Educational Software

Advances in both computer hardware and software have been truly amazing over the last few years. Computer technology is in virtually every aspect of our lives. They are quickly becoming a fixture in our workplace, the stores we shop, our homes, our cars even our appliances. Now the refrigerator can actually keep track of our groceries and alert you when an item is running low.

So it should be no surprise that children are quickly adapting to computers. Just like an earlier generation grew up surrounded by television, today's children are aware of computers and accept them as a normal part of life from a very early age.

This also means that schools are utilizing or should be utilizing the computer as a teaching tool. The computer is not meant to necessarily change what is taught, but more so how it is taught. The foundation skills of reading, writing, math, science and history all remain very important in today's society. The computer with various software programs offers a different way to relate this information to students.

Like traditional textbooks in some ways, today there are numerous software titles that teachers can use on a school-room wide basis. In a classroom where each student sits at a networked computer, the teacher can control the lesson plan with a more interactive software program.

Titles like "I Love Science" are designed by educators to cover standard curriculum topics. This gives teachers the confidence to use the software knowing that the topics covered will be the ones needed to prepare students for standardized testing and for the next grade level. "I Love Science" is designed for ages 7 through 11. It uses real world science activities to develop scientific thinking skills.

The topics are presented in a game-play environment which makes a sometimes boring or overly academic topic fun and motivational. The core curriculum topics covered include: plant growth, food chains, planets, gravity, the sun and moon and many others. The software is loaded with more than 100 experiments do to on the computer, plus an additional 60 experiments that involve real world interaction. There are 1000 science problems and print outs. Because students can progress at their own rate, teachers can tailor the pace for each child.

Teaching a computer-based lesson requires a different approach from the teacher. Computer software is designed to be more interactive. This is a good thing, but can often lead to a noisier classroom than with textbooks. It is still important to maintain order and control without dampening the creative spirit.

To acknowledge different skill levels, teachers may want to assign more responsibility to the students who have stronger computer skills. These students can assist others and can help with the inevitable paper jam. Working with computers also means that power surges or outages can interrupt work and can cause the loss of work. Students need to be reminded to save their work frequently.

Software options can also help teachers with the clerical side of the job. Excel is a great program for creating a seating chart or a grade book. PowerPoint can give an up-to-date approach to the overhead projectors of years past. With fun slide transitions and graphics, teachers can present printed information in a more attractive format. Slides can easily be printed and used for handouts.