RIDGE

Black Box How To

Part 4: Using a Macro as a Black Box 

Using a macro as a black box is easy.  All you have to do it hide what it does. When you create it, instead of giving it a name like "Glide Reflection" call it something like "Black Box" or "Mystery Tool". 

Tools Configuration

Give it a mysterious icon, too.

Black Box menu button

You can create a menu bar with several Black Boxes.

Several Black Boxes

The Black Box activity can be as simple as having students load a macro or menu bar file, and try to determine what the mysterious buttons do.  Or you can prepare a worksheet to guide their explorations (See the Triangle Black Box activity for example).



Supported by a research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Page last updated May 2005 by David Reid