Instructional software refers to computer programs that are used to support a teacher’s instruction, not replace it. It can be used to tutor students but should only be used as a tool to reinforce learning. It should never be considered as teaching software. It presents learning in many different styles and formats which can motivate many different types of learners. These different types of software are considered to be hypermedia because they are interactive and some can be linked to the internet. There are five different types of instructional software: drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional games, and problem solving.
Drill and practice software is where students complete problems one at a time and then receive feedback as to how they did. These include flashcard activities where students are presented with a problem, then answer, and last receive feedback. Branching drills, will advance students to more difficult questions if they get a certain number of questions correct or they have acquired a certain mastery level. Extensive feedback activities give students more in depth detail as to why they got a problem wrong. These kinds of programs give students faster recall of basic concepts or skills so that they may carry these skills over into more complex situations or problems. Drill and practice software also seems to be motivational and productive since it saves the teacher time by giving performance reports. An example of drill and practice software is Earobics http://www.earobics.com/where students practice phonological awareness. FASTTMath http://www.tomsnyder.com/fasttmath is another great type of drill and practice.
Tutorial software are said to be “true teaching materials.” It can show entire sequences on a given topic. It may be a linear tutorial if it just gives the same sequence of showing an explanation, allowing for practice and application, and last giving feedback regardless of whether a student did well or not. Branching tutorials present information, give questions, and depending on how the student answered the questions will direct them on a certain path. This type of tutorial could be considered a differentiation tutorial in my eyes. Teachers can get progress reports through these tutorials which is a great way to track progress. Many teacher and students like tutorials because they are self-paced which is great for students who might work at a slower pace and for students who are more advanced and want to move onto new concepts. An example of tutorial software is Congress for Kids http://www.congressforkids.net/.
Simulation software puts the student in the actual environment. It shows a realistic model of something that can be real or imagined. They can teach about something like how an electrical circuit might work. These are called physical simulations. Iterative simulations can speed up or slow down processes that might happen too fast or take a long time like natural processes. This helps students see the actual process in a realistic way in a classroom setting. Simulations that teach how to do something are procedural and situational simulations. Procedural simulations are ones in which it teaches steps on how to perform a certain task like piloting an airplane. Situational simulations give students a problem and they have to solve it like operating a business. Simulations also give student the opportunity to manipulate and experience things first hand. Sim City www.maxis.com lets students build their own city and figure out how to keep it running.
Instructional Games are really like drill and practice or simulations but with a competitive edge. They have rules and fun graphics and activities. Games also assist in retention of many concepts. They can be used in place of worksheets, which makes them more fun for students and cuts down on the amount of grading teachers have to do. Games also foster collaborative work. Students may be asked to work in groups to compete or collaborate with someone over the internet. Some great examples of Instructional games include Arthur’s Math Games and Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? both from Learning Company, and Alince in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Problem Solving Software Functions teach students how to solve problems related to the content area they are studying. It helps students identify a problem and they go through a set of steps to solve the problem. Alien Rescue www.alienrescue.com has students use the given information to find new home planets in the solar system but they must match the individual needs of the aliens. Math teachers may like The Geometer’s Sketchpad because students have to create an object, find its’ properties, analyze problems, then find solutions and last, test them out.
Another great instructional tool teachers can use is Integrated Learning Systems (ILSs). They give students computer-based instruction, resources, and progress reports. ILSs contain all five different types of instructional software and are networked. They can provide lessons, software, student management tools to track and monitor students. These systems usually come as part of a curriculum and teachers are trained on how to use all the tools that come with ILSs. The Plato Learning Systems and The Compass Learning Odyssey are two types of ILSs.
As noted earlier instructional software is a form of hypermedia because it is interactive and can be linked to the internet. Other forms of hypermedia that can be used to support instruction include: interactive books and ebooks which are interactive and very motivational to young readers, reference materials such as online encyclopedias like Encarta and Almanacs like World Almanac for kids, Google Earth, and collections of development resources like Animation Factory.
On http://www.edutopia.org/. there is a video called Schools Use Gaming for Learning and Assessment. It shows how teachers can use educational games to tap into a student’s interest and keep them engaged in learning. Students are able to see connections and how math can fit into the design of something they create. Also, when students create something they take ownership and personalize it, which makes it more meaningful. Students at McKinley Tech Magnet School actually created educational games for other students to use. The U.S. Military created simulations that were a virtual residency called PULSE. Medical students could see exactly what to do and how to react in certain situations. At Howard Hughes Medical Institute students are exposed to new situations they might have never understood until they used these simulations. Using Instructional software effectively can lead to engaged learning where students are motivated, focused, engaged, and find meaning in their work. If teachers require their students to use instructional software critically and in different ways they may reach higher LoTi levels which means students have a more interactive and meaningful educational experience.
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