Instructional Software in Elementary SchoolsEdTech 541Ron Gardiner

Introduction

Schools use many software applications every day. There is software to help manage student information, software to increase productivity, and software to help with instruction. Instructional software, that is software students use to increase learning, is divided into five types:

• Drill and Practice• Tutorial• Simulation• Instructional Games• Problem Solving

Drill and Practice

• Students work on exercises one at a time• Feedback is given after a question is answered• Feedback varies from correct or incorrect to detailed

explanations• Types of drill and practice include• virtual flash cards• Fill-in activities• Branching activities

• The program adjusts the difficulty level of the questions based on the user’s responses

Drill and Practice• Relative Advantage:• Help students gain automaticity• Provide immediate feedback• ease the burden of grading papers by teachers• Can assist in classroom management be being incorporated into

classroom centers

Drill and PracticeExample: IXL http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-3/addition-input-output-tables-up-to-three-digits

Screenshot: Click the image or the link to launch video in a new window. http://youtu.be/hNiY90FhmT8

Tutorials• Designed to teach a lesson comparable teacher-created lesson

on the same topic“. . . tutorials are true teaching materials. Gagne et al (1981) said that good tutorial software should address all nine instructional events," (Robley & Doering, 2012).

• Tutorials can either be linear branching.• Branching tutorials adjust level the instruction based on user

responses

TutorialsRelative Advantage:• A complete instructional package

• Contain drill and practice activities and provide immediate feedback.• Branching tutorials automatically review areas of difficulty• Able to provide amore individualized, self-paced lesson• Can be used in the absence of a teacher

• To activate prior knowledge• Acquire background information• To remediate• For students who are ahead of classroom pace

Tutorials• Example: Math Foundation• http://www.mathfoundation.com/math_tutorial.html

Screenshot: Click the image or the link to launch video in a new window. http://youtu.be/KZxOl20c9Dc

Simulations• Learning through experience is at the heart of simulations• Teach about something• Teach how to do something

• Manipulate on-screen objects to learn a process or perform an experiment

• Observe processes at a faster or slower rate• Review processes steps to see how variables affect an

outcome• How-to simulations can be procedural or situational.• Procedural teach the sequence of steps required to perform

task. • Situational help learners adapt and change to solving problems,

and making choices that lead to the best result

Simulations

Relative Advantage:• Safety

• Dangerous materials or in inaccessible locations are simulated•Time can be sped up or slowed down•Review and redo

• Segments can be revisited and the result of using variables can be observed.

•Students like simulations•Accepted by constructivists.

• Users employ critical thinking skills and learn about the subtleties of process or situations

Simulations

Example: The Layered Earth•http://www.layeredearth.com/content/rock-cycle

Screen shot: Click the picture or the hyperlink. The demo opens in a new window. http://www.layeredearth.com/content/rock-cycle

Instructional Games

Instructional games take advantage of students desire to have fun.•High-interest activities with game rules• Allow for competition• Many formats• Adventure• Role playing• Simulations

•Used as drill and practice activities• Games need to be checked for educational value• Developmentally appropriate• Respectful of gender and diversity• Do not promote violence

Instructional Games

• Relative Advantage:• Fun, motivational, and engaging

• Example: ABCya• http://www.abcya.com/letter_blocks.htm

Screen shot: Click the image or the link to launch the video in a new window. http://youtu.be/7Feo_E438w8

Problem SolvingDesigned to help students hone problem solving skills•Help them achieve a goal when the solution is not obvious•Content-area problem skills •General problem-solving skills•Works along side problem-solving processes• Big Six • Polya’s Four Step Process

•Various tools used to solve problems•Multiple attempts possible

Problem SolvingRelative Advantage:•Highly visual and challenging format•Motivational to keep students engaged•Students identify and make meaningful connections to the skills required to solve problems

Problem SolvingExample: Learn4Good•Cone Flip: http://www.learn4good.com/kids-games/puzzle/problemsolvinggame.htm

Screen shot: Click the image or the link to open in a new window

ReferencesBerkowitz , R. E. (n.d.). Big6 introduction. [0]. Retrieved from http://www.indiana.edu/~video /

stream/launchflash.html?folder=slisal&filename=nquir03.m4v

Educational simulations. In (2011). Educational Simulations. Retrieved from http://www.creativeteachingsite.com/edusims.html

Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/online-simulations-classroom

Instructional strategies online. (2009). Retrieved from http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/simul/index.html

Keesee, G. S. (2011). Educational games. Retrieved from http://teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/35130965/Educational%20Game

Polya's four step problem solving process . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~dccathcart/MathReasoning/Polya.html

Robley, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (6 ed.). Prentice Hall.Robley, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (6 ed.). Prentice Hall.

Taylor, D. (n.d.). The advantages of instructional software in classroom setting. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8408148_advantages-instructional-software-classroom-setting.html