BOOST Help Document v20080507

HELP!
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Help on help! How do I use this document? 2

Introduction 2

Quick Start Guide 3

Detailed Guide 6

Getting to Know the BOOST Interface 6

Information About Users 7

Overview of the Main Screens 7

Start-up Screen 8

Reward Selection Screen 10

Module Selection Screen 14

User Progress Screen 15

Parent Options Screen 15

Glossary 19

Appendices 22

Appendix A – Minimum System Requirements 22

Appendix B – How BOOST Works 22

Appendix C – Expanding BOOST 22

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HELP ON HELP! HOW DO I USE THIS DOCUMENT?

This help document is divided into four sections: an Introduction, a Quick Start Guide, a Detailed
Guide and a Glossary.
• The Introduction explains what BOOST is and how it works.
• The Quick Start Guide gives you simple, step-by-step instructions to install BOOST and get
it up-and-running as quickly as possible.
• The Detailed Guide gives more thorough information on using BOOST.
• The Glossary provides easy-to-understand definitions of words used in this document.
The Appendices at the end of this document provide information on the minimum system
requirements and the expansion of BOOST.
This document is hyperlinked for your convenience. Click the hyperlinks to view the appropriate
section.
NOTE: This help document may contain graphics and information not specific to your version of
BOOST. These differences are minor, and should not affect your use of BOOST.

Back to the Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
BOOST is a fun, interactive and flexible educational program that motivates your child to learn by
rewarding their achievements.
BOOST uses two reward types: Reward Games and Parent Rewards. Reward Games are built-in
interactive computer games. A Parent Reward is any reward that you negotiate and set with your
child, for example, a trip to the zoo. Both Reward Games and Parent Rewards can be earned by
correctly answering a set number of questions in the BOOST software. The workbook and software
also work together. While your child answers questions in the workbook, they can use their answers
to write down a code that will unlock play time with one of the Reward Games!
BOOST is flexible, keeping you up to date with your
child’s learning by offering new content. This gives your
child a wider choice of learning material, and allows you
to better address your child’s learning needs. See
Appendix C – Expanding BOOST for more information.
The Module Selection Screen (see the image to the right)
shows which packages of learning content (known as
Interactive Modules) you own. Click an Interactive Module
that you don’t own yet to view purchasing options.

Back to the Table of Contents

Module Selection Screen

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QUICK START GUIDE

The Quick Start Guide consists of eight simple steps, and will get you up-and-running with BOOST
as quickly as possible. For more detailed information on any features of BOOST, see the Detailed
Guide.

1 Install BOOST.

WINDOWS MACINTOSH

A Insert the BOOST CD into your CD-ROM drive. A Insert the BOOST CD into your CD-ROM drive.
B If the BOOST installer does not B Double-click the BOOST CD icon when it appears on
run automatically: the Desktop.
I Click Start, then Run. C Double-click the installer icon.
II Click Browse and navigate to the CD drive D Follow the directions of the BOOST installer.
where the BOOST CD is located.
III Find the installation file.
IV Click Open, then click OK.
C Follow the directions of the BOOST installer.

2 Run BOOST.

WINDOWS MACINTOSH

- Double-click the BOOST icon on the Desktop; or - Double-click the BOOST icon on the Desktop; or
- Click the Start menu, then open the Programs menu (or - Open the Applications folder by selecting Finder,
All Programs menu for Windows XP and Vista). opening the Go menu and selecting Applications.
Run BOOST. Run BOOST.

Note that by default, the BOOST installer places an icon

on the Desktop. If the BOOST icon is not on the Desktop,
run BOOST from the Applications folder.

3 Create a new user.

A Click the ‘create’ button.

3A

Start-up Screen

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B Enter a name for the user.

3B

C Choose an avatar by clicking the arrows. An avatar is

a small picture used to represent a player.

3C

Start-up Screen
3D
D Click the ‘ok’ button.

4 Login as the user by clicking the ‘login’ button.

Start-up Screen

5 Select either a Reward Game or the Parent Reward.

A If you want to earn a Reward Game, select a
Reward Game by clicking the arrows. 5A

B Click the ‘earn reward’ button next to the

Reward Game or Parent Reward. Note that a
Parent Reward must be set for the current
user in order for it to be earned. 5B

Reward Selection Screen

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6 Select an Interactive Module 7 Answer the questions.

by clicking it.

Module Selection Screen

Question Screen

8 Click the ‘use reward’ button after you have answered the agreed number of questions. If you
chose to play a Reward Game, the game will load immediately. If you chose the Parent Reward,
you will be shown a certificate that you can save and/or print.

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DETAILED GUIDE
The Detailed Guide contains the following sections:
• Getting to Know the BOOST Interface
• Information About Users
• Overview of the Main Screens
• Start-up Screen
• Reward Selection Screen
• Module Selection Screen
• User Progress Screen
• Parent Options Screen

Getting to Know the BOOST Interface

The BOOST interface is extremely easy to use. There are two buttons at the upper right-hand
corner of each main screen: the quit button, which is red with a capital ‘X’, and, the help button,
which is yellow with a white question-mark.

1 3
1 On some screens, you can click the button 2
located toward the upper left-hand corner to
go back to a previous screen.

2 Click the help button to display this

document within BOOST. Visit the BOOST
website (http://www.boostseries.com/) for
additional, up-to-date information.

3 Click the quit button to quit BOOST. A

dialog box will appear, asking you to confirm
your choice.

Reward Selection Screen

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Information About Users

BOOST records meaningful information about your child’s learning progress. This provides you with
a clear, easy-to-understand summary and motivates your child with certificates of their achievement.
In order for BOOST to record this information, you must create a user for each person who uses the
software. BOOST keeps track of up to five users.
The User Progress Screen provides this information, which you can access by clicking the
‘progress’ button on the Start-up Screen.

Back to the Table of Contents

Overview of the Main Screens

BOOST has several screens: the Start-up Screen, the Parent Options Screen, the User Progress
Screen, the Reward Selection Screen, the Module Selection Screen and the Question Screen. You
can see the flow of these screens in the image below.

Start-up Screen Parent Options

User Progress Screen

Module Selection Question Screen

Reward Selection
Screen
Screen

The Start-up Screen is displayed when BOOST loads. From the Start-up Screen, you can view:
• the Parent Options Screen for each user, by clicking the ‘parent’ button. This screen allows
you to change the user’s settings.
• the User Progress Screen for each user, by clicking the ‘progress’ button. This provides
information on your child’s progress in each Interactive Module, including the percentage
completed and the questions attempted.
• the Reward Selection Screen, by clicking the ‘login’ button. Your child selects which reward
they will earn, then chooses the content from the Module Selection Screen. Questions from
the Interactive Module are presented and answered on the Question Screen.
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Start-up Screen
As soon as BOOST loads, the Start-up Screen is displayed. From here, you can:
1 Create a new user
2 Login as an existing user
3 View a user’s progress
4 Change the Parent Options for a user

Note: Click here for BOOST credits

and extra information. 1

Start-up Screen
3 4

1 Create a New User

A Click the ‘create’ button to create a new user. There must be at least one free space
available in order to create a new user. A free space will have a ‘question-mark’ avatar and a
button labelled ‘create’. An avatar is a small picture used to represent a player.

A ‘question-mark’ avatar and a 1A

‘create’ button.

B Enter a name.

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C Select an avatar by clicking the up

and down arrows.
Click the ‘load picture’ button
to use your own picture as
an avatar. 1C 1B

BOOST allows you to personalise your

experience by using your own pictures as
avatars if you do not wish to use one of the
avatars provided! For example, you could use a
photo of your child as their avatar so they know
exactly which user account is theirs! Click the
‘load picture’ button to navigate through your
computer and select a picture.
Pictures must be in either the PNG format (which
has a file extension of .png) or the JPEG format (which has a file extension of .jpg or .jpeg).

2 Login as an Existing User

Click the ‘login’ button to the right of the user. From here, you can select either the Parent
Reward or one of the Reward Games from the Reward Selection Screen.

Click here for more information about selecting a reward.

3 Change the Parent Options

The Parent Options Screen manages user settings, such as username, avatar, Reward Game
options and Parent Reward options. You can view the Parent Options Screen by clicking the
‘parent’ button.

Click here for more information on changing user settings.

4 View a User’s Progress

The User Progress Screen displays information on your child’s learning progress. The User
Progress Screen can be viewed from the Start-up Screen and the Reward Selection Screen.
A To view the User Progress Screen from the Start-up Screen, click the ‘progress’ button.

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B To view the User Progress Screen from the Reward Selection Screen, click the ‘view
progress’ button.

.
4A

Start-up Screen

4B

Reward Selection Screen User Progress Screen

Click here for more information about viewing a user’s progress.

Back to the Table of Contents

Reward Selection Screen

BOOST works by rewarding your child for their learning after they complete a set number of
questions. The Reward Selection Screen is where your child chooses the reward they want to earn.
They can either choose one of the interactive Reward Games or the Parent Reward that you have
negotiated and set with them.
Reward Games are built-in interactive computer games. A Parent Rewards is any reward that you
negotiate and set with your child, for example, a trip to the zoo. You can change Reward Game
options and Parent Reward options for each user on the Parent Options Screen.

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To earn either type of reward, your child must answer a set number of questions, known as the
question target. BOOST remembers how many questions have been answered correctly and
incorrectly for each reward. This gives your child:
• the flexibility to learn at their own pace, maybe over several learning sessions.
• an indication of how close they are to earning their reward.
• the choice to use the reward now or save it for later.

From the Reward Selection Screen you can do the following tasks:
1 Go back to the Start-up Screen.
2 View the current user’s progress.
3 Select a Reward Game.
4 View the high scores for a Reward Game.
5 Earn a Reward Game with the software!
6 Play a Reward Game earned with the workbook!
7 Earn the Parent Reward!

BOOST is flexible in the way Reward Games can be earned. You can make use of either the
interactive software, the written workbook, or both.

1 3 4

Reward Selection Screen

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1 Go back to the Start-up Screen by clicking the ‘change user’ button.

2 View the current user’s progress by clicking the ‘view progress’ button.

3 Select a Reward Game by clicking the up and down arrows.

Each BOOST subject set comes with several Reward Games. Click the “How to Play” button in
each of the Reward Games for instructions on how to play.
4 View the high scores for a Reward Game by clicking the ‘high scores’ button.

Note that some games, like Extreme Fashion and Extreme Superheroes, do not have high scores.
5 Earn a Reward Game with the software by selecting the Reward Game, then clicking the ‘earn
reward’ button.

This will take you to the Module Selection Screen, where the Interactive Module is chosen. The
Reward Game can be played once all the questions presented in the Question Screen are
answered.
If a Reward Game has already been earned, the ‘use reward’ button replaces the ‘earn reward’
button. This also applies to Parent Rewards.

6 Play a Reward Game earned with the workbook. To earn a Reward Game with the workbook,
you must answer questions within the workbook to find a reward code. A reward code is a series of
letters or digits that can be used to ‘unlock’ play time for a Reward Game. There is one reward code
in every unit of every workbook. Once you have a complete reward code, run BOOST and select a
Reward Game. Click the ‘enter code’ button.

On the screen that appears, simply enter the reward code and start playing! A reward code can be
used to play any of the Reward Games, but each user can only use each reward code once.

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A Using your keyboard, enter a reward code from your workbook.
B If you make a mistake, click the ‘clear’ button to erase the entire code.

C Once you have entered the reward code, click the ‘enter’ button to play the Reward Game

D If you want to close the reward code screen, click the ‘close’ button.

6A 6B 6C

If you haven’t yet used the reward code and are still unable
to play the Reward Game, you may have entered an
incorrect code. Check your answers in the workbook and try
again.

6D

7 Earn the Parent Reward by clicking the ‘earn reward’ button next to the Parent Reward.

7A 7B

When your child has completed the question target for the
Parent Reward, a certificate of achievement will be displayed.
A To save the certificate in PDF format, click the disc
icon.

B Click the printer icon to print the PDF.

If a Parent Reward has already been earned, the ‘use reward’

button replaces the ‘earn reward’ button. This also applies to
Reward Games.

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Module Selection Screen

The Module Selection Screen is where you choose an Interactive Module. An Interactive Module is
a package of learning-content for a particular age level. Each BOOST workbook comes with an
Interactive Module on CD, which reinforces the material from the workbook with a series of extra
questions! Just as there are three workbooks per age level, there are also three Interactive Modules
per age level (see Appendix C for information on expanding BOOST).
In order to earn a Reward Game or the Parent Reward from within the BOOST software, your child
must answer a set number of questions from one of the installed Interactive Modules. This set
number of questions is known as the question target and can be changed from the Parent
Options Screen.

1 The reward that is to be earned is shown at the top of the screen.

2 The progress bar indicates the progress towards earning the reward.
3 A coloured background behind an Interactive Module indicates that it was the last Interactive
Module with which the current user has worked.
4 Hover the cursor over an Interactive Module to view a description, including the age for which it is
designed and the skills it develops.
5 Select an available Interactive Module by clicking it.
6 View the purchasing options for an unavailable Interactive Module by clicking it.

1 2

3 6

Module Selection Screen

5

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User Progress Screen

BOOST records information to provide you with a clear, easy-to-understand summary of your child’s
learning progress and to motivate your child by showing them certificates of their achievement.
1 The current Interactive Module. Click the up and down arrows to view your child’s progress in
each Interactive Module.
2 The list of questions attempted from the current Interactive Module. A red cross means that the
question was answered incorrectly. A green tick means that the question was answered correctly.
Click a question to display it. BOOST allows you to interact with the displayed question, but will not
tell you whether or not your answer is correct.
3 The total progress through the Interactive Module.
4 The number of correct and incorrect answers so far.
5 If your child has completed an entire Interactive Module, the ‘view certificate’ button displays a
certificate of completion. This document can be saved or printed to keep a record of your child’s
progress.

3
User Progress Screen
5
4

Back to the Table of Contents

Parent Options Screen

The Parent Options Screen allows you to change user settings, such as the user’s name and
avatar. Because different children may be at different levels of development, options are set
individually for each user.

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From the Start-up Screen, click the ‘parent’ button to view the Parent Options Screen.

General Options

Reward Game Options

Parent Reward Options

Parent Options Screen

General Options
1

2
3

1 To change the user’s name, click the name, delete the current text then enter the new text.
2 To change the avatar, use the same process described under 1 Create a new user in the Start-up
Screen section.
3 To delete a user, click the ‘delete user’ button.

This will open a dialog box confirming your choice to delete the user. Note that when you delete a
user, their recorded high scores in Reward Games are also deleted.

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Reward Game Options
BOOST can be tailored to your child’s individual learning needs via the work/play ratio. The
work/play ratio is the amount of questions your child has to answer, and the length of time they can
play the Reward Game once they have answered the questions. In other words, the work/play ratio
is the relationship between the question target and play time.
The question target is the number of questions that your child must answer correctly to earn a
reward. Play time is the length of time that your child can play a Reward Game after reaching the
question target.

1 Click the arrows to increase or decrease the question target.

Only correct answers count towards reaching the question target. This means that BOOST will
continue to ask questions indefinitely until the number of correct answers is the same as the
question target.
BOOST remembers how many questions were answered correctly and incorrectly. This information
is used to provide the summary shown on the User Progress Screen, and also allows your child to
earn rewards over several learning sessions.
The question target is set to 8 by default, with a minimum value of 5 and a maximum value of 99.

2 Click the arrows to increase or decrease play time.

Play time is set to 1 minute and 30 seconds by default with a minimum time of 1 minute and a
maximum time of 3 minutes.

3 Check the ‘bonus time’ option to enable bonus time.

Bonus time is time that can be added to, or subtracted from, play time. Bonus time impacts play
time according to the number of questions answered correctly and incorrectly. If there are 0
incorrect answers, a bonus of 30 seconds applies. If there are the same or fewer incorrect answers

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than correct answers, no bonus applies. If there are more incorrect answers than correct answers, a
penalty of 30 seconds applies.
For example, if the question target is 8 and play time is 1 minute and 30 seconds:

CORRECT INCORRECT BONUS TIME TOTAL TIME

8 0 30 seconds 2 minutes

8 between 1 and 8 inclusive 0 seconds 1 minute 30 seconds

8 9 or more. -30 seconds 1 minute

BOOST remembers correct and incorrect answers. This means that if you quit BOOST before
earning the Reward Game, bonuses and penalties still apply when you return.

Parent Reward Options

A Parent Reward is any reward that you negotiated and set with your child. It can be anything you
like, for example, a trip to the zoo.

1 2

1 Set the Parent Reward by typing a description of it in the text box.

2 Click the arrows to select the icon that goes with your reward. This will help your child know at a
glance what the reward is.
3 Like Reward Games, a question target can also be set for the Parent Reward. The question target
is the number of questions your child must answer correctly to receive the Parent Reward
certificate. Click the arrows to increase or decrease the question target.
For Parent Rewards, the question target is set to 20 by default with a minimum value of 10 and a
maximum value of 99.
4 Check the ‘clear reward after use’ option if you want to clear the Parent Reward after it has been
used. This allows you to set a new Parent Reward once your child uses the current one.

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GLOSSARY
Avatar
An avatar is a small picture that is used to represent a user within BOOST.

Bonus Time
Bonus time is time that can be added to, or subtracted from, play time. Bonus time can be enabled
or disabled on the Parent Options Screen for each user.

Help Button
The help button is located in the upper right-hand corner of main screens, and displays this help
document within the BOOST software.

Interactive Module
An Interactive Module is a package of learning-content for a particular age level. Each BOOST
workbook comes with an Interactive Module on CD, which reinforces the material from the workbook
with a series of extra questions! There are three BOOST workbooks (and Interactive Modules) per
age level.

Learning Mode
Learning mode refers to the three ways in which BOOST can be used: with the workbook, with the
software or with a combination of both.

Module Selection Screen

The Module Selection Screen is the screen in which an Interactive Module is selected.

Parent Options Screen

The Parent Options Screen allow you to change user settings, including general options, Reward
Game options and Parent Reward options.

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Parent Reward
A Parent Reward is any reward that you negotiated and set with your child. It can be anything you
like, for example, a trip to the zoo. The Parent Reward can be set for each child from the Parent
Options Screen.

Play Time
Play time is the length of time that your child can play a Reward Game after reaching the question
target. Play time can be increased or decreased from the Parent Options Screen.

Question Screen
The Question Screen is where questions from Interactive Modules are displayed and answered.

Question Target
The question target is the number of questions that your child must answer correctly to earn a
reward. There are two question targets: one for Reward Games and one for the Parent Reward.

Quit Button
The quit button is located in the upper right-hand corner of main screens, and allows you to exit the
BOOST software.

Reward Code
A reward code is a series of letters or digits that can be used to ‘unlock’ play time for a Reward
Game. You can find one reward code in every unit of every workbook. You can enter reward codes
from the Reward Selection Screen.

Reward Game
A Reward Game is a built-in interactive computer game that your child can play after answering a
set number of questions (known as the question target) from an Interactive Module. Reward Games
are chosen on the Reward Selection Screen.

Reward Selection Screen

The Reward Selection Screen is where your child chooses the reward they want to earn. They can
either choose one of the interactive Reward Games or the Parent Reward that you have negotiated
and set with them.

Software
Software refers to the interactive computer program that is a part of BOOST.

Start-up Screen
The Start-up Screen is the first screen that is displayed once the BOOST software loads.

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User
A user is the combination of a name and avatar representing someone who uses the BOOST
software.

User Progress Screen

The User Progress Screen provides a clear, easy-to-understand summary of your child’s learning
progress.

Work/Play Ratio
The work/play ratio is the amount of questions your child has to answer, and the length of time they
can play the Reward Game once they have answered the questions. In other words, the work/play
ratio is the relationship between the question target and play time.

Workbook
The BOOST workbook refers to the printed-material part of BOOST.

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APPENDICES
Appendix A – Minimum System Requirements

OPERATING SYSTEM CPU SPEED RAM

Windows 2000/XP/Vista 500Mhz or faster 128MB or higher

Macintosh 500Mhz or faster 128MB or higher

OSX/10.2.6+/10.3+/10.4+

Back to the Table of Contents

Appendix B – How BOOST Works

BOOST is made up of three components:
• The BOOST Software manages users, Interactive Modules, Parent Rewards and Reward
Games.
• An Interactive Module is a package of learning content for a particular age level. There are
three Interactive Modules for each age level. BOOST keeps you up-to-date with your child’s
learning by offering new Interactive Modules as your child develops!

• A Reward Game is a built-in interactive computer game that your child can play after
answering questions from an Interactive Module.

Back to the Table of Contents

Appendix C – Expanding BOOST

BOOST is an expandable educational program. New material comes in the form of Interactive
Modules, which are packages of learning-content for a particular age level. There are three BOOST
workbooks per age level, each one containing an Interactive Module on the bundled CD. Interactive
Modules reinforce the material from the workbook with a series of extra questions!
To install a new Interactive Module, simply run the installer (instructions on running the installer can
be found in the Quick Start Guide). The new Interactive Module will be added to the installation. If
the CD contains a more recent version of the BOOST software, your copy of the BOOST software
will also be updated.

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