Software of the Week
Teaching with Technology I
For Thursday
Last week we looked at three "history" programs representing traditional game and encyclopedia genres as well as a simple method of combining the two (as well as Web-based archives). In evaluating those programs I suggested the following questions for starters:
Math-Blaster Mystery is one in a series of Math-Blaster titles that have enjoyed some success in the 1990s. Two reviews of more recent versions appear on the "M" page at the TERC review site. What are some of the questions an evaluation of this piece of software should address?
Tom Snyder Productions' Decisions, Decisions was one of the first, and is perhaps still the most successful, models of classroom software for group learning.
It may seem odd that we read this study in a week porported to be about "evaluation". But in fact the evaluation of educational software for schools needs to take into account not just traditional CS issues (software design and HCI, for example), and cognitive learning theory issues, but institutional issues as well. Talis' questions about the chapters we're reading for Tuesday are an excellent start. You may also want to read Kim Mowery's questions about the book from last year's Seminar.
For Thursday, Seth's posting asked us to bring in a question to discuss. My question is this: How does the analysis of Sandholtz, Ringstaff and Dwyer compare with that of Schank and Cleary concerning the successful application of computers in education?
We'll begin storyboards on Tuesday. Please come ready to provide detailed, sophisticated feedback (!) to those who are presenting. Also, you will want to begin the software evaluation assignment as soon as you have your storyboards in place.