Relative Advantage of Instructional Software

Instructional software in becoming a more integrated part of the learning environment all the time.  New developments in technology have expanded the options for integration into lessons even further.  Gone are the days when software programs had to be purchased and loaded onto machines.  While this is certainly still an option, the emergence and growth in online access to instructional software has given teachers and students more educational material to select from.  Some sites are subscription-based, while others are open source and free to use.  This is a great benefit for many classrooms, especially those located in schools where budgets do not allow for mass-software purchasing allowances.

There are five major classifications of instructional software.  These include drill-and-practice, simulations, instructional games, tutorials, and problem-solving programs.  Instructional software programs may fall under one or many of these categories.  Drill-and-practice software asks students to work through a series of problems or examples, and then they are provided with feedback based on their answers.  Simulations are computer-based systems that provide a real-world experience that teaches students how a certain process functions.  Instructional games are games and activities that are intended to reinforce learning concepts through the use of a game-like format.  Finally, problem-solving programs are designed to help students develop problem-solving skills.  Many times, simulations and instructional games also have this objective in mind.  As mentioned, instructional software is not restricted to one category.  Many programs strive to meet learning objectives through multiple modes of interaction.

The main relative advantage of the use of instructional software in my classroom is that students are able to practice and apply skills that are taught in lessons.  The types of instructional software most utilized by my third-grade students can be categorized as drill-and-practice, or instructional games.  Much of the content we must teach in my school is still based out of a hardbound curriculum program, so we are somewhat limited in the main delivery of lessons.  However, both our math and reading curriculum have web-based components that help to reinforce lesson objectives, and we use a variety of other programs to supplement lessons as well.  Our math and reading programs are both published by Pearson.  The students are able to access student textbooks, leveled reading materials, instructional videos, and instructional games.  The online assessment tool also assigns remediation lessons to the students as needs are indicated by their assessment results.  

Other instructional software programs that are frequently used by my students are Brain Pop and Sheppard Software.  Brain Pop presents a video that teaches about a selected topic, and after watching the video, students can complete activities and quizzes that provide feedback in a drill-and-practice type format.  Sheppard Software has a collection of online games across a variety of subjects that provide excellent skills reinforcement.  My students are very receptive to both sites, and benefit from their use when appropriate.    

Reference:

Roblyer, M.D. & Doerling, A.H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.