3. What are authoring systems? What is the difference between drill-and-practice software and tutorial software? When is it appropriate to use each in teaching and learning?
By definition, an authoring system is a category of software that allows the educator to easily create custom, computer dashed enhanced lessons of all types including multimedia lessons and web based lessons. There are many different brands of this type of software on the market. One of the main, widely used versions of authoring systems is Microsoft PowerPoint. The chapter describes PowerPoint as being a linear design, which is another way of saying that slides are shown in a consistent order. In actuality, PowerPoint can include multimedia elements and provide buttons on each slide to direct you to other slides, which make this nonlinear.
Even though the question specified drill-and-practice software before tutorial software, it is much easier answered by describing tutorial software first. In a classroom, one does not test knowledge or practice on a subject without first teaching that subjects information. This software is based precisely on that concept. Tutorial software is used to present material. Tutorial software uses both linear and hypermedia approaches. This simply means that they can both be used as reserve, meaning straight-line presentation, or interactive, meaning that it gets the students involved.
Drill-and-practice software is used for post-instruction practice. Before moving on to the next aspect of a lesson, an educator needs to insure that the students grasp the initial concept. Now there are many ways of verifying that students understand a lesson. As educators, we frequently test or assess a student’s knowledge directly after instruction. This drill-and-practice software allows an easy access for these assessments. Drill-and-practice software is specifically designed to reinforce previously presented content. The downside to drill-and-practice software is that it can many times be boring or passive. This is where and educator needs to spend time “tweaking” the information to make sure that it is instructional and interesting to students.
As educators, we should have a balance between both instructional and drill-and-practice software. This is where many of our summative and cumulative evaluations allow us to increase or decrease the drill-and-practice. Obviously a student must learn of a subject before practicing the information gathered. This is why tutorial software is more effective during the instructional process. Post-instruction should definitely the practice software. After reading about both of these types of software, I can see how important it is to use different types of educational elements to create a positive learning environment.
Hey Dr. Wang,
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time that my post has saved with space between the paragraphs. Each time before, it previewed with space and did not after I posted it. Hope this post is easier to read : )
Yes, It looks great. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI agree. I had to play around with the encoding so that it transferred from the word document in the right format.
ReplyDeleteBrett, thank you for your comments about authoring software. I try to use both types in my classroom, but find that drill-and-practice is a bit easier for me to implement. However, I am always searching for new tutorial software so that my students can learn things in different ways.
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