I don't have my own homepage.
  HOW can I get Algebra Pinball for myself?



• TEACHERS:
  HOW can I get Algebra Pinball at my own school?

WHY should I start my own Algebra Pinball?

• It's a GREAT review of math skills.
• It's FUN. (People even say that it's addictive.)
• Students love the bonus points they earn by setting a new record.
• Students love to see their name on the web.
• It's cool to see Algebra Pinball come up when someone (like a college admissions person!) searches for your name on the web.
• Students love the bonus points they earn by having friends and family set a new record.
• Teachers love getting students, friends and family doing math.
• You can have an Algebra Pinball all for yourself.
• You can have an Algebra Pinball for a family competition.
• You can have a different Algebra Pinball for each of your math classes.
• You can have an Algebra Pinball for the entire school.
• You can just keep a paper/pencil copy of Algebra Pinball (the low-tech version!) and update scores as they come in.
• Your Department Chair/Principal/Head of School will love your initiative in promoting mathematics.

HOW can I get Algebra Pinball for myself?

• Absolutely!
  You'll just put Algebra Pinball on your own desktop.
  When you're online, you'll click on this file to do the exercises.
  When you get a good time on a web exercise, you'll edit the file to keep track of your progress.
  Just follow the next few easy steps:
   
• Click on the link below, to see what you'll be getting. (It will open in a new window.)
  Of course, you'll be customizing it with your own information!

Here's the INDIVIDUAL Algebra Pinball "template" file

• Now you're going to copy this file to your desktop (or wherever you want to put it).
  Here's how:
   
• COPYING THE ALGEBRA PINBALL FILE TO YOUR COMPUTER:
  • Right-click on the LINK above, and select   "Save Target As..."   as shown in the picture below:
    
  • Navigate to where you want to put the file. (I recommend the desktop.)
  • SAVE the file with the extension " htm ". (THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!)
    For example, save it as:   algebra_pinball.htm
     
• Okay, now you've got the file on your desktop (or somewhere else).
  You need to customize it—make it your own!
  You can't just double-click it, because that will OPEN it in a browser.
  Instead, you want to edit it using a simple text editor, like WordPad.
  (Internet Explorer always comes with WordPad, even though you may never have used it.)
  (CAUTION: DON'T USE Microsoft Word for editing. It can put in hidden stuff that may mess things up.)
  Here's how to edit the file:
   
• EDITING THE ALGEBRA PINBALL FILE IN WORDPAD:
  • Right-click on your Algebra Pinball file, and select   "Open With... Wordpad"   as shown below:
    

    Editing your File from the Desktop

    
    
  • Now, you're looking at HTML (HyperText Markup Language) code.
    If you haven't ever seen HTML code, then this might look a bit scary.
    Don't be intimidated! You don't have to deal with any of the strange-looking stuff!
    Indeed, don't change any of the code (like  <b>...</b> ), unless you know HTML—in which case you can make all the changes you want.
     
  • Just scroll down through the file, and find all the places marked with ***stars***.
    These are the places where you may want to edit the information, to make it your own.
     
  • Be sure to SAVE the file (FILE--SAVE) when you're done editing.
     
• NOTE: If you're going to do a lot of editing of HTML files, then you should get an HTML editor.
  It will be much easier to use than WordPad.
  I personally use "1st Page 2000," version 2.0, by EvrSoft Company. It's totally free!
  I've used it for years and I love it.
• That's it!
  When you're online, and you want to practice a web exercise, just double-click your Algebra Pinball file.
  Whenever you want to update the information in your file, just open it with WordPad.
  ENJOY!

HOW can I get Algebra Pinball at my own school?

• It's easy.
• Click on the link below, to see what you'll be getting. (It will open in a new window.)
  Of course, you'll be customizing it with your own information!

Here's the CLASS/SCHOOL Algebra Pinball "template" file

• Now you're going to copy this file to your own computer or network.
  Here's how:
   
• COPYING THE ALGEBRA PINBALL FILE TO YOUR COMPUTER/NETWORK:
  • Right-click on the LINK above, and select   "Save Target As..."   as shown in the picture below:
    
  • Navigate to where you want to put the file.
    (You may need to have a conversation with your local computer person.
    Or, your local computer person may need to do this for you.)
  • SAVE the file with the extension " htm ". (THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!)
    For example, save it as:   algebra_pinball.htm
     
• Okay, now you've got your own file.
  You need to customize it—make it your own!
  You can't just double-click it, because that will OPEN it in a browser.
  Instead, you want to edit it using a simple text editor, like WordPad.
  (Internet Explorer always comes with WordPad, even though you may never have used it.)
  (CAUTION: DON'T USE Microsoft Word for editing. It can put in hidden stuff that may mess things up.)
  Here's how to edit the file:
   
• EDITING THE ALGEBRA PINBALL FILE IN WORDPAD:
  • Right-click on your Algebra Pinball file, and select   "Open With... WordPad"   as shown below:
    

    Editing your File from the Desktop

    
    
  • Now, you're looking at HTML (HyperText Markup Language) code.
    If you haven't ever seen HTML code, then this might look a bit scary.
    Don't be intimidated! You don't have to deal with any of the strange-looking stuff!
    Indeed, don't change any of the code (like  <b>...</b> ), unless you know HTML—in which case you can make all the changes you want.
     
  • Just scroll down through the file, and find all the places marked with ***stars***.
    These are the places where you may want to change the information, to make it your own.
    Put in your own school/class name.
    Adjust the instructions, if you want.
    Get rid of exercises you don't want.
    Re-order the exercises to match your curriculum.
     
  • Be sure to SAVE the file (FILE--SAVE) when you're done editing.
     
• NOTE: If you're going to do a lot of editing of HTML files, then you should get an HTML editor.
  It will be much easier to use than WordPad.
  I personally use "1st Page 2000," version 2.0, by EvrSoft Company. It's totally free!
  I've used it for years and I love it.
• Next, you need to UPLOAD the file to your web server.
  (If you have no idea what this means, then have your local computer person take care of this step.
  However, you'll need to learn how to do this, because you'll be editing and re-uploading the file as new times come in.)
   
• CREATE A LINK to your Algebra Pinball file from your class/school homepage, to make it easier for students to find.
  (Again, if this makes no sense to you, ask your local computer person.
  You may need to make this person a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.)
   
• Make sure that your local computer person has installed MathPlayer on all the school computers.
   
• That's it!
  Whenever you want to update the information in your file, you'll just open it with WordPad, and then re-upload the edited file.
  ENJOY!