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Lesson 4 Instructional Software

Instructional software can be categorized into five types: tutorials, simulations, drill-and-practice, educational games, and exploratory environments. Each type has distinct features and purposes. Tutorials are highly interactive and personalized. Simulations replicate real-world environments to provide controlled learning. Drill-and-practice reinforces skills mastery. Games emphasize competition and engagement. Exploratory environments allow learners to manipulate elements and explore information. When appropriately selected, instructional software can promote personalized and active learning while developing important skills like problem-solving.

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Rogelio Jerome Celeste
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561 views13 pages

Lesson 4 Instructional Software

Instructional software can be categorized into five types: tutorials, simulations, drill-and-practice, educational games, and exploratory environments. Each type has distinct features and purposes. Tutorials are highly interactive and personalized. Simulations replicate real-world environments to provide controlled learning. Drill-and-practice reinforces skills mastery. Games emphasize competition and engagement. Exploratory environments allow learners to manipulate elements and explore information. When appropriately selected, instructional software can promote personalized and active learning while developing important skills like problem-solving.

Uploaded by

Rogelio Jerome Celeste
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LESSO

N Instructional Software
4

Learning Outcomes:
• Identify and describe the five categories of instructional
software, in terms of their features, characteristics and
applications in teaching and learning.
• Design a learning activity using the appropriate instructional
software.
• Apply the use of instructional software in other academic
disciplines.
Understanding System Software, Operating System and Functions
System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer’s
hardware and application programs. If we think of the computer system as a layered model,
the system software is the interface between the hardware and user applications.
The operating system (OS) is an example of system software. The OS manages all the
other programs in a computer. A computer’s operating system is one of the most important
softwares because it allows the different components of the computer, such as its memory,
disk storage devices and display output, to function together while allowing the user to run
applications. Computers cannot function without the operating system. There are two types
of software. They are the application software and system software. Application
software consists of programs that perform specific tasks for users, such as a word
processing program, e-mail program or web browser. System software consists of the
programs that control the operations of a computer and its devices. (What are Examples of
System Software? n.d.).
Understanding System Software, Operating System and Functions

While it is important that you have a foundation knowledge about system


software, operating systems and the like, however our lesson will mainly focus on
instructional software, their nature, characteristics and their pedagogical
applications in the delivery of specific content.
Instructional Software
From the discussion about system software and application software, we can
readily cite instructional software as an example of application software.
Instructional software is a computer program designed to assist in the delivery
of instruction. The primary purpose of instructional software is to support
teaching and learning. (Roblyer & Doering, 2012). However, it is more than just
simply supporting and assisting in the delivery of instruction, the appropriate
choice of specific instructional software is a major consideration.
Five Categories of Instructional Software

With the recent explosion in technology, today’s classroom is transformed into


an exciting and interactive learning environment, where the students are active
and are engaged in meaning-making.
In educational application, instructional softwares come in five (5) categories
namely; tutorials, simulations, drill-and-practice, educational games and
exploratory environment (Grabe & Grabe, 1996)
1. Tutorials
Traditionally, we think of tutorial as a mode of instruction which involves a
teacher and one or two students. It is personalized in approach because the pacing is
based on the rate of progress of the student. In tutorial approach, the teacher normally
begins with the presentation of information or can move to demonstrate a skill. The
tutor can provide feedback whether or not the student gave the correct answer or
demonstrated the correct skill. Therefore, we say that there is a high degree of
interaction between the teacher (tutorial program) and the student. A high quality and
well-designed computer-based tutorials have the basic features of the traditional
tutorial approach. Today, there are commercially available computer-based tutorials
teachers may use to reinforce students’ understanding of some difficult concepts and
skills. In addition, the Web likewise offers an array of tutorial programs which are
highly interactive. Some of these tutorial programs may be recommended for
remedial classes.
2. Simulations
A simulation is another type of instructional software. It provides a controlled learning
environment that replicates key elements of real-world environment. Simulation software is
designed so that the actions a student takes within the stimulated environment produce results
similar to those that would take place in the real world. The student acts, and the stimulated
environment reacts (Grabe M. & Grabe C., 1996). For example, children can learn about
properties of physical or biological objects through the use of stimulations. Teachers may use
stimulations to introduce a new lesson in order to activate students’ previous knowledge about
the topic or after they been exposed to a new lesson.
In addition, the simplification allowed by stimulations can help learners focus on critical
information or skills and make learning easier. Use of stimulations is cost, effective, and safe. It
provides control and concrete learning experiences. A typical a frog in Biology class is done
with a live frog. Today, stimulation instructional software on frog dissection took its place in
some schools. This shift is mainly due to environmental concern prohibiting further killings of
frogs.
3. Drill-and-
Practice
Drill-and-practice instructional software is commonly used to reinforce mastery of
specific skills. Traditionally, teacher make use of drill-and-practice activities for students
to gain mastery of specific content or skills. Teachers need to understand that as a
software, drill-and-practice has a more limited focus and therefore, should not be use to
introduce a new area. Some critics believe that due to its limitations, drill-and-practice
software cannot develop higher order thinking skills among our students. Therefore,
teacher need to be aware of this limitation and use this type of software only when their
learning goals are for skill fluency. An example of drill-and-practice software is Math
Magic.
In a traditional teaching, drill-and-practice exercise particularly in Mathematics are
done using flash cards where the teacher flashes them before the students. Today, this
traditional approach has shifted using drill-and-practice instructional software.
4. Educational Games
Educational games are very popular among our students mainly because this type of
software challenges and excites them. Instructional activities are labelled games when
they are designed to emphasize competition and entertainment. Teachers may use
educational games in many ways. Like stimulations, games may activate prior
knowledge and can spark learners’ interest. A carefully designed educational game
should emphasize cooperation and teamwork rather than competition. Teachers must be
sensitive in selecting the appropriate educational games that can engage students in
meaning making and higher order thinking. One example of an educational game is
Oregon Trail. This game students to make some decisions in the course of the journey.
Today, games fascinate not only the young but also our elders as well as hundred of
games apps available in mobile technologies such as in cellular phones.
4. Educational Games

Several empirical studies have been conducted to look into the effectiveness of
educational games. Dorn (1989) reviewed the use of stimulation games and he
maintained that stimulation games are based on the model of experiential learning. In
this model, learners first act in a particular instance of application. In the second stage,
they attempt to understand the effects of their behaviors and decisions in the particular
instance. Thirdly, they seek to understand the general principles under which that
instance falls. Finally, they apply the principles to new circumstances so that the learning
is useful to their future behavior. (Dorn, 1989 as cited in Hays, 2015).
5. Exploratory Environment
Software
Exploratory environment software is designed to provide manageable and responsive
computer-based worlds for learners to explore and manipulate. This type of software
offers elements of learners to work with a setting where manipulation of these elements
will enable them to explore a body of information or a rule system (Hsu, Chapelle &
Thompson, 1993(. Exploratory environments present information but are not directive
like tutorials. There is a high degree of learner control, active learning is anchored on
realistic situations and experiences, and therefore, it is considered student-centered
approach.
What makes exploratory environment software different from the other instructional
software is its manipulative features. Elements can be manipulated by the user in the
course of interacting with this type of software. This outstanding feature of exploratory
environment software enhances students’ creativity and decision making skills.
Advantages of Instructional Software

1. Promotes personalized learning


2. Increases students’ motivation and creativity
3. Provides extended learning opportunities and practices
4. Addresses different learning styles
5. Provides virtual and stimulated real-life learning experiences
6. Learners have direct control of their learning
7. Develops problem-solving skills
8. Encourages active learning
9. Foster metacognition skills.

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