I.S "Teachers Utilities"

Teacher Utilities

Definition

Non-instructional or administrative programs used to prepare instructional materials or organize, store, evaluate and report information on pupils’ achievement and progress.

Features

n

 Based on the principle of database management. 

n

 Manipulate classroom and examination data. 

n

 Permit the teacher to have untold amounts of information. 

n

 Reduce the amount of repetitive paper work. 

n

 Create and maintain lesson plans. 

n

 Create and print a school calendar.  

Example:

Head Master

Specifically designed for teachers. HeadMaster can handle grading, reporting, and scheduling. From administration to accounting to registrar duties, HeadMaster's flexible, customizable interface provides a complete solution for your school's office.

I.S "Multimedia"

 Multimedia

Definition

Programs that support the interactive use of text, audio, still images, video and graphics and manipulate them to support learning.

Features

n

 Enhance text only presentations by adding interesting sounds and compelling visuals. 

n

 Engage a variety of learning modalities (visual, auditory and possibly kinesthetic) which can appeal to various learner styles simultaneously. 

n

 Allow development of more engaging, persuasive presentations. 

n

 Focus practice of skills that support transfer of learning. 

Examples:

Scholar’s Desktop.

This program provides a series of modules for teaching, using a combination of media. Students can visit many museums around the world and explore many environments as they visit it. 

Example #2

MS Photo Story

This authoring tool allows students to create their own digital stories using text, audio and pictures and export their projects into a digital movie.

I.S " Problem Solving"

Problem-Solving

Definition

Problem-solving software is a type of content-free or content-based programs that places emphasis on critical thinking, analysis, logic and reasoning via the presentation of set of data or problematic event.

Features

n

 Stress thinking processes rather than correct answers. 

n

 Expose students to a series of activities that would help teach the desired skills. 

n

 Help students work together in small teams.  

n

 Give students opportunities to see how information applies to actual problems.  

n

 Vary the amount of direction and assistance depending on the each student’s needs.  

Example:

StressAlyzer

This program provides students with many problems in Mechanics of Materials to solve. Students get immediate feedback on whether they solve each problem correctly, and they are offered randomly generated versions of similar problems until they can be solved correctly.

I.S "Instructional Games"

Instructional Games

Definition

Instructional games are courseware designed to motivate learning by adding game rules to learning activities.

Features

n

 Make learning fun and motivating (Edutainment). 

n

 Motivate learners via the challenge of competition. 

n

 Engage the learner in a situation where the learner is competing for a high score.  

n

 Include elements of adventure and uncertainty. 

n

 Provide different levels of complexity that match player’s ability. 

Examples:

Save the Math Apples

Help the monkey save the apples! Click on the basket with the number to give the answer. Keep clicking the basket to add numbers to your answer.

Example #2

Jungle Jim and the Donga Dinga Drums

This interactive game encourages kids to play with numbers and multiplication concept and win points as long as he/she hits the right number. 

I.S "Simulation"

 Simulations

Definition

A simulation is a computerized model of real or imagined system designed to teach how a system works and allows learners to create their own sequence for using simulation.

Features 

n

 Involve students into learning process. 

n

 Compress time or slow down processes. 

n

 Save money and resources.  

n

 Make experimentation safe.  

n

 Make impossible situations possible and controllable. 

n

 Let student repeat events as many times as they want. 

Example :

Infinite Physics Simulator

Infinite physics simulator has a large collection of objects useful for optics simulation including mirrors, prisms, lenses and other transparent objects.

Example #2

Curvilinear

Friendly design,  users do not need to get trained to operate these tools. Using buttons, textboxes and slide bars learners can run or stop the experiment and change the parameters of the phenomena.