Chapter 6Chapter 6Academic SoftwareAcademic Software

By By

Jean WaldropJean Waldrop

ETEC 562 – Spring 2004ETEC 562 – Spring 2004

Copyright StatementCopyright Statement

This presentation This presentation contains copyrighted contains copyrighted

materials. It is used under materials. It is used under the umbrella of “Fair Use” the umbrella of “Fair Use” for educational purposes. for educational purposes.

What is academic What is academic software?software?

Software that enriches the teaching and Software that enriches the teaching and learning process. learning process.

Common categories of academic softwareCommon categories of academic software - Authoring Systems- Authoring Systems - Special Needs- Special Needs

- Desktop Publishing Software- Desktop Publishing Software - Integrated Learning - Integrated Learning SystemsSystems

- Graphics- Graphics - Others including Concept - Others including Concept Mapping ToolsMapping Tools

- Reference Software- Reference Software

- Drill and Practice- Drill and Practice

- Educational Games- Educational Games

-Simulations-Simulations

Authoring SystemsAuthoring Systems Software that allows the educator to easily Software that allows the educator to easily

create custom computer-enhanced lessons of all create custom computer-enhanced lessons of all sorts.sorts.

Hypermedia/ Multimedia Authoring SoftwareHypermedia/ Multimedia Authoring Software Examples: Macromedia Director K-12, Examples: Macromedia Director K-12,

Toolbook, Apple Hypercard, Hyperstudio Toolbook, Apple Hypercard, Hyperstudio (Makes “hyperjumps”)(Makes “hyperjumps”)

Web Authoring SoftwareWeb Authoring Software: creates multimedia : creates multimedia products specifically for use on the Internet.products specifically for use on the Internet.

Examples: Microsoft Front Page, Adobe Examples: Microsoft Front Page, Adobe GoLive!, Macromedia Web Design StudioGoLive!, Macromedia Web Design Studio

Desktop Publishing Desktop Publishing SoftwareSoftware

Provides the ability to create professional-Provides the ability to create professional-looking printed or electronic pages.looking printed or electronic pages.

Example: Microsoft PublisherExample: Microsoft Publisher Things you can do:Things you can do:

- class or school newsletters- class or school newsletters- posters and signs for classroom or - posters and signs for classroom or schoolschool- customized booklets for reading, - customized booklets for reading, coloring or concept reinforcementcoloring or concept reinforcement- award certificates- award certificates- flash cards and sight-word cards- flash cards and sight-word cards

Graphics SoftwareGraphics Software

Software that can Software that can be used to create, be used to create, edit, or enhance edit, or enhance digital images.digital images.

Clip Art LibrariesClip Art Libraries Paint ProgramsPaint Programs Draw ProgramsDraw Programs Imaging SoftwareImaging Software Editing SoftwareEditing Software

Paint ProgramPaint Program

Reference SoftwareReference Software

Digital versions of volumes of Digital versions of volumes of reference materials that are easily reference materials that are easily stored on a single compact disc.stored on a single compact disc.

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias AtlasesAtlases Grammar ToolsGrammar Tools DictionariesDictionaries

Tutorials and Drill-and-Tutorials and Drill-and-Practice SoftwarePractice Software

Drill-and-Practice Drill-and-Practice Software: is Software: is designed to designed to reinforce reinforce previously previously presented content.presented content.

Tutorials: presents Tutorials: presents new material with new material with frequent frequent opportunities for opportunities for practice and practice and review.review.

Educational GamesEducational Games Present and review Present and review

instructional content instructional content in game format.in game format.

Examples: Blaster Examples: Blaster series (Math, series (Math, Reading, etc.) Reading, etc.) Carmen Sandiego Carmen Sandiego series, Game of Life, series, Game of Life, Scrabble, Scrabble, Chessmaster 6000, Chessmaster 6000, Sid Meier’s Sid Meier’s Civilization II, Civilization II, SimCity 3000.SimCity 3000.

SimulationsSimulations

Software packages that present Software packages that present to the user a model or situation to the user a model or situation in a computerized or virtual in a computerized or virtual format.format.

Examples: Flight simulator Examples: Flight simulator software, chemistry lab software, chemistry lab simulations, dissecting a virtual simulations, dissecting a virtual frog, virtual civilizations.frog, virtual civilizations.

Special Needs SoftwareSpecial Needs Software Software designed to Software designed to

address the address the requirements of requirements of learners with special learners with special needs as the result of a needs as the result of a variety of physical or variety of physical or learning impairments.learning impairments.

Examples: software Examples: software that reads words aloud that reads words aloud as they are displayed as they are displayed on the screen, software on the screen, software that enlarges text on that enlarges text on the screen, speech-the screen, speech-synthesizing softwaresynthesizing software..

Integrated Learning Integrated Learning SystemsSystems

ILS are hardware-software ILS are hardware-software combinations of equipment and combinations of equipment and programs designed to assist programs designed to assist students in learning targeted students in learning targeted objectives. It combines objectives. It combines classroom management tools classroom management tools with tutorial software. with tutorial software.

Other Academic SoftwareOther Academic Software

Problem-Solving Software: Written to Problem-Solving Software: Written to help students acquire and practice help students acquire and practice problem-solving skills. (Forming and problem-solving skills. (Forming and testing a hypothesis, applying theories, testing a hypothesis, applying theories, and predicting outcomes.)and predicting outcomes.)

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI): Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI): any software that uses the computer to any software that uses the computer to tutor or review content and provide a tutor or review content and provide a platform for reasoning with reference to platform for reasoning with reference to content.content.

Brainstorming/Concept-Brainstorming/Concept-Mapping ToolsMapping Tools

ConclusionConclusion

Consider the software that will best Consider the software that will best address the needs of all learners and address the needs of all learners and achieve your instructional achieve your instructional objectives.objectives.

Takes effort to review, evaluate, and Takes effort to review, evaluate, and select software because there are select software because there are hundreds of choices available.hundreds of choices available.

Academic software will increasingly Academic software will increasingly become a necessary and exciting become a necessary and exciting part of teaching and learning.part of teaching and learning.