Friday, March 15, 2013

Chapter 7 Journal Post

How can teachers evaluate the effectiveness of educational software?

 Teachers can evaluate the effectiveness of educational software in many ways, but first they must be able to identify the things that make up poor software. Poor software usually lets the students control the activity oppose to a good one were the software controls the activity. Finally, the software must provide critical thinking. This day in age a student must be able to critically think not only about problems and answers but about the part taken to get that point. Once the teachers have identified these basics on a software they will be able to determine if it is an effective educational software.

Tech Tool 7.2 A Math Learning Game- Zoombinis Logical Journey 

Tech Tool 7.1 is a great math learning game. I found that it was extremely easy to understand, especially being that math can sometimes be overwhelming. The level of  interaction was simple enough for a small child to understand and remain entertained. The simplicity of the tool will keep students engaged, it also plays as a game more than a learning tech tool which will encourage younger students to participate.

Chapter 7 Summary Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools 

Chapter 7 does an overview on how educational software supports and promotes problem solving and inquiry learning from students in all elementary, middle, and high school levels.It approaches the areas educators have most difficulties with in computers and software and how to find out their effectiveness. It explains the two types of software. First, there is system software, system software is responsible for the overall functioning and control of a computer and includes an operating system, database managing, and TP monitor. The second type of software is application software that performs specific functions in specialized ways to produce different services. These services include word processing, spreadsheets, slides, etc. Next, it talks about open sources software is available to the public at little or no cost. 

With all the types of software available, chapter 7 discusses how to evaluate different software and gives a general criteria to determine whether they are valuable or a wasteful source for learning. It also provides online software resources for teachers and how to use educational software for problem solving and inquiry learning in order to meet educational goals. Also, Chapter 7 gives information to the educator on how to build, invent and create software. 

Chapter 7 gives information on educational games as a learning resource. For example, tech tool 7.2 provided a great, fun, and interactive learning game for student and this is just one of many ways to show a student a fun and interactive way of learning through educational games. Even though there has been many debates on games and gaming, I feel like educational games are a great way to get a student involve, especially for those who have a hard time paying attention in class or even those students with ADD because in involves the student in many more ways then one. I love the fact that this chapter also provides the strategies on how to include games in their curriculum because we live in a technology 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dp_Q53Z4UM

VIDEO PROVIDED BY

world therefore, students must know how to approach technology properly. 

1 comment:

  1. Great thoughts - glad to hear you consider 'gaming' an effective teaching tool and think you could easily implement with your classroom students!

    Instead of just typing in the link, try to embed the videos - I will show you how next class if you remind me! :)

    ReplyDelete