INSTRUCTIONAL
SOFTWARE FOR HIGH
SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES
Alicen L. Hoy
Boise State University
EDTECH 541
RELATIVE ADVANTAGE
Technology has offered us many amazing things over the years. And
it has always been a challenge to teachers to continue to adapt and
grow along with the technology available. Because of the use of
computers on almost a daily occurrence in most schools (and
sometimes individual rooms), educators now have the ability to use
programs on computers not only to help students learn but to
practice, develop, and teach each other.
RELATIVE ADVANTAGE
CONTINUED…
• Instructional software can help prepare students for high-stake
tests
• Instructional software allows for students to receive more
individualized attention
• Instructional software allows for differentiated instruction
• Instruction software motivates students
• Instructional software can provide immediate feedback
DRILL AND PRACTICE
Through this type of instructional software, students practice problems, usually one
at a time, and their answer is corrected before moving on to the next problem. Drill
and practice can be seen through
1.
Flash card activities: student sees a problem, one at a time, provides an
answer and the program corrects it
2.
Chart fill-in activities: usually a timed test based on fluency but again
receive individual feedback for answers
3.
Branching drill: student moved to more advanced questions after
completing a set number of more basic questions correct
DRILL AND PRACTICE
EXAMPLES
1.
Social Studies Alive: allows students to pick a particular era in
which to answer questions
2.
Quizlet: flash card review of specific topics
3.
Puzzling Out Maps: students review the location of states
through an interactive map
TUTORIAL SOFTWARE
This self-contained instruction is meant to simulate the instruction of
a regular classroom teacher and are recognized as true teaching
materials. Tutorial software may be seen as:
1.
Linear tutorials: students all receive the same instruction,
practice, and feedback, regardless of performance on examples
2.
Branching tutorials: learners go down different paths
depending on their level of understanding
TUTORIAL SOFTWARE
EXAMPLES
1.
Congress For Kids: interactive site that allows students to learn
information about the government while also including
interactive activities
2.
Khan Academy: subject focused (only offers economics
tutorials); but allows for learning and interactive sites
SIMULATION SOFTWARE
A simulation system is designed to show a student how something would
work in the real world. Usually the learner must chose the tasks that need
to be completed and the order to complete them in. Some types are:
1.
Procedural simulations: teach the appropriate steps in which to
complete an activity
2.
Situational simulations: provide hypothetical problems and ask
students to react
SIMULATION SOFTWARE
EXAMPLES
1.
Over the Top: Experience what it was like for World War I
soldiers to go “over the top” of their front line trenches
2.
The Homefront: See what America was like, first hand, during
the World War II era through the use of primary sources
INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES
SOFTWARE
This software adds game-like features to drill and practice situations.
Student motivation is often at its peak when including the software
into classroom instruction. Teachers usually use them as rewards for
behavior and/or achievements within a classroom, but they can be
used as part of the regular curriculum as well.
INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES
EXAMPLES
1.
A Day in the Life: allows students to see the impact of supreme
court decisions on their own lives
2.
Do I Have the Right: students form their own law firm that
specializes in constitutional law
PROBLEM SOLVING
SOFTWARE
This software is designed to teach problem-solving skills. While most
people automatically assume that this pertains to math skills, higher level
thinking and functioning are involved to develop skills that are needed to
come to a solution. The software can showcase:
1.
Content-area problem-solving skills: teaches skills that are
specifically needed for a content area
2.
Content-free problem solving skills: development of own skills
through “attacking” various problems
PROBLEM SOLVING
EXAMPLES
1.
TimeToast: student use of chronological thinking and planning
to create an interactive timeline
2.
Proof It: submission of incorrect sentence structure, grammar,
spelling, etc.; does not fit into history content, but links into
higher level historical writing and analysis skills
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
Best Free Instructional Software
Rubric for Evaluating Instructional Software
Using Instructional Software in Teaching and Learning
Discounted Instructional Software
RESOURCES USED
Images: Pictures from Google
Roblyer, M. D. and Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational
technology into teaching: Sixth edition. Boston: Pearson.