William Norris believed that education would be more"efficient" if computers became the teachers.
Emphasis now on computers enhancing and helping, not replacing teachers.
Software-programs written in computer languages.
Systems software- software that makes computers work.
Applications software or applications software- software that used to perform tasks like word processing.
Instructional software (Courseware)-software designed to instruct a student on a specific topic.
Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), Computer-Based Instruction (CBI),Computer Based Learning (CBL), Computer Assisted Learning (CAL)- all terms for instructional software.
Today's instructional software combines many functions that used to be separate.
Teachers need to review software packages and determine what they contain/what they find valuable and useful for their students.
Early software focused on providing information to the student while newer software encourages the student to explore and find the information independently.
The nine "Events of Instruction"(Gagne) were designed to help teachers identify types of software and how they might use it with their students.
LOGO- a programming language used to introduce students to problem solving and exploration of content areas. The first of its kind.
Integrated Learning Systems- Provide computer based instruction and summary reports of student progress.
Types of Drill and Practice Software include: "flash cards" where a student is presented with the problems or questions one at a time and receives immediate feedback of some kind, "branching", where the student is moved ahead or back in level of difficulty depending on their mastery of the level they are working on and "extensive feedback" where the student is told why they got a problem or question wrong.
What's so good about Drill and Practice?
Drill and Practice helps students develop the basic levels skills they will need to be able to handle more complex skills. D and P performed on the computer has advantages over paper and pencil D and P- immediate feedback, so that students are practicing the right answers and skills; motivation for students who are frustrated with paper and pencil exercises for any number of reasons and saving the teacher time because the student can work independently and receive the feedback immediately, the teacher is able to spend her time on other instruction.
Best Uses for D and P-
Test preparation
Replacing worksheets or homework for extra practice
Tutorials- These are designed to take the place of, rather than supplement a teacher's instruction.
There are two types of tutorials; linear and branching. Linear provides the same instruction to everyone who uses it while branching adjusts the instruction based on the students answers.
Benefits of tutorials are the incorporation of the drill type of practice and self-paced instruction.
The best uses of tutorials in the classroom-review and extra practice for students who need it, the opportunity for advanced students to progress at their own pace and instruction when a teacher is not available.
Simulators- A computerized model that is designed to teach how something works. The users must chose what tasks to do and in what order.
Some simulators teach about something while others teach how to do something.
What's good about simulators?
Simulators can slow down or speed up natural processes so that students can witness events they would not otherwise be able to. Students can see instantly what impact actions have on situations and events, and students can repeat procedures over and over to view alternate results. Students are interested by simulators. Dangerous experiments can be performed safely. The cost of using simulators is less than the expense of the real life experience it replicates.
The negatives are that sometimes the models are simplified giving students an inaccurate view of the system represented and that sometimes simulators are misused. This problem occurs when a simulator takes the place of an available real life experience or when paper and pencil could have been used effectively.
Instructional Games- These are instructional software that add rules and/or competition and take the form of a game.
The benefits are that they are fun and kids love games. They are usually bright and engaging and kids want to use them.
Some believe the downside is that kids will become focused on winning rather than learning the skill the game is supposed to teach, difficulty transferring the practiced skill into a real life, non-game setting and learning that is less efficient than traditional methods.
Problem Solving Software- Software specifically designed to teach problem solving.
There are two kinds of problem solving software; Content-Area Skills and Content-Free Skills.
Content-Area Skills software teaches predominantly math and science skills.
Content-Free Skills software teaches "general problem solving ability."
Pluses and Minuses for Problem Solving Software-
The pluses include student motivation and that students can see how and when skills "apply to actual problems."
The minuses are that different software uses different names for the same skills, so a teacher will need to preview the software to see what is actually being taught; software may not be as effective as is claimed; not all students benefit from this type of problem solving instruction ; the skills taught by the software may not "transfer " over to application in other circumstances.
Integrated Learning Systems- These systems provide computer-based instruction and a record of student progress. ILS combines drill and practice, tutorial, simulation and problem solving along with keeping a record of student progress.
Benefits- These systems can help students prepare for state tests.
ILS fits the requirements set by NCLB for "out of school tutoring."
Easy for teachers and students to use.
Frees up teacher to help other students.
Teachers are able to "personalize instructional activities" assigned to students.
Drawbacks-Expense.
Concern by some about their effectiveness and that some schools might think of them as teacher replacements.
Teachers should evaluate software prior to using it in their classroom.
Website Resources
Transparent Languagehttp://www.transparent.com/Foreign language software and information on exploring languages and cultures.
Color, Contrast & Dimension in News
Designhttp://www.poynterextra.org/cp/index.htmlAn interactive color experience about color theory and how it applies to the design of news, with exercises that show how people respond to color in a physiological way.
Digital Frog International http://www.digitalfrog.com/Interactive software to simulate frog dissection, including body systems, anatomy, and an investigation of the diversity and ecology of frogs.
Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited http://www.riverdeep.com/An education and consumer software company with products including Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandiego, and Destination Math, and software in the areas of math, science, language arts, critical thinking, social studies, early learning, and special needs
Earobics® http://www.earobics.com/A research-based early literacy program designed to ensure that students have the foundational skills.
MacGamut® http://www.macgamut.com/An ear-training software which is flexible and graded for music students.
MathAndScience4u.com http://www.mathandscience4u.com/A software company which focuses on teaching-learning technologies based on interactive problem solving. PhysicaElementa®.
Congress for Kids® http://www.congressforkids.net/An interactive web site designed for students in grades fourth through high school to assist in learning about the federal government.
Merit Software, Inc. http://www.meritsoftware.com/Software products designed to be self-paced, skill-building programs for basic skills in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, writing, and math. Basic Algebra Shapeup®.
SimCity 3000 from Maxis http://www.maxis.com/Simulation game software designed for creating and playing in simulated worlds.
Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? and Authur's Math Games by Broderbund, Inc.http://www.broderbund.comA subsidiary of Riverdeep.
Alice in Vivaldi's Four Seasons http://www.interactiveclassics.com/musicgame_alice.htmAn award-winning game that teaches music concepts.
Music Games Internationalhttp://www.kidsmusicstage.com; http://www.interactiveclassics.comSoftware programs that integrate classical music and musical games, puzzles, riddles, animated encyclopedias, listening rooms, and music trivia.
Alien Rescue by the Alien Rescue Team http://www.edb.utexas.edu/alienrescueA problem-based learning (PBL) program presented on a CD-ROM using a hypermedia-supported learning environment in space science which is designed to be part of a 6th-grade science curriculum.
Key Curriculum Press, Inc., software http://www.keypress.com/The Geometer's Sketchpad, an interactive construction and exploration software tool, enables students to explore and understand mathematics.
PLATO Learning Systemhttp://www.plato.com/An ILS software program that includes integrated assessment and reporting technologies, with courseware keyed to individualized education plans.
Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) EvaluTech http://www.evalutech.sreb.org/Web site includes more than 10,000 recommended reviews of software and print resources.
SuperKids http://www.superkids.com/Software reviews for teachers published as part of a resource site for teachers and parents.
Education Worldhttp://www.educationworld.com/Reviews for teachers published as part of a resource site for teachers.
