EDTECH 541: Relative Advantage of Using the Basic Suite for Learning

The relative advantage of using the basic software tool suite is the ability to give students experience with 21st-century tools that will promote real-life skills.  The basic suite for the classroom includes a word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.  These separate tools are packaged together and are designed to work together.

According to Robyler, some reasons to incorporate basic suite into the classroom are to improved productivity, improved appearance, improved accuracy and offer more support for interaction and collaboration (2016).  Word processing like Microsoft Word, helps the user create work documents that include text and graphics.  This is a useful tool in a social studies classroom to create newsletters, research papers, or complete typed assignments.  The relative advantage in a classroom setting it allows the teacher to save time because no direct instruction is needed.  Students also create a professional looking document, which gives them practice towards real-life skills they can use in the future.  Student who may struggle with writing or language benefit from using a word processing tool with voice recognition feature or adaptive keyboards.

Spreadsheets, like Microsoft Excel, creates a sheet to organize numerical information in row-column format.  The user can complete quick calculations with formulas.  This is a useful tool in a social studies classroom to create grade books and compare economic values.  The relative advantage of using spreadsheets in a classroom again focuses around time saving strategies that produce professional looking results.  Students are able to create charts that organize data and calculate various mathematical information.  Ideally spreadsheets work best in a mathematics classroom, but a great example Robyler gives in Example 4.3 shows a visual representation of the electoral college in a 9th grade civics class (2016).  Teachers can collect data (votes) in mock election this year with the presidential election and show how a candidate can win the popular vote, but lose the electoral college.

Presentation tools, like Microsoft PowerPoint, creates a slide show that can include text, graphics, and audio.  This is a useful tool in a social studies classroom with teacher created lecture presentations, student projects, and tutorials.  The relative advantage of presentation tools is helping students organize their thoughts and present key points.  The presentation supplements what the presenter says with the use of text, graphics, and other media.  Students are able to collaborate on a variety of projects and divide up the tasks.  It is important that the teacher review the proper ways to create a professional looking presentation.  Teachers and students can follow the guidelines in Figure 4.4 for designing presentations (Robyler, 2016).

In the last few years the basic suite I have found most helpful is the web-based Google Docs.  This is a great educational toolbox that allows the user access to word documents, spreadsheets, slides, sites, and other features that sync to work together.  The other feature that is helpful is the ability to allow access to share - view or edit - with others.  Students can collaborate on papers or projects using this share option.  Overall, I think that the basic suite tools are a great addition to any classroom if used properly.

Roblyer, M.D. (2016).  Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (7th Ed.).  Allyn & Bacon

EDTECH 541: Instructional Software

My content is World History for 7th Grade. Below are various instructional software available and the relative advantage of using such tools in a social studies classroom.

Drill and Practice: Allows students to participate in exercises to help learn particular facts and give quick feedback for understanding.  There are a variety of software available that include, but are not limited to flash card activities, fill-in charts, advance questioning drills, and extensive feedback activities.  The use of technology in this form of learning will hopefully encourage and engage students at a higher level then traditional pen and paper.
Software: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/European_Geography.htm
Geography concepts - European Geography (option to chose other continents). A tutorial guides students through the information needed to practice their geography skills. This free practice site allows students to chose different levels of difficulty to practice their knowledge of the countries and capitals of the world.
Relative Advantage: Computer-based drills will motivate learners to practices skills they might otherwise refuse to practice. There is immediate feedback for students to learn and practice.

Tutorials: This form of software use is similar to a teacher's instruction or lecture.  There is a sequence that is followed.  This will allow students to learn a certain amount of information based on a particular topic.  Students should be able to learn that topic without additional resources.  For the software to be successful it needs to include practice and feedback.
Software: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history
Students will refresh or learn new knowledge about various world history topics.  The teacher can chose specific tutorials or allow students to browse based on content currently learned.
Relative Advantage: Students will have direct instruction and guidance in a specific topic.
Issue: It was difficult to find a world history tutorial that included drills and practice.  It was simply a well presented, student controlled presentation of information.

Simulations: Simulations are used to give students understand how something "real" works.  There are physical and iterative simulations, which vary in processes and speed.  This type of software would work best in a science classroom where students are able to access and participate in a dissection that they might not have available in real-life.  In a social studies classrooms this type of software might be used to understand a certain period of time or event to give students personal meaning or connection to the past.
Software: http://www.playdiplomacy.com/ (other software available for this simulation)
Diplomacy is a board game for seven players that promotes strategy - both cooperation and conflict.  Online versions allow players to send orders in online to move their country's military  toward victory.  This simulation game helps students understand the world leading up to World War I.
Relative Advantage: Students are able to move their military and make decisions alone or in groups to reach a certain goal.  This will promote critical thinking and allow students to be active learners.

Instructional Games: This type of software connects the world of gaming to the classroom.  This fun style of learning can be effective at all grade levels.  The instructional games take a certain topic and add a gaming aspect to encourage students to stay engaged.  A simple software available across content and grade levels is Jeopardy.  Super Teacher Tools gives a template and it is to use for a review game.
Software: https://www.cia.gov/kids-page/games/world-exploration/index.html
World Exploration is a CIA created game that challenges students to learn different facts about countries.
Relative Advantage: Students will be active learners and engaged.  Students will want to play the fun game and learn the facts to complete their mission.

Problem-Solving Software: This type of software is designed to help students develop problem-solving skills.  The focus can be on a particular content or can help students work on basic skills - fast facts or predictioning outcomes.  This type of software would work best in a math classroom, but could be used in other content areas.
Software: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/socstud2/code/merge.shtml
Breaking Code is an Egyptian hieroglyphics problem-solving software.  Students will learn about the Rosetta Stone and Bankes Obelisk.
Relative Advantage: Students will understand Egyptian religion and writing system. Students will improve their overall typing skills.

Roblyer, M.D. (2016).  Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (7th Ed.).  Allyn & Bacon