Chapter 3 Summary

Instructional software is computer programing specifically for teaching purposes. It is designed to not only help the teacher but students as well. The program helps students to understand curriculum, and it also helps to motivate some students. Teachers are able to save time because the software is able to grade and save all assignments from students.

There are five different types of Instructional software.
*The first is Drill-and-Practice. It has been proven to help students take newly learned information and turn it into long term memory. Drill-and-practice has many different areas of curriculum, including math facts, typing skills, English and foreign language vocab, musical keys and notations, along with many others. Benefits for using drill-and-practice include allowing students to prepare for tests and it is able to replace homework and worksheets.
*The second is tutorial software. Unlike the other types of of instructional software tutorial is a substitute for other instructions. The students should be able to learn curriculum without any other materials or helps from others. There are two different types of tutorial software: linear and branching. Linear will give instructions in the same form to every student, as where branching gives instructions based on the learning ability of a student.
*The third is simulation software. Simulations are designed to let students pick one of two things to learn: how to do something or to learn something. Simulations that teach about something can be taught by physical simulations or iterative simulations. Physical simulations allow users to manipulate things or processes they may come across. However, iterative simulations will slow down or speed up the process of an event so the students do not see how it unfolds. Simulations that teach how to do something can be used by procedural or situational simulations. Procedural simulations show students the order of steps to take to achieve a certain task. Situational simulations have hypothetical problems in which they ask the students to respond.
*The fourth is instructional game software. Game software brings together gaming, entertainment, and education to provide an entertaining and effective learning to students. It can be used in place of worksheets and exercises and also as a reward. Students love playing computer games and if they can take the games and apply it to reality it is an added bonus.
*The fifth and final one is problem solving software. It is designed to do exactly what it sounds like; teaching students how to problem solve. The software is mostly focused on math and science skills. Teachers can use it to help encourage problem solving in groups and to support students to problem solve.

Instructional software can be a nice benefit to teachers as well as students. Research has proven to that it helps students to retain knowledge in the long run. Instructional software is still in the process of developing and growing. It is becoming more common in schools and will continue to become more and more common.