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Instructional Software for High School Social Studies

Explore the benefits of instructional software in high school social studies, including drill and practice, tutorials, simulations, games, and problem-solving software. Learn how technology can improve teaching and learning outcomes for students.

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Instructional Software for High School Social Studies

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  1. Instructional Software for High School Social Studies Alicen L. Hoy Boise State University EDTECH 541

  2. Relative Advantage Technology has offered us many amazing things over the years.  And it has always been a challenge to teachers to continue to adapt and grow along with the technology available.  Because of the use of computers on almost a daily occurrence in most schools (and sometimes individual rooms), educators now have the ability to use programs on computers not only to help students learn but to practice, develop, and teach each other.

  3. Relative Advantage Continued… • Instructional software can help prepare students for high-stake tests • Instructional software allows for students to receive more individualized attention • Instructional software allows for differentiated instruction • Instruction software motivates students • Instructional software can provide immediate feedback

  4. Drill and Practice Through this type of instructional software, students practice problems, usually one at a time, and their answer is corrected before moving on to the next problem. Drill and practice can be seen through • Flash card activities: student sees a problem, one at a time, provides an answer and the program corrects it • Chart fill-in activities: usually a timed test based on fluency but again receive individual feedback for answers • Branching drill: student moved to more advanced questions after completing a set number of more basic questions correct

  5. Drill and Practice Examples • Social Studies Alive: allows students to pick a particular era in which to answer questions • Quizlet: flash card review of specific topics • Puzzling Out Maps: students review the location of states through an interactive map

  6. Tutorial Software This self-contained instruction is meant to simulate the instruction of a regular classroom teacher and are recognized as true teaching materials. Tutorial software may be seen as: • Linear tutorials: students all receive the same instruction, practice, and feedback, regardless of performance on examples • Branching tutorials: learners go down different paths depending on their level of understanding

  7. Tutorial Software Examples • Congress For Kids: interactive site that allows students to learn information about the government while also including interactive activities • Khan Academy: subject focused (only offers economics tutorials); but allows for learning and interactive sites

  8. Simulation Software A simulation system is designed to show a student how something would work in the real world. Usually the learner must chose the tasks that need to be completed and the order to complete them in. Some types are: • Procedural simulations: teach the appropriate steps in which to complete an activity • Situational simulations: provide hypothetical problems and ask students to react

  9. Simulation Software Examples • Over the Top: Experience what it was like for World War I soldiers to go “over the top” of their front line trenches • The Homefront: See what America was like, first hand, during the World War II era through the use of primary sources

  10. Instructional Games Software This software adds game-like features to drill and practice situations. Student motivation is often at its peak when including the software into classroom instruction. Teachers usually use them as rewards for behavior and/or achievements within a classroom, but they can be used as part of the regular curriculum as well.

  11. Instructional Games Examples • A Day in the Life: allows students to see the impact of supreme court decisions on their own lives • Do I Have the Right: students form their own law firm that specializes in constitutional law

  12. Problem Solving Software This software is designed to teach problem-solving skills. While most people automatically assume that this pertains to math skills, higher level thinking and functioning are involved to develop skills that are needed to come to a solution. The software can showcase: • Content-area problem-solving skills: teaches skills that are specifically needed for a content area • Content-free problem solving skills: development of own skills through “attacking” various problems

  13. Problem Solving Examples • TimeToast: student use of chronological thinking and planning to create an interactive timeline • Proof It: submission of incorrect sentence structure, grammar, spelling, etc.; does not fit into history content, but links into higher level historical writing and analysis skills

  14. Resources for Teachers Best Free Instructional Software Rubric for Evaluating Instructional Software Using Instructional Software in Teaching and Learning Discounted Instructional Software

  15. Resources Used Images: Pictures from Google Roblyer, M. D. and Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching: Sixth edition. Boston: Pearson.

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