Week 3: Types of Instructional Software

Computer programs that are designed specifically to assist with the delivery of instruction on a particular topic is known as instructional software.  Spread sheets and word processing programs are known as tool software and are known to enhance instructional activities. Explained below are the five types of instructional software: drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional game, and problem solving .

Drill-and-practice: provides exercises where students work example items one at a time and receive feedback on their correctness. Feedback can range from a display like "correct, or try again. Types of drill practice include flash card activities, chart fill-in activities, branching drills, and extensive feedback activities. Example Software: http://www.resourceroom.net/math/onetimes.htm

Tutorial: An instructional sequence on a topic, similar  to the teacher's classroom instruction. Students should be able to learn without any other help or materials. Tutorials are categorized  as linear or branching tutorials. Linear tutorials gives the same instructional sequence of explanation, practice, and feedback to all learners regardless of performance. Branching tutorial directs learners along an alternate path depending on how they respond to questions and whether they show mastery of certain parts of the material. Example Software: http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/Lessons/index.html

Simulations: A computerized model of a real or imagined system that is designed to teach students how systems work. Alessi and Trollip divided simulations into physical and iterative which teach about something. Physical simulations allow users to manipulate things or processes represented on the screen. Iterative simulations speed up or slow down processes that happen so slow or so quick that students can't see the events unfold. Simulations that teach how to do something are procedural and situational simulations. Procedural simulations teach appropriate sequence of steps to perform certain procedures and situational simulations give students hypothetical problem situations and ask them to react.  Example: Software:http://www.howthemarketworks.com/

Instructional Game: Increase students's motivation by adding game rules to drills or simulations. Games give students a chance to practice skills or problem solving in a fun way. Instructional games also challenge students to compete and win. Teachers often look for appealing formats and activities, instructional value, and reasonable physical dexterity when choosing an effective instructional game. When teachers choose topic that are fun it often motivates students to want to spend more time learning.
Example Software: http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/

Problem Solving: Teaches through explanation and or/practice the steps involved in solving problems. Problem solving helps learners acquire problem-solving skills by giving them opportunities to solve problems. Selecting challenging, interesting formats and and clear links to develop specific problems-solving skill are the two main criteria for effective problem-solving software. Problem solving software can be beneficial to students because they improve inert knowledge and improve interest and motivation in students. Example Software:http://www.toolfactory.com/onlineLearning.html