This presentation is part of my coursework for EdTech 541 at Boise State University.

1. Instructional Software
in Elementary Schools
EdTech 541
Ron Gardiner

2. Introduction
Schools use many software applications every day. There is
software to help manage student information, software to
increase productivity, and software to help with instruction.
Instructional software, that is software students use to increase
learning, is divided into five types:
• Drill and Practice
• Tutorial
• Simulation
• Instructional Games
• Problem Solving

3. Drill and Practice
• Students work on exercises one at a time
• Feedback is given after a question is answered
• Feedback varies from correct or incorrect to detailed
explanations
• Types of drill and practice include
• virtual flash cards
• Fill-in activities
• Branching activities
• The program adjusts the difficulty level of the questions based on
the user’s responses

4. Drill and Practice
• Relative Advantage:
• Help students gain automaticity
• Provide immediate feedback
• ease the burden of grading papers by teachers
• Can assist in classroom management be being incorporated into
classroom centers

5. Drill and Practice
Example: IXL http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-3/addition-input-output-tables-up-to-three-digits
Screenshot: Click the image or the link to launch video in a new
window. http://youtu.be/hNiY90FhmT8

6. Tutorials
• Designed to teach a lesson comparable teacher-created lesson
on the same topic
“. . . tutorials are true teaching materials. Gagne et al (1981)
said that good tutorial software should address all nine
instructional events," (Robley & Doering, 2012).
• Tutorials can either be linear branching.
• Branching tutorials adjust level the instruction based on user
responses

7. Tutorials
Relative Advantage:
• A complete instructional package
• Contain drill and practice activities and provide immediate feedback.
• Branching tutorials automatically review areas of difficulty
• Able to provide amore individualized, self-paced lesson
• Can be used in the absence of a teacher
• To activate prior knowledge
• Acquire background information
• To remediate
• For students who are ahead of classroom pace

8. Tutorials
• Example: Math Foundation
• http://www.mathfoundation.com/math_tutorial.html
Screenshot: Click the image or the link to launch video in a
new window. http://youtu.be/KZxOl20c9Dc

9. Simulations
• Learning through experience is at the heart of simulations
• Teach about something
• Teach how to do something
• Manipulate on-screen objects to learn a process or perform
an experiment
• Observe processes at a faster or slower rate
• Review processes steps to see how variables affect an
outcome
• How-to simulations can be procedural or situational.
• Procedural teach the sequence of steps required to perform
task.
• Situational help learners adapt and change to solving problems,
and making choices that lead to the best result

10. Simulations
Relative Advantage:
• Safety
• Dangerous materials or in inaccessible locations are simulated
•Time can be sped up or slowed down
•Review and redo
• Segments can be revisited and the result of using variables can be
observed.
•Students like simulations
•Accepted by constructivists.
• Users employ critical thinking skills and learn about the
subtleties of process or situations

11. Simulations
Example: The Layered Earth
•http://www.layeredearth.com/content/rock-cycle
Screen shot: Click the picture or the hyperlink. The demo opens in a
new
window. http://www.layeredearth.com/content/rock-cycle

12. Instructional Games
Instructional games take advantage of students desire to
have fun.
•High-interest activities with game rules
• Allow for competition
• Many formats
• Adventure
• Role playing
• Simulations
•Used as drill and practice activities
• Games need to be checked for educational value
• Developmentally appropriate
• Respectful of gender and diversity
• Do not promote violence

13. Instructional Games
• Relative Advantage:
• Fun, motivational, and engaging
• Example: ABCya
• http://www.abcya.com/letter_blocks.htm
Screen shot: Click the image or the link to launch the
video in a new window. http://youtu.be/7Feo_E438w8

14. Problem Solving
Designed to help students hone problem solving
skills
•Help them achieve a goal when the solution is
not obvious
•Content-area problem skills
•General problem-solving skills
•Works along side problem-solving processes
• Big Six
• Polya’s Four Step Process
•Various tools used to solve problems
•Multiple attempts possible

15. Problem Solving
Relative Advantage:
•Highly visual and challenging format
•Motivational to keep students engaged
•Students identify and make meaningful connections to the skills
required to solve problems

16. Problem Solving
Example: Learn4Good
•Cone Flip: http://
www.learn4good.com/kids-games/puzzle/problemsolvinggame.htm
Screen shot: Click the image or the link to open in a new window

17. References
Berkowitz , R. E. (n.d.). Big6 introduction. [0]. Retrieved from http://www.indiana.edu/~video /
stream/launchflash.html?folder=slisal&filename=nquir03.m4v
Educational simulations. In (2011). Educational Simulations. Retrieved from http://
www.creativeteachingsite.com/edusims.html
Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/online-simulations-classroom
Instructional strategies online. (2009). Retrieved from
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/simul/index.html
Keesee, G. S. (2011). Educational games. Retrieved from http://
teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/35130965/Educational%20Game
Polya's four step problem solving process . (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~dccathcart/MathReasoning/Polya.html
Robley, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (6 ed.). Prentice
Hall.Robley, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (6 ed.).
Prentice Hall.
Taylor, D. (n.d.). The advantages of instructional software in classroom setting. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/info_8408148_advantages-instructional-software-classroom-setting.html