Using Instructional Software in the Classroom!

I think teachers can use contemporary instructional software to engage "Digital Natives" in the classroom by using it as a companion to their teaching.  I think that teachers should use a combination of drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional games, and problem solving software as part of their every day practice in the classroom.  The ability to individualize instruction using a program that each child can progress through is an important feature.  It can be an extremely helpful tool when seeking to differentiate instruction and meet individual student needs.  I like the idea of the branching form of instructional software that allows the student to progress as they answer questions correctly or incorrectly.  “It is a good way for kids to start as novices and become experts.” (Squire)  It is also a great way for those who have already mastered the basic levels of skills to go beyond and apply what they have learned by solving real world problems and higher order thinking questions.  We need to prepare our students for this ever changing information age and we cannot do that unless we incorporate computers and technology into our classrooms on a regular basis.

While I do not think that computers can or should replace teachers, I am intrigued at how much additional information and skill students can acquire, using instructional software.  Both movies were very informative and enlightening.  Sam (Digital Youth Portrait: Sam) is a typical child in our world today, but unlike most students, she has been given the opportunity to take it to another level.  She was able to pursue her passion and even incorporate it into her school projects.  I am reminded of the video that some gifted high school students produced showing how far we are behind the real world in the world of education with technology and information we are teaching in our schools.  The comment made in “Schools Use of Games for Learning and Assessment,” that these days engaging simulations and games can be found just about anywhere that critical thinking happens, except in our classrooms.” How are we going to be competitive in the real world if we do not allow our students to keep up and move from an industrialized education to one of an information one?