Week 3 - Different Types of Instructional Software

     I have known that there is a massive supply of "educational" software and websites available to use in instruction. However, after reading our text, I got a much clearer picture of the kinds of software and how they should be used. The five categories of instructional software are: drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional games, and problem-solving.
     The most commonly used is the drill and practice format. This can either be in a flashcard style or in what is known as branching format. The branching format will automatically move students to a higher level after they get so many answers correct or to a lower level after students get so many answers incorrect. The main function of drill and practice is exactly what is says: practice. It should not be used in place of instruction, but as a supplement to instruction. The program that I looked at for this was DreamBox Learning K-2 Math ( http://dreambox.com/). This can be purchased for a school's use or for an individual's use on a home computer. It is $5,000 for a school license and $60 a six month subscription for an individual. It also has the option of a 14-day free trial. I really liked this program because it doesn't have to be downloaded. You just go to the website and log in. It has over 500 activities that you can set to each individual's level. Correct answers are given feedback in a cheerful voice. Wrong answers are given another chance or a hint. The program covers counting, ordering numbers, comparing, addition, subtraction, and mental math strategies. This is a program that I would like to use in my classroom and I will be using with my five year old son.
      The next category is  tutorial software. It also has two formats: linear and branching. The linear format gives the same instruction to learners regardless of the different capabilities of the learners. The branching format can range in complexity and follows different paths depending on how students respond. I have used Starfall (http://www.starfall.com/) in my classroom. It is an excellent reading tutorial that I used with my lower reading students in first and second grade. It has tutorials on several subjects including the alphabet, left to right progression in reading, vowels, sh- blend, and silent -e. It teaches students how to make words that belong in the same family.  It gives students a blue ribbon and verbal praise when they make words correctly. It is very student friendly and students can navigate through the program with ease.  The best thing was this was a free program.
     Simulation software is used to teach about something or to teach how to do something. I found a three dimensional simulation of the solar system that I would use with my second graders when I taught my unit on the solar system. It is located at http://download.cnet.com/Solar-System-3D-simulator/3000-2054_4-10477538.html  This is an iterative simulation because it allows students to look at  model of the solar system and they can speed up or slow down the orbits and rotations. It displays the sun, the planets and their orbits, and the moon. The orbits can be tilted and rotated to different angles. It is simple enough to use with second graders, but can be adapted to make it difficult enough to use with a high school physics or astronomy class.
     Instructional Game Software ranks high in popularity. This is software that adds a game-like spin or competition to a learning activity. The popular feature is that it has the potential for "winning". It is meant to be entertaining. Tux of Math Command or Tux Math (http://www.tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/) can be downloaded for free. It is a program of free math games. I would use this with my second graders as a reward for doing well on math tests. It is like the old arcade game of asteroids. You are shooting at asteroids, but you can only fire after you answer the math problem correctly. The game speeds up as you go along. There are many instructional games available. Teachers need to be careful to look at software and see if it is meant to be just entertaining or if it really has any instructional/learning value to it.
      Last, but not least, is problem-solving software. This kind of software can be used to increase problem-solving skills in general or be used to solve problems in content areas. I found a problem-solving software progam called Gary Gadget: Building Cars. It is available at http://www.amazon.com/ for under ten dollars. Students have to assemble a car. Then they guide their car along different routes on a map. Some routes require students to redesign their car due to obstacles that are in their way. Students must find the parts they need to overcome the obstacles. I have used this program with my son. It is a fun way for him to develop problem-solving skills.
     As I said at the beginning, there is a massive supply of "educational" software available. Teachers need to think about the objective that they want to accomplish with the software before they do anything. Then they need to make sure that they have the appropriate kind of software. Is the software to be used as an instructional tool, a supplemental tool or as entertainment? I do feel that I will be more selective and more clear about what  I use the different kinds software for now.