Framework for Studying Educational Software

1
Framework for Studying Educational Software

• Classification by Application Type
• Classification by Educational Role
• Classification by Ed. Rationale

2
Application Type

• Subject specific and Content-free (generic)
  software
• Other software frameworks (handout)

3
Classification by Educational Role

• Tutor Computer presents parts of subject
  material, the student responds, the computer then
  evaluates that response and decides what to do
  next e.g. Drill and Practice
• Tool Computer is used to carry out tedious
  labour intensive activities e.g. word processing

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Classification by Educational Role
Tutee Computer provides the environment in which
the learners can teach the computer through
expressing their own ways of solving
problems. (Taylor 1980) The central problem
of humane education is how to instruct while
respecting the constructive character of
mind. (Lawlor 1997)
5
Classification by Educational Rationale
Instructional Content is the object of lesson.
Material is taught by breaking it up into small
pieces and presenting it to students. Students
can respond to test questions and receive
feedback on their responses.
6
Classification by Educational Rationale
Revelatory Paradigm The emphasis is on learning
by discovery. Software provides environment for
exploration and discovery. For example a
Simulation program. Students investigate the
model by entering data and observing results
generated by the progam, ideas and concepts are
revealed as students work through the program.
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Classification by Educational Rationale
Conjectual Development of understanding through
active construction of knowledge. The software
provides envrionment for exploring ideas through
the cration of models, programs. Plans and
conceptual structures.
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Classification by Educational Rationale
Emancipatory The computer program is used to do
things that would take much longer if carried out
manually. For example, a database could be used
to interrogate statistical records in order to
identify patterns (revelatory use of software)
the database can quickly search and sort the
information (emancipatory).