Reflection 2: Instructional Software

Instructional Software
From the lecture, instructional software is defined as computer programs designed specifically to deliver instructions or assist with teaching and delivering instructions. In addition, it also helps in reinforcing concept understanding. Next, according to Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (Roblyer 5th Ed.), there are 5 basic categories of instructional software. These categories are as follow:

  • Drill & Practice
  • Tutorial
  • Simulation
  • Instructional Games
  • Problem Solving

Drill & Practice
It allows learners to work on their problems or answering questions and receiving feedback. In this software, thinking is not required as students have to memorise the facts and keep practicing until they get it right. 

 The advantages of this software will lead students to be able to get feedback immediately, increasing motivation and saving teacher time. However, there are some possible issues which students may find it boring as they are going to repeating doing practices unlimited until they get the correct answer and thus it does not accounts to all learners.

 Some of the examples of this software would be flash cards activity and time tables activity.


Tutorial
It acts like a human tutor by providing information and activities needed to learn for learners to master a skill or topic This software usually has the summary of information, explanation, practices, and feedback. It motivates students to keep trying and try to achieve their skill. "Lynda.com" would be one of the example of this tutorial which gives students access to the tutorials and online exercises.

Simulation
It is also known as 'virtual reality'. In this area, learners will have their own opportunities to choose which tasks they would like to do and according to their own choices of order. Body dissecting and piloting are the examples of simulation which allow learners to acquire without having to be in the real situation. However, some learners pointed out that the cost and the accuracy of models are the drawbacks to this software. 


Instructional Games
According to Wrightec Wikispaces (2017), instructional games can help stimulates learners' motivation by adding interesting content to drills or simulations. In addition, this category is unlike drill-and-practice and simulation software as it contains the entertainment aspect and the potential for competition. One of the example which illustrate this software is 'Kahoot'. It is a software which students can get along in the class by participating and answering questions online. Students claim that it is an interesting way of learning regardless of any age group but it could be addictive somehow by causing students to lose focus on the actual content.


Problem Solving
Last but not least, problem solving games teach learners directly via practices for problem solving in order to enhance their problem solving skill. These practices might as well increase students' critical thinking. The software of 'Critical Thinking' is one of the example of letting learners acquiring their problem solving skills for both home and classroom use in the subjects like mathematics, science and history.

 Finally, to sum up this week's lesson, I would personally prefer the last software because I found myself to be more motivated and also increase in the level of my critical thought.

 Here is an additional Youtube video which helps explaining in this topic. Have a look on it!
Reference

 Wrightec Wikispaces (2017) Instructional Software Definitions [online] available from <https://wrightetec.wikispaces.com/Instructional+Software+Definitions?responseToken=c8bf7c5644b984a6282df9f9d1efa421> [25 February 2017]

Youtube (2017) Instructional Software [online] available from <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQaHwJlGEZ4> [25 February 2017]

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