1. Instructional
Software
3rd-5th Grade
Dana Fredwell

2. Relative Advantages
Some software tracks student progress. Students will have an increased
awareness of their deficiencies and what they can focus on for better scores.
The most important relative advantage for students working with instructional
software is increased motivation. Students are surrounded by technology at home
and teachers must incorporate technology into their lessons to hold students
attention at school.
Instructional software increases engagement. Student engagement will lead to
increased knowledge of the subject matter. Students will want to practice
skills, practice will increase abilities.

3. Resources for Educators
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/danafredwell/502/conceptmap.html
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/Home
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/ssmaps.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/teachers.htm
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/student-activities
http://www.educational-freeware.com/
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/educationalsoftware/Educational_So
ftware.htm

4. Drill and Practice software provides an interactive
exercise to help students with basic concepts and
skills. A great example is memorizing multiplication
facts and taking timed tests.
DRILL AND PRACTICE
SOFTWARE

5. Drill and Practice
Types of Drill and Practice Software
• Paired associate or matching
• Sentence completion
• Multiple choice
• Part identification
• True false
• Short answer

6. Relative Advantages of Drill and
Practice
• Students are motivated by simple success
• Students and teachers are provided with immediate
feedback
• Individualized learning students practice the skill
they need to practice.
• Speedy mastery when practiced over and over.
• Center activities for advanced or remedial practice
while teacher works with smaller differentiated
groups.
• Students can use this when practicing for state or
classroom tests

7. Drill and Practice Examples
Addition Practice More Fact Practice

8. Drill and Practice Examples
Sound Sort Practice Tests and Flash Cards

9. Guidelines for using Drill and
Practice
Students should have control over the pace of
the drill and practice
Students must have enough time to repeat
practice several times
Students and teacher are aware of the
immediate feedback
Student’s progress is tracked to show growth

10. Tutorials are self-paced learning
exercises, lessons are prepared so that a
student can learn at their own speed, at their
convenience.
TUTORIAL SOFTWARE

11. Tutorials
Types of Tutorials
• Presenting facts using text and graphics
• Presenting learning rules and principles
• Presenting steps for problem-solving strategies

12. Relative Advantages of Tutorials
• Information is presented and skills are modeled
• learners are guided through initial use of the
information or skills
• Students learn better from words and pictures
than words alone.

13. Examples of Tutorials
Kahn Academy
Former financial analyst Salman
Khan has found a growing
following among college
students with his homemade
lecture videos. The low-tech
lessons – originally made to
tutor his faraway cousins – are
gaining popularity for their
concise teaching format.
Reasons for the popularity:
They’re short: At 10 minutes
each, they’re easier to digest
than traditional hour-long
lectures.(Dunn, 2010)

14. Examples of Tutorials
You Tube
This is the ultimate place for “how to”
videos. I searched science projects and
many tutorials on different projects were
available.
 This resource is considered controversial in the
classroom, but if allowed by the district can be a
valuable resource for teachers.

15. Guidelines for Using Tutorials
Some tutorials use assessments and track the
students progress.
Other tutorials have no online assessment
consider exit slips or a final project to asses the
learner

16. Simulations are imitations of real-world
processes or systems. (Wikipedia, 2012)
SIMULATIONS

17. Types of Simulations
• What-if scenarios, that teach about something
• Some teach how to do something, like online labs
with experiments
• Some simulations may be case-based, where
learners take on different roles based on the re-
creation of a real-world event. These may involve
constructivist elements with co-learners co-creating
the learning context (Orngreen, 2004)
• Some simulations are designed for once-through
learning, others require practice to complete

18. Relative Advantages of
Simulators
• Simulations are often cheaper to create than their
real life events. Installing flight simulation software
is cheaper than buying a practice jet for each school.
• They are easier to construct than real world events
• Simulations remove the element of danger from the
situation. For example, you can "interact" with a
Bengal tiger in a simulation quite safely.
• Simulations can be paused, whereas real life cannot.
Pausing allows more time for students to assess
what's going on.

19. Examples of
Simulators
Real Lives is a unique,
interactive life simulation Real Lives
game that enables you to live
one of billions of lives in any
country in the world.
Through statistically accurate
events, Real Lives brings to
life different cultures, human
geography, political systems,
economic opportunities,
personal decisions, health
issues, family issues,
schooling, jobs, religions,
geography, war, peace, and
more!

20. Examples of Simulators
Virtual Dissection
These simulate the dissection
of animals for the purposes
of scientific study.
*Less of the “gross factor” than
using live animals, especially for
elementary school students.

21. Guidelines for Using Simulators
Students need time to complete the simulations
for it to hold real meaning.
Students can work as a whole class, as with the
frog dissection on a SMART board, in small
groups with Real Lives, or alone with both types.

22. Educational Games or, Game based learning (GBL) is a
branch of serious games that deal with applications that
have defined learning outcomes. Generally they are
designed in order to balance the subject matter with the
gameplay and the ability of the player to retain and apply
said subject matter to the real world. (Wikipedia, 2012)
GAME BASED
LEARNING

23. Types of Game Based Learning
Some may overlap with other categories of instructional software
• Game show or flashcard type games to practice facts
• Adventure games Detective games to teach skills
• Strategy games
• Role playing games
• Puzzles
• Strategy games Adventure games
• Timed games Reflex games

24. Relative Advantages of Game
Based Learning
• Motivate students to learn by playing games
• Can be used as a reward, fun but still
educational
• Some have components of other types of
instructional software like drill and practice

25. Examples of Game Based
Learning
Funbrain

26. Examples of Game Based
Learning
Cool Math 4 kids PBS Kids

27. Guidelines for Using Game Based
Learning
• Consider balancing game play and other
instructional activities
• Remember to rotate students’ use of the
computers in classrooms where there is not a
one-to-one student-computer ratio

28. Problem solving software is designed for students to practice critical thinking
skills, students can analyze, and use logic to solve a problem.
PROBLEM SOLVING
SOFTWARE

29. Problem Solving Software
• Is used to teach and reinforce problem solving skills
in a simulated way.
• Students can solve real world or imagined problems
• Problem solving is cross-curricular
• Focus on the strategies rather than content
• Promotes team work among students
• Allows students to apply information in various
settings and to test their theories

30. Relative Advantages of Problem
Solving Software
• Students practice using logic and reasoning skills
to solve problems. These 21st century skills are
useful in the “real world” and when studying
math and science.
• Problem solving is an important skill that
students use in all subjects and in their life!

31. Examples of Problem Solving
Software
Clue Finders Software
“The Clue Finders, led by their eccentric but

32. Examples of Problem Solving
Software
The Lord of the Flies
“The Lord of the Flies educational game is
about the book Lord of the Flies written
by William Golding. Golding was awarded
the 1983 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his
novels which, with the perspicuity of
realistic narrative art and the diversity
and universality of myth, illuminate the
human condition in the world of today".
Students must analyze and problem solve
in this literature based game.

33. Examples of Problem Solving
Software
YouTube Intro to the Logical Journey of the Zoombinis
Zoombinis Software

34. Using Problem Based Software
• Remember these focus on the strategies rather than
content
• These 21st century skills promote team work among
students
• Students can apply information in various settings
and test their theories
• Opportunities to rework or redo tasks until the
problem is solved

35. Incorporating Instructional
Software
It is simple to integrate technology into the
classroom. Technology is a tool to enhance
student’s learning. Like a pencil, or a textbook.

36. References
Roblyer, M.D., Doering, Aaron H.(2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Boston MA. Pearson.
Orngreen. (n.d.). Educational Simulations - ElateWiki. Main Page - ElateWiki. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from
http://elatewiki.org/index.php/Educational_Simulations
"Lord of the Flies". Nobelprize.org. 19 Jun 2012 http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/literature/golding/