software

There are five types of instructional software. The first kind that I will discuss is the drill-and-practice. When you are using this software, the student needs practice on a particular skill. This software does exactly what it says. It provides practice over and over on a skill. The program also provides feedback for the students which is a positive aspect. An example is http://www.resourceroom.net/math/1timestables.asp. The program is easy for the typical student to maneuver. The teacher does not have control over the site. The program does have a wide variety of skill level. The program does function without very many problems.

Another type of software is the tutorial teaching software. When using this type of software, the student learns a skill without having help from the teacher. The software encompasses teaching the student and providing practice for the student. The program should also assess whether the student is comprehending the lessons. An example is http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/Lessons/ . This software is kid friendly. The teacher is not able to see the students' progress. Students do receive feedback on their work.

The third type of software is the simulations. When using simulations you are hading your students to learn how a system works. The teacher can use this as a problem solving activity in her classroom. They can also be used where labs were used in the past. An example is http://digitalfrog.com/products/frog.html The program is user friendly. The directions are easy to follow and would be a valuable resource.

The fourth type of software is instructional games. I use these a lot in my classroom. These games are colorful and exciting while also providing practice for the user. The teacher has to take into consideration the educational value of the game. The game cannot just be fun it must have some value.An example is http://gameclassroom.com The site is colorful and user friendly for an older student. I am not so sure about the younger students.

The last type of software is problem solving. Problem solving software does just what it says it focuses on problem solving. The student is actively engaged in problem solving. Many problems solving sites focus on math skills. An example of a problem solving site is http://toolfactory.com. Again, the site is very engaging. The site looks easy to use.