Instructional Software

This weeks blog focuses on instructional software and its incorporation in the classroom. As noted in previous blogs, research suggests that classrooms incorporating an increased amount of technology indicates significant gains over classrooms using tradition teaching methods (Roblyer and Doering, 2013). This is why it is imperative that teachers not only understand the implications of incorporating technology in their classrooms but also feel at ease using technology as a teaching tool (Roblyer and Doering, 2013). There are several different types of instructional software that facilitate learning in the classroom. The link below helps educators to make sound decisions when initially selecting software to use. One example would be drill and practice software.This type of software focuses on allowing the student to practice a skill that has already been taught through repetition. I currently teach and science and like to incorporate a software that is designed to help students working on chemical conversions have repeated practice and reinforcement of the skill taught in class. Listed below is the link that I use. I divide my classes four days a week into different groups and within the first two to three weeks students become family with what their group will be doing each day. One group is assigned to small group instruction with me on the standard being taught while another works on a hands on lab, the third focuses on research and online labs using iPads, and the last group is assigned a concept map and educational clip reinforcing and scaffolding the concept. So when I teach chemical conversions this would be the link I post for the groups using the iPads that day! I really like this software because it gives instant feedback and allows for me to facilitate if needed. The second example of instructional software is tutorial. Tutorial software is based on a specific topics that corresponds with the standard being taught (Roblyer and Doering, 2013). As posted in a previous blog my favorite tutorial software is Kahn Academy. Kahn allows the student to choose the specific standard where remediation is needed and allows for a one on one experience to help reinforce curriculum already taught. One group assignment weekly in my class deals with student research. Students use a research guide that helps prompt students to engage in exploratory research. The first prompt on the research prompt directs students to the Kahn Academy as a refresher to the material taught within the small group. The third example of instructional software is simulation. The simulation techniques is simply the computerized model of a real or imagined concepts that helps to teach the real world application to the concept (Roblyer and Doering, 2013). I incorporate simulation labs weekly as well. This has been a great resource in my classroom because I teach science and simulation labs help to save an enormous amount of money each year. The link listed below is a simulation lab I use in environmental science that student enjoy! The fourth example of instructional software and my students favorite is instructional games! Instructional games help to incorporate a competitive component to learning. This is an excellent review for standards being taught that allows students to become engaged and compete against themselves, as a group, or the class as a whole. From a teachers perspective my personal favorite is "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" but the students seem to prefer "Jeopardy." The link below allows the teacher to select the game of choice and allows teachers to modify as needed. The fifth example of instructional software is problem solving software. Problem solving software is designed to facilitate the learner with their problem solving skills (Roblyer and Doering, 2013). Virtual labs are a great resource for any science classroom and they help facilitate the learner with problem solving skills. Virtual labs allow the the learner to easily manipulate the independent variable in given science experiments and give them real world examples of how the manipulation of a single factor can change the outcome all together. I have embedded the link below to one of my favorites. The final example of instructional software examined is integrated learning systems. Integrated learning systems are online software systems that provide computer based learning, track, and report progress all online (Roblyer and Doering, 2013). Integrated learning systems are great for distance learners and allow the learner to self pace their learning. One that I'm currently becoming familiar with but have yet to integrate in the classroom is Moodle. The link below is the homepage to Moodle. In conclusion, instructional softwares used in classrooms vary based on individual student needs. Software used is usually based on the course of study being taught. The most imperative point is that we actually incorporate these technologies in our classrooms. Incorporation is essential due to the student's success when technology best practices are incorporated in or classrooms. http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech102.shtml http://www.sciencegeek.net/Chemistry/taters/Unit0Metrics.htm http://www.khanacademy.org http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0078759864/383928/BL_04.html http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/CT08/CT08.html https://moodle.org