The Softer Side of Things -- Reflecting on What I Know #5

     There are so many types of software; how do I know which ones to include in my lessons? Include the software that best matches the content and pedagogy of the lesson. There are many to choose from. Software can be divided into five categories: Productivity, research, communication, problem-solving, and educational software. I will give an example of how to use a particular software in each of these categories. A Word Processor is the most commonly used productivity software tool in the classroom. Preschool students can use this tool to practice finding letters, spelling their name, or typing out sight words. For research, students can use search engines such as Google, Ask, and Yahoo to find words that begin with the letter "a", for example. Students love to communicate via podcasts. Try letting them record a favorite song, poem, or story and then play it for the class to hear. Of course, preschool students love to problem solve using games! Starfall.com has many games for students to choose from. Educational software can contain drill and practice programming which can be used for memorization work in the classroom.
     I understand why students should use educational software and the Internet, but why should my fourth-grade students learn to use spreadsheet, database, or video editing software? This is a question that I hear often, especially in the realm of early childhood education. These types of software are important for any student growing up in the current technological day and age. The ISTE standards state that students should be learning creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, critical thinking/problem solving and decision making, digital citizenship, and technology and concepts through the use of technology beginning at the very youngest school age and moving all the way up into adulthood. The use of these types of softwares allow students to meet these criteria.
     How can students use of different types of software help improve scores on state tests? Almost any area in which students perform poorly on a state exam can be improved through the use of software. Not only does this type of assignment improve motivation and cause students to want to learn the material, it allows students to take in information in a variety of ways. Students who learn about the presidents of the United States by doing a WebQuest and then creating a FakeBook are more likely to retain this information for the state exam than one who simply reads a textbook and takes a multiple choice test.