Chapter 3 talks about different kinds of instructional software that can be used in classrooms. Instructional software, as defined in the text, is “computer programs designed specifically to deliver or support one or more kinds of learning activities”. The text addresses five different categories of instructional software. These categories include...
- Drill and practice
- Tutorial
- Simulation
- Instructional games
- Problem solving
Last semester, I tutored a preschooler twice a week. The student was four years old, so we worked a lot with letter recognition. She could sing the alphabet song, but she was only able to recognize maybe ten letters. We started off by using flashcards but, a few visits the student got very bored and uninterested. I think that it would have been very beneficial in this case to of had access to instructional software. Using drill and practice or instructional games related to the alphabet would have most likely caught the attention of the student. The software programs are usually more visually stimulating than just regular flashcards or worksheets. They also usually have sound, making the programs more fun for children. Other benefits to using software in the classroom, such as drill and practice, include having access to immediate feedback. Students can enter in their answer and instantly know if the answer was right or wrong, and what the right answer was when they use these types of programs. Using software can also help the teacher with time. Usually, once students know how to run the program, they can complete tasks or games on their own, giving the teacher time to work one-on-one with students in the class who may need a little more help. One of the biggest benefits to using instructional software, and would have been very helpful when I was tutoring, is that it makes learning more fun and seems like play. Younger children often love to play games on the computer and do not realize that most of the programs for children are really learning. It is always good when students are having fun learning, especially when dealing with young children.
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