Please view the presentation below for more information on Instructional Software.
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"Instructional software is a general term for computer programs designed specifically to deliver instruction or assist with the delivery of instruction on a topic (Roblyer & Doering, 2013)." Instructional software is widely used in the classroom. Below are five different types of instructional software, the relative advantage of each type of software some resources that middle school social studies teachers might find useful.
Drill and Practice
“Drill-and-practice software functions provide exercises in which students work example items, usually one at a time, and receive feedback on their correctness (Roblyer & Doering, 2013).”
Relative Advantage
Students can use software that allows them continuously practice content. The software can also provide feedback to students about their performance on the drills. Software such as this one can provide students with additional opportunities to work on content at their own pace. It could also be used to help students prepare for tests. It also frees up the teacher from having to grade worksheets.
Drill and Practice software packages for Middle School Social Studies
http://tutorial.teachtci.com/ This is a site that has many different options for students to drill and practice their social studies knowledge.
Integration into the Curriculum: This site could be woven into a unit on constitutional amendments or civil war battles. Students can use this software to reinforce what they have learned
http://www.studyblue.com/ This site is a greate resource for drill and practice with flashcards. The site is also available as an app for mobile devices. Students or teachers can create their own flashcards. Some flashcard sets may already exist for middle school social studies.
Integration into the Curriculum: This site could be used to help students learn key dates, battles, and figures as they pertain to various historical events. This software could be used at all levels of the course. Students can install the app on their mobile devices and create their own flashcards that they can then share with the class.
A teacher could also use this site and assign teams of students various information for which flashcards can be made. The groups of students can then collaborate with each other to come up with a class set of flashcards for drill and practice.
Tutorial Software
“Tutorial software is an entire instructional sequence on a topic, similar to a teacher’s classroom instruction. This instruction usually is expected to be a self-contained instructional unit rather than a supplement to other instruction. Students should be able to learn the topic without any other help or materials (Roblyer & Doering, 2013).”
Relative Advantage
Tutorial software can allow students to work on content at their own pace. Similar to Drill and Practice software, tutorial software can also provide feedback to students about their performance on the drills. Some software packages are designed to learn about the student’s needs and can provide the student with a targeted approach to develop knowledge in a specific content area. The software learns what content a particular student needs to practice more intently. This provides a benefit to the student who can learn more efficiently. It also provides the teacher with a tool to use when students get behind in class or need additional support.
Tutorial software packages for Middle School Social Studies
http://congressforkids.net/ The site has child centered content pertaining to American Government and the Constitution.
Integration into the Curriculum: The congress for kids site can be used to supplement learning on a variety of middle school social studies units. It can be used with students who may need additional support as well as students who would like to explore the content in a new way. It could also be used as a resource within a lesson. A teacher could set up stations and allow students to access the site in conjunction with a larger project on the Constitution for example.
MIddle School Advantage
http://www.rmlearning.com/54136.htm This is a software suite that covers more than just social studies. The social studies portion of this package is aligned to standards. The package includes interactive content and quizzes to assess student progress.
Integration into the Curriculum: The software can be used as a supplement to learning for hard to teach social studies standards. Students can use this software in a station as they build a graphic organizer of the Civil War battles.
Simulation Software
“A simulation is a computerized model of a real or imagined system that is designed to teach how the system works. Unlike tutorial and drill-and-practice activities, in which the teaching structure is built into the package, learners using simulations usually must choose tasks to do and the order in which to do them (Roblyer & Doering, 2013).”
Relative Advantage
Simulation software can help recreate real life events that may not be accessible to students. The software can also provide students with an opportunity to see how changing certain historical factors could change certain events and thus change the course of history. Simulations are engaging and provide students with an opportunity for critical thinking and application of standards based knowledge and skills.
Simulation Software Examples
Icivics.org
https://www.icivics.org/games/we-the-jury In this simulation, students will have the opportunity to hear arguments, weigh evidence, deliberate in a jury, and come up with a verdict. Icivics.org was started by retired Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day’ Occonor.
Integration into the curriculum: This site can be used to reinforce concepts relating to juries and trials that have been taught in other ways. Students can go through a few simulations and write in a journal or blog about why they voted the way they did. The activity can conclude with a discussion of the significance of serving on a jury and civic responsibility.
The Oregon Trail
http://www.oregontrail.com/hmh/site/oregontrail/home/arcade This is a simulation of a trek along the Oregon Trail. Student’s will be faced with various challenges along the trail. The simulation can give students a better understanding of what it was like for people who were traveling across the trail at that time.
Integration into the Curriculum: This software can be used to supplement a unit on westward expansion and the California Gold Rush. Students can go through a few simulations and write in a journal or blog about their experience in the simulation. The activity can conclude with a discussion about the challenges that people faced on the trail.
Instructional Games
“...instructional games add game-like rules and/or competition to learning activities. Even though teachers often use them in the same way as they do drill-and-practice or simulation software, games usually are listed as a separate software activity because their instructional connotation to students is slightly different (Roblyer & Doering, 2013).”
Relative Advantage
Students spend time on content in a fun and engaging way. The game rules add a level of competitiveness that has many students continue to play the games until they reach a level of mastery. The game aspect is inviting and helps to reinforce the concepts students are learning in their social studies classes.
Instructional Games examples
https://www.icivics.org/games/do-i-have-right Students will play the role of a lawyer. Their job will be to determine whether or not a client’s rights have been violated.
Integration into the Curriculum: Students can play this game to help reinforce their understanding of their rights under the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. This software can be used in conjunction with a project or alone as a stand alone activity because it has students apply their knowledge of the amendments as part of the game.
http://www.mission-us.org/pages/landing-mission-2 Students can play the role of Lucy, a 14 year old slave who is searching for a path to freedom.
Integration into the Curriculum: This game can be used to reinforce a unit on slavery. The game can be an activity that students can do in stations. Teachers can then have a class discussion about what it was like to play the game and then tie in to introduce Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Problem-Solving Software
“Problem solving software functions may focus on fostering component skills in or approaches to general problem-solving ability, or provide opportunities to practice solving various kinds of content-area problems (Roblyer & Doering, 2013).”
Relative Advantage
Problem Solving software can be very engaging for students. It also provides students with a framework for developing solutions to various problems.
Example of Problem-Solving Software
http://www.learningvillage.com/html/rZoombinis2002.html Students lead a group of fictional characters called Zombinis who must escape from an island and settle in a new locale.
Integration into the Curriculum: This software can be used as a parallel activity to help students understand the level of complexity involved in solving problems when settling a new land. The software can be used as a metaphor for the struggles that the New England colonists had to overcome.
Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.