Chapter 6 Academic Software By Tammy Mayfield What

Chapter 6 Academic Software By: Tammy Mayfield

What is Academic Software? Software packages that can be used to enhance teaching and learning. The following slides will show the different types of academic software.

Authoring Systems • Authoring systems helps you create customized software to fit students needs. • Examples: Hyper-studio –students can use this to create multimedia for class projects

Desktop Publishing Software • Produces professional looking hard copy output. • Here , teachers can create newsletters, awards, flashcards, etc. Students can create cards, reports, classroom banners, homework calendars, and layout school yearbooks.

Graphics are digital visual images that can be created, edited, or enhanced. Examples: Clipart Paint and Draw Editing/Imaging Software

Reference Software Compact discs are used to easily store volumes of reference materials. Examples: Brittanica World Atlas Grammar Tools Dictionaries

Tutorials and Drill and Practice • Tutorials software presents new material with opportunities to practice and review. • Drill and Practice software lets learners practice and review concepts as often and as long as they need in order to gain mastery. It reinforces previously presented content.

Educational Games • Present content in colorful and engaging formats. These are a lot alike drill and practice/tutorials, but are presented in a more interesting and entertaining way.

Simulations • Simulations are software packages that present to the user a model or situation in a computerized or virtual format.

Special Needs Software • This includes software that reads words or letters aloud as they are displayed on the screen and software that enlarges text on the screen.

Integrated Learning Systems • ILS- hardware-software combinations of equipment and programs designed to assist students in learning targeted objectives.

3 Questions • What are authoring systems? • How do educational games and simulations differ? • How is special needs software effective in meeting the unique needs of special education students? Give examples.