Software for Teaching and Learning

1. Software for Teaching and Learning Instructional Media

2. Types of Software • Administrative software • Used to perform professional tasks • May be adapted for instructional use • Academic Software • Used specifically for teaching and learning

3. Types of Software • Software may be • Commercial “off the shelf” software • Custom created for a school or district • Freeware – without any cost • Shareware – available to share for a limited time

4. Software Acquisition • Costs (other than the actual cost of the software) include: • Costs to upgrade machines to run the software • Costs to install and maintain the software • Costs of time and labor to learn to use the software and input data into it • Review software carefully before selecting

5. Productivity Software • Software that assists in completing tasks • Usually includes: • Word processing • Spreadsheets • Data Base Management • Presentation Software • Can be purchased individually or in a suite

6. Productivity Software Districts typically • Buy site licenses to allow software to be used on all machines in the district • Provide the software to teachers via a network • Teachers often adapt productivity software for other educational purposes • Often provided in an application suite

7. Word Processing Word Processing • Most commonly used computer software • Includes desktop publishing capabilities • Can manipulate layout of text and graphic objects

8. Word Processing • In addition to entering, editing, and printing, word processors can • Spell and grammar check • Enhance text • Add graphic and word art images • Arrange layout of text and graphic elements • Add elements from other software • Offer choices of layout styles

9. Word Processing • Desktop publishing capabilities include • WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) displays • Addition and manipulation of graphics • Table and column features • Auto-formatting

10. Word Processing • All word processors • Archive (save) • Print hard copy • Most include templates of ready-made document styles • Some include Wizards • Automated software to build a customized document

11. Electronic Spreadsheets Spreadsheets • Organize, calculate, and chart numeric data • They are very accurate and data is easily formatted for readability • Formulas for precise calculation can be input by the user • Functions (built-in formulas) are also available

12. Electronic Spreadsheets • “What-if” analyses - Can be used to compare possible outcomes • Charts - Easily generated from data entered into the spreadsheet • Spreadsheets offer templates for commonly used forms • Macros used to facilitate complex worksheet processes

13. Spreadsheets in the Classroom • Teachers can use spreadsheets to • Create a customized gradebook • Maintain a school, department, or club budget • Create chart and graph visuals • Maintain stock portfolios, analysis of experiment data, and graph data

14. Data Base Management Systems • DBMS software can • Organize, maintain, and retrieve data • Create and use a data hierarchy • fields, records, files, and data bases • Conduct queries that find records that match targeted criteria • Create customizable reports or queries

15. DBMS in the Classroom Educators can use DBMS software to • Maintain inventories • Create and maintain student information • Develop mailing lists • Create student activities such as • creating and maintaining records for a science class, • developing community data for social studies, or • making a class practice test database

16. Presentation Software • Sequences electronic slides for display • Slides may contain text, graphics, sound, animation, or video • Presentations can be printed out as audience handouts or transparencies

17. Presentation Software • Presentation templates make professional-looking presentations easy to create • Animation can be added for interest

18. Presentation Software • Common features include • Multimedia elements for addition to slides • Built-in wizards and templates to help create professional presentations • Libraries of multimedia materials • Hypermedia capability • Customization capability (e.g., as a self-playing show)

19. Presentation Software in the Classroom Educators can use presentation software to • Support direct instruction • Create student presentations • Create school presentations • Make color transparencies • Create academic activities such as book reports or projects

20. Presentation Software in the Classroom Academic uses include: • Critical thinking skills gained • By reviewing and paring down potential material • Making it fit on a slide—showing only the main points. • Experience with multimedia and computer literacy.

21. Integrated Software • Contains abbreviated form of common types of application software. • Each productivity tool is present • Some features found in stand-alone packages are omitted • Integrated software offers multiple applications--usually at a lower price

22. School/Class Management Software • Helps educators accomplish classroom and school administrative tasks, such as: • Attendance and Grade books • Seating Charts • Portfolio Assessments

23. School/Class Management Software • School or District level tasks assisted by software include • Attendance • Grade books accessible by parents • State reporting • Careful evaluation important; costs can be excessive for • Acquisition, installation and support • Training to prepare staff to use it

24. Software in Teaching and Learning • Administrative software can make • tasks easier • teachers more productive • Need to provide input on software best for them • Although time consuming, important for teachers to be familiar with software options

25. Academic Software • Supports and enriches teaching and learning • May include commercial or teacher-made software • Costs vary so review and evaluate carefully • Ranges from business to learning software

26. Academic Software Authoring Systems • Assist teachers in creating instructional software • Academic software varies by • Type of hardware required • Operating system necessary to run them

27. Academic Software Authoring Systems • Hypermedia authoring systems help teachers create linked electronic “cards” to teach specific concepts • Web authoring systems help teachers create create multimedia software to use on a Web site

28. Academic Software Authoring Systems • Multimedia Authoring Systems • Can create simple to sophisticated multimedia software • Teachers can make customized reviews, tutorials, and lessons

29. Academic Software Desktop Publishing • Electronically design and layout pages • Create and arrange text, word art, and graphic objects • May include a web authoring component • Useful for creating handouts, transparency masters, etc.

30. Academic Software Graphics Software • Can create, capture, and/or manipulate electronic images • Most productivity software includes libraries of graphic images (clip art) • Enables you to create or edit any type of digital images

31. Academic Software Paint Programs • Create and manipulate digital pictures • Include tools such as pens and brushes • Can be used for simple enhancements or to create high-end digital artwork

32. Academic Software Draw Programs • Create and manipulate digital drawings • Use layered, arranged objects instead of paint tools to create sophisticated drawings • Can create drawings, add objects that emphasize points, or create collages

33. Academic Software Imaging Program • Turns hard copy into digital images • Packaged with scanners • With OCR features, can convert hard copy into a word processed document • Photo-styling software edits and manipulates scanned or digital photos

34. Academic Software Reference Software • Digital version of reference materials • Usually on CDs • Often stored in a hypermedia format • Includes text, sound, animation, video, and graphics • can be navigated via links

35. Academic Software Tutorial Software • Presents new material in an instructional sequence • May be linear or use a hypermedia format • Typically includes feedback • Lets students proceed at their own rate • Not very interactive • May include classroom management

36. Academic Software Drill & Practice Software • Reinforces existing skills • Usually linear sequence • Presents key points • Asks review questions • Provides feedback and further review • May be called “drill & kill”—it’s repetitive • May include classroom management

37. Academic Software Educational Games • Present or review content in a game format • Solve mysteries by applying knowledge • Board/Card Game simulations • superimpose content on traditional games • Video games add content to arcade style • Some controversy exists • Does gaming overwhelm instruction?

38. Academic Software Simulations • Present a virtual model of an environment • Provide safe way to experience reality • Examples include flying an airplane or conducting a chemical experiment • Advantages over real experiences • Opportunity to adjust speed • Safety

39. Academic Software Special Needs Software • Can target to specific learning disabilities • Sometimes used with assistive hardware • Provides support for special needs learners • Readers can read scanned or computer text aloud • Speech synthesizers can turn spoken word into computer text

40. Academic Software Assistive Software and Hardware • Universal design offers material in strongest learning mode for the individual student with or without special needs • Can help with social/recreational interaction • www.cec.sped.org: Excellent Resource for information on special needs

41. Academic Software Integrated Learning Systems • Provide instruction and/or remediation • Addressed to target objectives • May include tutorials, drill and practice, and classroom management • Usually sold as a bundle • Difficult to fully implement in classroom

42. Academic Software Problem Solving Software • Helps students practice problem solving skills • May be content-oriented or content-neutral • Offers opportunities to learn • Doing • Test hypotheses • Discover strategies to solve problems • In math and science, can test concepts taught

43. Academic Software Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) • Originally CAI was drill and practice software • Now, CAI includes software that • Tutors, reviews, and/or provides feedback • Not to be confused with Computer Managed Instruction (CMI) • May adjust content level based on correctness of student responses

44. Academic Software Brainstorming or Concept Mapping Software • Visually develops ideas and concepts • Creates connections among ideas • Encourages creativity and deeper understanding

45. Academic Software Brainstorming / Concept Mapping • You can easily • Add and edit ideas • Organize ideas in relation to others • See the completed cohesive whole concept • Generates visual digital maps of a brainstorming session

46. Academic Software Academic Software in Teaching and Learning • Many software choices and factors to be considered that teachers must make careful decisions • Review and evaluation are critical steps before acquisition • Software should address objectives • Support and enhance teaching