Educational Courseware Created by Dr. Patty LeBlanc Stetson University

Types of Educational Software 4 Drill and Practice 4 Tutorials 4 Simulations 4 Problem Solving 4 Also: –Tools [word processing, multimedia development, etc.] – Programming Languages –Authoring –Statistical Packages

Drill and Practice 4 Frequently focuses on discrete skills 4 Assumes that the skill has already been taught 4 Presents items for practice 4 Provides immediate feedback 4 May be presented in the form of a game 4 Is useful for skills that MUST be memorized, e.g., math facts

Drill and Practice 4 Can be boring in the extreme--or highly motivating 4 frequently done individually 4 often used a a “reward” or in small time slots 4 Examples: –Algeblaster –Math Blaster –Meteor Multiplication

Tutorials 4 Models step-by-step instruction 4 is often used as an alternative method for introducing concepts 4 may be used for remediation or enrichment 4 is often followed by a drill 4 provides immediate feedback on progress 4 typically involves a good bit of reading

Tutorials 4 Allows students to proceed at their own pace 4 assumes the role of a tutor, allowing teacher to work with others 4 often done individually 4 assessment typically included 4 Example: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and many ILS packagesMavis Beacon Teaches Typing

Simulations 4 Models real or imaginary events 4 compresses time 4 can be used to simulate events that are dangerous, expensive, or too time consuming for the classroom 4 frequently involves group work 4 requires application of knowledge 4 may involve a good bit of reading

Simulations 4 Examples: –Bird WatchBird Watch –DrosophilaDrosophila –Dissect a FrogDissect a Frog

Problem Solving 4 Encourages exploration and hypothesis building 4 May be structured or unstructured 4 allows for divergent approaches to solving problems 4 assumes that the problem has a correct answer

Problem Solving 4 typically involves cooperative grouping structures 4 appeals to a diversity of learning and thinking styles 4 is often highly motivational, due to the interactive nature of the tasks 4 is frequently non-linear 4 Examples: Decisions, Decisions by Tom Snyder Productions and Geometer’s SketchpadTom Snyder ProductionsGeometer’s Sketchpad

Tools 4 Word Processing 4 Databases 4 Spreadsheets 4 Teacher Tools 4 Utilities

Types of Educational Software 4 Drill and Practice 4 Tools 4 Tutorials 4 Simulations 4 Problem Solving Do you see a hierarchy here in terms of Bloom’s Taxonomy?

4 Remember: your choice of software/courseware and your classroom’s level of access to technology will influence how you organize and manage instruction.