Instructional Courseware

Today, teachers are utilizing computers in their classrooms for more than the basic
productivity tools of word processors, spreadsheets, and databases. A new breed of
software, instructional courseware, may be exactly what you are looking for to spark
students' interest and to teach challenging subjects to your students.

Table of Contents
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 Overview
 Types of Courseware
 Characteristics
 Advantages
 Authoring Systems

Overview of Instructional Courseware

Several terms have been used in recent years with respect to instructional courseware,
but one that is particularly well suited for our purposes is computer-assisted (or
aided) instruction (CAI). CAI may be used as a supplement for your instruction or as
a complete lesson.With CAI, the computer can assist the teacher in implementing any
or all of the four essential phases of instruction:

 presenting information
 guiding the student
 providing student practice
 assessing student learning

Commercial software vendors release new instructional courseware titles in ever

increasing numbers. As a teacher, you must determine when to implement CAI in the
classroom and what CAI to use. Additionally, you can create your own CAI with
authoring tools that are readily available and relatively easy to use. An authoring
system is a computer program that lets you create instructional software of your own.
In cases where no suitable CAI exists, this may be your only option to provide your
students with instructional courseware.

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Types of Courseware

Generally speaking, there are five types of CAI. Each methodology has its own
particular strengths and are discussed briefly below. The five types are:

 Tutorials
 Drills
 Instructional games
 Simulations
 Tests

Tutorials

Purpose: Present information and guide the student

Example: This lesson on courseware

Tutorials strive to provide sequenced, interactive material, to the learner. The learner
is engaged in direct and continual two-way communication with the computer, i.e., an
active participant. A tutorial is ideal for presenting new material, allowing students to
progress at their own pace, and reviewing previously learned subjects.

You can design a tutorial in linear fashion (like a book) or with branching that allows
students to control the lesson by their choices. Regardless of the type of design,
tutorials should include embedded questions and remediation loops to ensure learners
master material before moving on to more difficult concepts.

Advocates of tutorials suggest that they can facilitate learning better than a teacher
because of the one-to-one learning. Many tutorials permit students to learn at an
individualized rate. When you choose to incorporate a tutorial into your lesson, make
sure that it matches your objectives, goals, and content. Review of tutorials prior to
using them in class will ensure that they meet your needs. Tutorials are often
combined with other types of computer assisted instruction such as drills.
Drills

Purpose: Provide student practice

Example: Math Blaster; Reader Rabbit

Computer-based drills can take the practice previously found in workbooks and flash
cards to a higher level. When used in conjunction with other computer assisted
instruction, usually a tutorial, drills are not intended to teach new material. Drills are
designed to give students the opportunity to practice what they've already learned.
Some of the arguments for using the drill software is that the software can determine
the proper level of difficulty based on student ability, ensure completion, provide
feedback to mistakes, suggest supplemental activities, and depending on its' design,
record student results. Some drill software lets you incorporate randomly generated
questions, interactive graphics, pacing and time measured responses, and student
progress updates.

Many drills are used in subjects such as mathematics, foreign languages, spelling,
grammar, and vocabulary, but they are suitable for practically all subjects that require
the student to memorize facts.

Instructional Games

Purpose: Provide student practice and present information

Example: Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego

Instructional games provide students a means to practice previously learned material

or gain new information. But unlike drills, games are competitive by design, pitting
the student against the computer, another player, or time. Instructional games are
difficult to design, and all too often, even those which are professionally designed turn
out not to be fun and become another piece of unused software. Instructional games
come in many varieties such as adventure, arcade, board, card or gambling, combat,
logic, role-play, psychomotor, TV quiz, and word games. Like drills, these can be
adapted to any subject that requires repeated practice.

Simulations

Purpose: Present information, guide the student, and provide student practice
Example: Oregon Trail

Simulations are unique in that they attempt to give the student a chance to participate
in a real-life decision-making situation. They are an effective way of learning because.
they require problem solving and decision making. Also, they provide a non-threating
learning safe environment. Students can easily work in groups to solve simulation
problems. Whole class discussions can assist in helping students prepare for the
simulation and help them understand what happened after the simulation.

When utilizing simulations, it may be difficult to assess student learning using

traditional evaluation methods. Alternative assessment strategies may be required to
ensure that the objectives of instruction have been fulfilled.

Tests

Purpose: Assess student learning

Example: Graduate Records Examination

Using the computer to construct or administer tests offers the advantages of automatic
scoring, randomly generated test items, testing at students' convenience, cross
reference of test items to learning objectives, and ease of test bank maintenance.
There are numerous testing software packages that can be utilized in the classroom.

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Characteristics

When choosing or developing instructional courseware for your classroom, it is

imperative that it matches the objectives of the course. Additionally, "good"
instructional courseware has certain characteristics which you should look for when
designing or selecting the software. Consider the following areas when you evaluate
or design instructional courseware:

 Is the software easy to use?

 Do graphics and sound compliment the instruction?
 Are the pretests and post tests appropriate?
 Do tests measure student progress?
 Does the student have adequate control over the lesson?
 Can the learner review previous information?
 Are student scores automatically recorded? Can you access the scores?
 Can the software be used in collaborative groups?
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 Advantages

CAI has been shown to benefit students in a variety of ways. When CAI is used
appropriately in your classroom, it can:

 Enhance student learning in terms of recall and time spent on instruction

 Motivate students
 Assist in developing teamwork skills
 Provide allowances for the difference in students
 Facilitate learning transfer to new situations

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Authoring Systems

Authoring systems let you create your own instructional courseware. Today, most
authoring systems use a windows "drag and drop" interface that makes it easier than
ever to design, test, and implement new lessons. Authoring systems vary widely in
functionality, and it is easy to find one that meets your needs, capabilities, and budget.

The following list, though far from complete, will give you an idea of what is
available. HyperStudio, Hypercard, and Linkway Live are commonly found in
schools.

Title and Publisher Description

Authorware Academic  Prentice Hall and Macromedia have joined together to
Macromedia create an educational adaptation of Authorware
(Macintosh, Windows) Professional 2.0, the industry standard for creating
powerful, interactive learning applications. Instructors can
build applications customized to their course content from
simple lecture presentations to complex student tutorials
utilizing video, sound, and animation.
Authorware Interactive The Authorware Interactive Studio is the complete
Studio  environment for creating and publishing interactive
Macromedia information. Combining an intuitive interface with a tightly
(Macintosh, Windows) integrated tool set and a wealth of features, the Studio turns
your designs into realities. Whether you're a professional
trainer, educator, publisher, or multimedia developer, you
can bring your knowledge and ideas to the computer
desktop and your intranet with the Authorware Interactive
Studio.
HyperCard  HyperCard software is Claris' premier tool for creating
Claris custom software solutions for business, education, and
(Macintosh) multimedia. Commercial developers, consultants, in-house
programmers, and end users can use HyperCard to acquire,
manage, and display information any way they need to.
HyperStudio  Founded in 1978 by a classroom teacher, Roger Wagner
Roger Wagner Publishing Publishing has been providing software that emphasizes
(Macintosh, Windows) technology as a personal creative tool. The company is
committed to supporting teachers with a vision of how the
meaningful and appropriate use of technology can foster a
more individual and humanistic learning environment.
Quest for Windows  A fully-integrated authoring system, Quest for Windows is
Allen Communication  designed for developers at all levels. All multimedia tasks
(Windows) that are frequently used are available at the entry level.
Developers work from WYSIWYG displays and floating
toolbars to assemble graphics, text, audio, video motion,
buttons and animations, or to set up branching and
interactions. Novices can design and create dynamic titles
and courses with Quest. At the same time, skilled experts
will not be inhibited, either. All the power of "C"
programming code is embedded in the system.
Toolbook II  ToolBook II is a complete solution that includes tools for
Asymetrix authoring, managing and accessing Distributed Learning
(Windows) and Multimedia applications. It includes the first authoring
environment that delivers training and education
applications in the native Internet formats of HTML and
Java. Much more than an authoring environment,
ToolBook II is the only solution with a server-based course
management system that takes full advantage of the
interactive, two-way communications offered by the
Internet. In this way "certified understanding" is now
possible where instructors are able to certify that
courseware has been received and the extent to which the
content has been understood. Finally, ToolBook II includes
easy to install, end-user access tools, simplifying the
configuration and deployment of multimedia ready Web
browsers throughout an organization.