CHAPTER 4 Integrating Instructional Software into Teaching and Learning

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CHAPTER 4Integrating Instructional Software
into Teaching and Learning

• Bruce Friedrich and Leann Neiman

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What is Instructional Software?

• Instructional software is applications software
  that is designed specifically to deliver or
  assist with student instruction on a topic.

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Problems in Identifying and Classifying Software
Functions

• 1. Developers use terms interchangeably. There
  seems to be no consensus among developers for
  what terms to use to describe various types of
  programs.
• 2. Packages contain more than one activity. Many
  software packages contain several different
  activities, each of which serves a different
  purpose.
• 3. Software is becoming multimedia. Since more
  software is incorporating hypermedia and
  multimedia environments (including Internet
  links), it makes it more difficult to analyze
  learner-system interactions.

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5 Common Courseware Types

• Drills
• Tutorials
• Simulations
• Instructional games
• Problem-solving programs

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Drill Activities

• The most basic drill function is often described
  as a flashcard activity.
• A student sees a set number of questions or
  problems on the screen and answers them one at a
  time.

• In addition to meeting general criteria for good
  instructional courseware well-designed drill
  programs should also meet other criteria such as

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Drill Programs Should Meet These Criteria

• Control over the presentation time.
• Appropriate feedback for correct answers.
• Better reinforcement for correct answers.

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Advantages of Using a Drill Program

• Automatic recall of arithmetic facts is required
  for most higher level mathematics.
• Keyboard proficiency is a prerequisite for
  assignments that require extensive typing.
• Graded compositions require rapid recall and
  application of of correct sentence structure,
  spelling, and principles of grammar and usage.
• Many schools still require students to memorize
  facts such as states and capitals and names of
  planets.
• College entrance exams and other standardized
  tests require quick recall of many facts.

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Benefits Classroom Applications of Drill
Functions

• BENEFITS
• Immediate feedback
• Motivation
• Saves the teacher time
• APPLICATIONS
• Supplement or replace worksheets and homework
  exercises
• Preparation for tests

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Guidelines For Using Drill Programs

• Set time limits
• 10-15 minutes per day
• Assign individually
• Self-pacing
• Use learning stations
• Place students with similar weaknesses
• together.

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Tutorial Activities

• Tutorial courseware uses the computer to deliver
  an entire instructional sequence similar to a
  teachers classroom instruction topics.
• Good tutorial courseware should address all
  instructional events.
• Tutorials are most often geared towards learners
  who can read fairly well, usually older students
  or adults.

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Tutorial Programs Should Meet the Following
Criteria

• Extensive interactivity.
• Thorough user control.
• Appropriate and comprehensive teaching sequence.
• Adequate answer-judging and feedback capabilities.

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Classroom Applications of Tutorial Functions

• Self-paced reviews of instruction.
• Alternative learning strategies.
• Instruction when teachers are unavailable.

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Simulation Activities

• A computerized model of a real or imagined system
  designed to teach how a system works.
• Simulation activities are divided into two main
  types.

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Types of Simulation Activities

• About Simulations
• 1) Physical
• Manipulate objects
• or phenomena on
• the screen.
• 2) Iterative
• These speed up or
• slow down processes
• that either take too long
• or too fast for students to see
• unfold.

• How To Simulations
• 1) Procedural
• Activities teach the appropriate sequences of
  steps to perform certain procedures.
• 2) Situational
• Programs give students hypothetical problem
  situations and ask them to react.

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Benefits of Simulation Teaching

• Compress time
• Slow down processes
• Get students involved
• Make experimentation safe
• Make them impossible possible
• Save and other resources
• Repeat with variations
• Make situations controllable

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Classroom Applications of Simulation Functions

• In place of or as supplements to lab experiments.
• In place of or as supplements to role playing.
• In place of or as supplements to field trips.
• Introducing a new topic.
• Fostering exploration and process learning.
• Encouraging cooperation and group work.

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• Simulations offer more versatile implementation
  than tutorials or drills. They usually work
  equally effectively with a whole class, small
  groups, or individuals.

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Instructional Games

• Instructional games are courseware whose function
  is to increase motivation by adding game rules to
  learning activities.
• They are often given as rewards for accomplishing
  other activities.

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How To Use Instructional Games In Teaching

• In place of worksheets and exercises.
• To foster cooperation and group work.
• As a REWARD

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Problem-Solving CoursewareTwo Types

• 1) For teaching content area skills primarily in
  mathematics.

• 2) Content free skills such as recalling facts,
  breaking a problem into a sequence of steps, or
  predicting outcomes.

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6 Steps To Help Teachers Integrate Courseware

• 1) Identify problem-solving skills or general
  capabilities to build or foster skills in
• a) Solving one ore more kinds of content area
  problems.
• b) Using a scientific approach to
  problem-solving.
• c) Components of problem-solving such as
  following a sequence of steps or recalling facts.
• 2) Decide on an activity that would help teach
  the desired skills.
• 3) Examine courseware to closely match the
  desired abilities.
• 4) Determine where the courseware fits into the
  teaching sequence.
• 5) Demonstrate the courseware and the steps to
  following problem solving.
• 6) Build in transfer activities and make students
  aware of the skills they are using in the
  courseware.

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Guidelines For Using Problem-Solving Software

• Allow students sufficient time to explore and
  interact with the software.
• Vary amount of direction and assistance depending
  on each students needs.
• Promote a reflective learning environment.
• Stress thinking processes rather than correct
  answers.
• Point out the relationship of coursework skills
  to other kinds of problem solving.
• Let students work in groups.
• For assessments, use alternatives to traditional
  paper-and-pencil test.

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Courseware Evaluation Procedures A Recommended
Sequence

• 1) Begin with an identified need- know what
  topics and skill you want to address.
• 2) Locate titles- Recommendations from colleagues
  and professional magazines should serve primarily
  as leads.
• 3) Complete hands on reviews- Teachers should
  review courseware themselves.
• 4) Collect student reviews- have students review
  courseware.
• See Figure 4.12- 4.13 on pgs. 108-112 for
  detailed recommended criteria.

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