Academic Software

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Academic Software

• For grades 1st and 2nd

Rebecca, Summer, and Lacy
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Purpose of Educational Software (Games)

• To present and review instructional content in a
  game format.
• For the use of scaffolding children in the
  process of learning of new subjects.
• To make learning more exciting for the students
  and bring more variety in the way of teaching
  particular subjects.

• To give students the opportunity to solve and
  strategize on their own.

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Categories of Educational Games

• Adventure Games
• Solving mysteries, take adventures and expand
  their knowledge in geography
• ( i.e. Carmen Santiago)
• Subject Games
• Requires students to respond to questions
  correctly before advancing to the next level.
• (i.e. Reader Rabbit, monopoly)
• Video-Game Adaptations
• A game that helps students shoot down or race
  over to the correct answers. These games help
  stimulate the students senses (visual, sound, and
  eye-hand coordination) while simultaneously
  reviewing content. (Oregon Trail)

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Spotlight on Academic Games Table 6.5
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Controversial Issues
PROS
CONS

• Brings excitement to learning
• Keeps students interested
• Brings positive social interaction
• Profits the teacher in knowing the level each
  student is at
• Makes direct instruction easier for the teacher

• Student does not grasp content for long-term use
• Academic software is cumbersome and wastes
  valuable time
• Does not always pin point objectives of subjects
  accurately

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Academic software evaluation RubricPg 190-191
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Group Reflections

• Academic software is a positive tool in
  teaching and learning new curriculum in early
  education
• Oregon Trail was a software used in each of
  our classrooms as a tool for learning and had a
  very positive affect on all of us.

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Reference
Textbook Teaching and Learning
with Technology, 2nd edition