My educational service remains committed to excellence and I ensure this by remaining updated on the most current teaching methods. Updating technology and educational training, particularly in instructional software are an important part of my routine operation as a future curriculum specialist and policy maker. Therefore it is imperative that I participate in the evaluation of instructional software programs for K-12 classroom setting.
The application of hardware and software programs in K-12 classroom settings is critical towards sustaining student learning. Appropriate software programs should be integrated into classroom curriculum that would enhance pedagogical skills, stimulate and improve student learning. Students have different learning abilities which should taken into consideration, educators and other stakeholders should develop a variety of teaching strategies and management techniques for using computer in different school setting.
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ReplyDeleteLet us stay connected towards evaluating instuctional software programs in K-12 grade classroom setting.
Julia
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ReplyDeleteInstructional software can be divided into several different types. These types include applications, drill and practice, tutorials, simulations, instructional games, problem solving, multimedia and teacher utilities. Application software refers to software that is used to automate task such as report cards and grade books, attendance sheets, student databases and word processing. The MS Office Suite® products fall into this category, as do databases. Drill and practice software is very useful for tasks that require rote memorization such as learning multiplication facts or learning how to type. These types of software attempt to help students memorize by repetition usually in the form trying to beat ones best score by achieving a task with better accuracy in less time. Tutorials usually consist of linked pages that introduce a new topic and then allow for some exploration of the topic. These may be linear or they may be branching but either way, the learner is guided through a progression from an introduction to an assessment of the learning. These will occasionally be available as textbook resources and are produced by the publisher of the textbook. Simulations are visual representations of concepts that would be difficult to otherwise describe to students. These are sometimes called animations and are usually artist’s renderings rather than actual video recordings. They are especially useful for describing things that are either too small (atoms) or too far away (cosmic events) to be seen. Instructional games are designed to make learning fun and are often purchased rather than downloaded as a free resource. Examples include Knowledge Adventure® and Reader Rabbit®. Learners play games and lessons are embedded in the game. This type of activity is sometimes called “edutainment”. Problem solving software provides a problem to be solved with a certain data provided and learners must use logic to solve the problem. I do not find this type of program to be in widespread use at this point but I do believe many such applications are under development. Smartboards® are the perfect tool to pair with problem solving software and will make it much easier for teachers to capture the step by step procedures for solving complex problems that involve multiple steps. Multimedia refers to using video and audio production software to make things like documentaries or oral history reports. Slideshows, video clips on Youtube, and other presentations require creativity of students. Mac computer software is often thought of as the ideal resource for media instructional software. The last type of instructional software is teacher utilities. This might includes lesson plans and test banks. It also may include applications such as PCR Educator or HeadMaster. These are school administration software applications and are packages of software for school wide use. These can also include online grade books to improve school to home communication.
ReplyDeleteSadik, A. (Producer). (2008). Types of instructional software. [Web]. Retrieved from
http://www.slideshare.net/alaasadik/types-of-instructional-software-presentation#
The types of instructional software include
ReplyDelete1)applications, 2)drill and practice, 3)tutorials, 4)simulations, 5)instructional games, 6)problem solving, 7)multimedia and 8)teacher utilities.
As a science teacher, the types of instructional software that I use most frequently specifically in my discipline are simulations and tutorials. These types of software have improved the way I teach by providing much better visualization of scientific concepts for my students. What types of instructional software are most beneficial to your discipline?
We mostly use tutorials, drill and practice, and simulations. Some functions that we train, like grant writing include tutorials, but other, such as emergency response to certain situations, require drills or simulations.
ReplyDeleteI use some of those same softwares in my classroom for my Pre-K students. For example we have software developed for young students and even a smaller computer and bench for the childs size. I also use software for my attendence and for my assessment for the State of Maryland. The software we use for the students is animated and has audio for sound. The hardware has a special keyboard and mouse for the students that are physically impaired.
ReplyDeleteThe students love the computer but we can only have two students share because we only have one computer in the room for our students.
Mary Beth
It is very nice to know that you use some of those software in your classroom for your Pre-K learners. Currently I also use some of those software with my Pre-Kindergarteners’. If educators integrate appropriate software in their classroom curriculum, they will definitely stimulate student learning.
ReplyDeleteThis is a URL: http://www.cricksoft.com/us/default.asp that you can also use to support student learning. This website can be used for students who are physically impaired.
I do hope you find the above website to be very resourceful.