130 likes | 149 Views
Educational Courseware. Created by Dr. Patty LeBlanc Stetson University. Types of Educational Software. Drill and Practice Tutorials Simulations Problem Solving Also: Tools [word processing, multimedia development, etc.] Programming Languages Authoring Statistical Packages.
E N D
Educational Courseware Created by Dr. Patty LeBlanc Stetson University
Types of Educational Software • Drill and Practice • Tutorials • Simulations • Problem Solving • Also: • Tools [word processing, multimedia development, etc.] • Programming Languages • Authoring • Statistical Packages
Drill and Practice • Frequently focuses on discrete skills • Assumes that the skill has already been taught • Presents items for practice • Provides immediate feedback • May be presented in the form of a game • Is useful for skills that MUST be memorized, e.g., math facts
Drill and Practice • Can be boring in the extreme--or highly motivating • frequently done individually • often used a a “reward” or in small time slots • Examples: • Algeblaster • Math Blaster • Meteor Multiplication
Tutorials • Models step-by-step instruction • is often used as an alternative method for introducing concepts • may be used for remediation or enrichment • is often followed by a drill • provides immediate feedback on progress • typically involves a good bit of reading
Tutorials • Allows students to proceed at their own pace • assumes the role of a tutor, allowing teacher to work with others • often done individually • assessment typically included • Example: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and many ILS packages
Simulations • Models real or imaginary events • compresses time • can be used to simulate events that are dangerous, expensive, or too time consuming for the classroom • frequently involves group work • requires application of knowledge • may involve a good bit of reading
Simulations • Examples: • Bird Watch • Drosophila • Dissect a Frog
Problem Solving • Encourages exploration and hypothesis building • May be structured or unstructured • allows for divergent approaches to solving problems • assumes that the problem has a correct answer
Problem Solving • typically involves cooperative grouping structures • appeals to a diversity of learning and thinking styles • is often highly motivational, due to the interactive nature of the tasks • is frequently non-linear • Examples: Decisions, Decisions by Tom Snyder Productions and Geometer’s Sketchpad
Tools • Word Processing • Databases • Spreadsheets • Teacher Tools • Utilities
Types of Educational Software • Drill and Practice • Tools • Tutorials • Simulations • Problem Solving Do you see a hierarchy here in terms of Bloom’s Taxonomy?
Remember: your choice of software/courseware and your classroom’s level of access to technology will influence how you organize and manage instruction.