aiias edci 625 instructional media software for teaching and learning instructional media

EDCI 625 Instructional Media AIIAS

Software for Teaching and Learning

Instructional Media


Types of Software

• Administrative software – Used to perform professional

tasks – May be adapted for instructional

use• Academic Software

– Used specifically for teaching and learning


Types of Software

• Software may be • Commercial “off the shelf” software• Custom created for a school or

district• Freeware – without any cost• Shareware – available to share for a

limited time


Software Acquisition

• Costs (other than the actual cost of the software) include:• Costs to upgrade machines to run the

software• Costs to install and maintain the software• Costs of time and labor to learn to use

the software and input data into it• Review software carefully before selecting


Productivity Software

• Software that assists in completing tasks• Usually includes:

• Word processing • Spreadsheets • Data Base Management • Presentation Software

• Can be purchased individually or in a suite


Productivity Software

Districts typically• Buy site licenses to allow software to be

used on all machines in the district• Provide the software to teachers via a

network• Teachers often adapt productivity

software for other educational purposes• Often provided in an application suite


Word Processing

Word Processing• Most commonly used

computer software• Includes desktop

publishing capabilities • Can manipulate layout

of text and graphic objects


Word Processing

• In addition to entering, editing, and printing, word processors can

• Spell and grammar check

• Enhance text

• Add graphic and word art images

• Arrange layout of text and graphic elements

• Add elements from other software

• Offer choices of layout styles


Word Processing

• Desktop publishing capabilities include

• WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) displays

• Addition and manipulation of graphics

• Table and column features

• Auto-formatting


Word Processing

• All word processors • Archive (save) • Print hard copy

• Most include templates of ready-made document styles

• Some include Wizards• Automated software to build a customized

document


Electronic Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets• Organize, calculate, and chart numeric

data• They are very accurate and data is easily

formatted for readability• Formulas for precise calculation can be

input by the user• Functions (built-in formulas) are also

available


Electronic Spreadsheets

• “What-if” analyses - Can be used to compare possible outcomes

• Charts - Easily generated from data entered into the spreadsheet

• Spreadsheets offer templates for commonly used forms

• Macros used to facilitate complex worksheet processes


Spreadsheets in the Classroom

• Teachers can use spreadsheets to• Create a customized gradebook• Maintain a school, department, or club

budget• Create chart and graph visuals • Maintain stock portfolios, analysis of

experiment data, and graph data


Data Base Management Systems

• DBMS software can• Organize, maintain, and retrieve data• Create and use a data hierarchy

–fields, records, files, and data bases• Conduct queries that find records that

match targeted criteria• Create customizable reports or queries


DBMS in the Classroom

Educators can use DBMS software to• Maintain inventories• Create and maintain student information• Develop mailing lists• Create student activities such as

– creating and maintaining records for a science class,

–developing community data for social studies, or

–making a class practice test database


Presentation Software

• Sequences electronic slides for display

• Slides may contain text, graphics, sound, animation, or video

• Presentations can be printed out as audience handouts or transparencies



• Presentation templates make professional-looking presentations easy to create

• Animation can be added for interest



• Common features include• Multimedia elements for addition to

slides• Built-in wizards and templates to help

create professional presentations• Libraries of multimedia materials• Hypermedia capability• Customization capability (e.g., as a self-

playing show)


Presentation Software in the Classroom

Educators can use presentation software to • Support direct instruction• Create student presentations• Create school presentations • Make color transparencies• Create academic activities such as book

reports or projects


Academic uses include:• Critical thinking skills gained

• By reviewing and paring down potential material

• Making it fit on a slide—showing only the main points.

• Experience with multimedia and computer literacy.

Presentation Software in the Classroom


Integrated Software

• Contains abbreviated form of common types of application software.

• Each productivity tool is present • Some features found in stand-alone

packages are omitted• Integrated software offers multiple

applications--usually at a lower price


School/Class Management Software

• Helps educators accomplish classroom and school administrative tasks, such as:• Attendance and Grade books• Seating Charts• Portfolio Assessments


School/Class Management Software

• School or District level tasks assisted by software include• Attendance• Grade books accessible by parents• State reporting

• Careful evaluation important; costs can be excessive for• Acquisition, installation and support• Training to prepare staff to use it


Software in Teaching and Learning

• Administrative software can make• tasks easier • teachers more productive

• Need to provide input on software best for them

• Although time consuming, important for teachers to be familiar with software options


• Supports and enriches teaching and learning

• May include commercial or teacher-made software

• Costs vary so review and evaluate carefully

• Ranges from business to learning software

Academic Software


Authoring Systems• Assist teachers in creating instructional

software• Academic software varies by

– Type of hardware required– Operating system necessary to run

them

Academic Software


Authoring Systems• Hypermedia authoring systems help

teachers create linked electronic “cards” to teach specific concepts

• Web authoring systems help teachers create create multimedia software to use on a Web site

Academic Software


Authoring Systems• Multimedia Authoring Systems

• Can create simple to sophisticated multimedia software

• Teachers can make customized reviews, tutorials, and lessons

Academic Software


Desktop Publishing• Electronically design and

layout pages

• Create and arrange text, word art, and graphic objects

• May include a web authoring component

• Useful for creating handouts, transparency masters, etc.

Academic Software


Graphics Software• Can create, capture, and/or

manipulate electronic images

• Most productivity software includes libraries of graphic images (clip art)

• Enables you to create or edit any type of digital images

Academic Software


Paint Programs• Create and manipulate

digital pictures• Include tools such as pens

and brushes • Can be used for simple

enhancements or to create high-end digital artwork

Academic Software


Draw Programs• Create and manipulate digital

drawings• Use layered, arranged

objects instead of paint tools to create sophisticated drawings

• Can create drawings, add objects that emphasize points, or create collages

Academic Software


Imaging Program• Turns hard copy into digital

images• Packaged with scanners • With OCR features, can

convert hard copy into a word processed document

• Photo-styling software edits and manipulates scanned or digital photos

Academic Software


Reference Software• Digital version of reference materials• Usually on CDs• Often stored in a hypermedia format

– Includes text, sound, animation, video, and graphics

– can be navigated via links

Academic Software


Tutorial Software• Presents new material in an instructional

sequence• May be linear or use a hypermedia format• Typically includes feedback • Lets students proceed at their own rate• Not very interactive• May include classroom management

Academic Software


Drill & Practice Software• Reinforces existing skills• Usually linear sequence

– Presents key points – Asks review questions

• Provides feedback and further review• May be called “drill & kill”—it’s repetitive• May include classroom management

Academic Software


Educational Games• Present or review content in a game format• Solve mysteries by applying knowledge• Board/Card Game simulations

– superimpose content on traditional games

• Video games add content to arcade style• Some controversy exists

– Does gaming overwhelm instruction?

Academic Software


Simulations• Present a virtual model of an environment• Provide safe way to experience reality• Examples include flying an airplane or

conducting a chemical experiment• Advantages over real experiences

– Opportunity to adjust speed– Safety

Academic Software


Special Needs Software• Can target to specific learning disabilities• Sometimes used with assistive hardware

– Provides support for special needs learners

• Readers can read scanned or computer text aloud

• Speech synthesizers can turn spoken word into computer text

Academic Software


Assistive Software and Hardware• Universal design offers material in

strongest learning mode for the individual student with or without special needs

• Can help with social/recreational interaction

• www.cec.sped.org: Excellent Resource for information on special needs

Academic Software


Integrated Learning Systems• Provide instruction and/or remediation

– Addressed to target objectives

• May include tutorials, drill and practice, and classroom management

• Usually sold as a bundle • Difficult to fully implement in classroom

Academic Software


Problem Solving Software• Helps students practice problem solving

skills• May be content-oriented or content-neutral• Offers opportunities to learn

– Doing – Test hypotheses– Discover strategies to solve problems

• In math and science, can test concepts taught

Academic Software


Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)• Originally CAI was drill and practice

software • Now, CAI includes software that

– Tutors, reviews, and/or provides feedback• Not to be confused with Computer Managed

Instruction (CMI) • May adjust content level based on

correctness of student responses

Academic Software


Brainstorming or Concept Mapping Software

• Visually develops ideas and concepts

• Creates connections among ideas

• Encourages creativity and deeper understanding

Academic Software


Brainstorming / Concept Mapping• You can easily

– Add and edit ideas– Organize ideas in relation to others– See the completed cohesive whole

concept • Generates visual digital maps of a

brainstorming session

Academic Software


Academic Software in Teaching and Learning

• Many software choices and factors to be considered that teachers must make careful decisions

• Review and evaluation are critical steps before acquisition

• Software should address objectives • Support and enhance teaching

Academic Software

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