Computer Software A Lesson Using Concept Attainment

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Computer SoftwareA Lesson Using Concept
Attainment

• EDTE 280
• Ben Anderson
• Diana Ganju
• Dave Margolis
• Monica Range
• Bonnie Sugiyama

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How the Lesson Works

• View labeled pairs of examples/non-examples
• Compare the attributes
• Generate hypothesis write on handout
• Test hypothesis against unlabeled examples
• State the definition of the concept
• Generate additional examples
• If you know the concept, please keep quiet until
  discussion

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Computer Software

• We are going to compare two distinct categories
  of computer software. The software in one of
  these categories has unique characteristics not
  shared by other software. Our goal is to assist
  you in defining this unique category.

Looking at the examples to follow,
can you figure out what they are?
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• Controls what is
• displayed on your
• monitor

• Enables you to
• send instant
• messages

YES
NO
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• Controls the
• output that is sent to a
• printer

• Enables you to
• edit and touchup
• photographs and
• create other
• images or graphics

YES
NO
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• Provides access
• to a floppy disk
• or CD-ROM

• Enables you to capture and edit video clips on
  your computer

YES
NO
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Have you spotted any similarities or
characteristics that separate the YES examples
from the NO examples?
Here come some more
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• Manages files
• and folders

• Enables you to
• compose and
• send e-mails

YES
NO
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• Recognizes input from the keyboard and mouse

• Automates the preparation of your income tax forms

YES
NO
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Do you have an idea of what distinguishes the
YES examples from the NO examples? Write your
hypothesis in the first box on your handout.
Now, see if your hypothesis holds up in light of
the remaining examples
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• Manages memory on your computer

• Enables you to
• view Web pages

YES
NO
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• The most essential program on a computer

• Enables you
• to create a presentation with slides, text, and
  graphics

YES
NO
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• Manages all other programs on a computer

• Enables you to create word processed documents

YES
NO
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• Considering the additional examples shown, do you
  have to edit your hypothesis?
• If necessary, revise your hypothesis and write it
  in the second box of your handout.

Now its time to test your hypothesis.Identify
the next examples as yes or no.
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• Manages the hardware
• and software resources
• on your computer

YES
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• Enables you to analyze,
• store, sort, and perform
• operations on various
• types of data

NO
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• Did you have to change your hypothesis to
  accommodate the last examples?
• Share with your neighbor about the
  characteristics youve noticed about the YES
  examples
• If necessary, revise your hypothesis and write it
  in the third box of your handout.

Now its time to see if your hypothesis was
correct.
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YES
In all the YES examples, the attribute is one
that represents a characteristic of a computer
operating system.
NO
In the NO examples, the attribute represents
characteristics of some other type of software.
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Operating System

• The most important program that runs on a
  computer. Every general-purpose computer must
  have an operating system to run other programs.
  Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as
  recognizing input from the keyboard, sending
  output to the display screen, keeping track of
  files and directories on the disk, and
  controlling peripheral devices such as disk
  drives and printers.
  
• -webopedia.com

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• On your handout, give two examples that might
  represent computer operating systems.
• Then, give two examples that represent computer
  applications.

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Discussion

• What thinking processes assisted you in adding
  and eliminating concepts?
• How did you decide to eliminate concepts after
  seeing more examples?
• What use did the non-examples play in helping you
  to add or narrow the concept?
• What did you think about as you wrote your
  examples?

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References

• Lesson Web Site Support Materials
• http//www.edmedia.net/courses/280/final_project