Instructional Software

Instructional Software is applications software designed specifically to deliver or assist with student instruction on a topic.

Critical aspect of using instructional software is to monitor that the students are receiving the end result which is learning by using the software.  The outcome should be the students are engaged but learning the skills that are still required from traditional learning.  There needs to be a mix and availability of the five instructional software functions.   

The Drill-and-Practice is great for practice and reinforcement of some key concepts.  It’s like the old Flashcards.  Now with “Apps” the students can download flashcard apps and create them for use in the classroom or at home.  There is a website called Quizlet that teachers can create virtual flashcards.  One of the advantages of using this site is that it contains the option of text-to-speech. This is very helpful to the ELL and special needs children to help to acquire word recognition of science vocabulary a bit quicker.   Students are more likely to use the technology to learn then just simply doing worksheets. (I know my students do).

Tutorials should be a supplementary tool for extra assistance or for further learning outside of the classroom.  A problem I see is that most tutorials are expensive programs to buy.  Many of the students can’t afford them.  They would be helpful for students that need a repetition of the material learned in class but sometimes a teacher can’t go over it right away.  The student can learn at his/her pace.  Tutorials can also be tailored to a student’s own learning behavior which is sometimes tough for teachers to do in a class of 30 or more.  They can be used as a reinforcement of the materials by giving practices and instructions.

Simulations offer the students the ability to choose a task.  It also allows for them to make the mistake without major consequences (dissecting a body).  It gives the explanation after the student has done the task.  For example in a science life science class where the students dissect frogs there are online sites and “Apps”  that schools can use over and over that help with the cost of doing real ones.  The students can preview and learned what to do before actually doing it.  There are students that don’t want to do the real thing this can give them and alternative.  They are still receiving and responsible for the content just in a different way. 

Instructional Games are where student’s heads are at (especially boys).  I always say if I can create a song or game my students would learn without even knowing.  Games can help to motivate and engage students.  There should be an element of fun in the students learning.  Keep in mind that they should be fun and keep the interest of the students but also be educational and contain elements of skills and standards that they are required.   If it is just fun and no learning than it is just a game.

Problem-Solving software can be incorporated in the software.  Software that is only focus on problem solving focuses more on content skills.  Problem-Solving software should not be one that is easily solvable.  Just like a real problem has many options so should the software when students work with them. 

Many of instructional software can be one or several of types meshed together.  The task is to determine if the software is going to have the outcome for the students that you are looking for.  There should a variety that is offer in the class.  Sticking to one type is not beneficial to the students.  It loses it engagement quality.  Students can sometime memorize the answer and outcomes eventually getting bored with them.  Then the software will end up no better than just giving out a worksheet.