Introduction to Educational Support Software

Credits:

Steve Gandy
Mountain View Elementary
Broomfield, Colorado
steve@stevegandy.com

VITAL INFORMATION

Subject Matter:
American Studies, Elementary, English Language Arts, Health, History, Information Literacy, Library/Information Sciences, Mathematics, Reading, Research, Science, Social Studies, Technology

Grades:
Kindergarten-5

Software Application:
In this lesson, the software selection, of course, varies. It will depend on what is installed at the school location. It will also depend on which grade level is using it.

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Summary:
While our technology use focus is on productivity, students cannot always be involved in a project. Some will finish early, some will join the group late, and sometimes schedules do not allow the time necessary to start an involved project. So, we use educational software and web sites to "soak" up this lost time as a "sponge".

Students will be introduced to the basic use of the grade level appropriate software that is available in the lab. They will be given sufficient "hands-on" time to become independent users of said software.

State & National Standards:
The curricular standards addressed by this lesson depend totally on which piece of educational support software is being used and on which part of that software is being used. The teacher must become familiar with the various products to determine which ones are appropriate and meet the needs of the students.

Local Standards:
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS CONTINUUM
Standard #4 Instructional Software - Students use instructional software to enhance learning in content areas.

4A. Use age-appropriate software to help understand and/or practice concepts in various content areas.
: 4A.1 Uses site-specific software to accomplish various content standards.

Lesson Outcomes:
Students become independent users of the resources available in the computer labs for educational "play". Thus, when productivity projects near an end or when schedules do not permit project based lab use, those that finish early can become aides or use their time pursuing practice or exploration with the educational software.

Assessment:
Most educational software is self-assessing or can easily be observed by the attending teacher.

Assessment/Rubrics:
N/A

CLASSROOM & TIME MANAGEMENT

Student Prerequisites:
Students should be familiar with the computer lab rules and norms. They should be able to login and launch programs.

Lesson Preparation:
Teachers should arrange the different programs into a sequence that makes sense for their grade level and classroom curriculum. That sequence can then be used as a guide to answer the question, "What next?"

Each piece of software is different, of course, so the teacher may need to review the functions and features of the particular program they are going to review. Often we only use these programs once a year or at a certain point in the year so it is easy to forget the details.

It is recommended that the teacher launch and perform the basic functions prior to reviewing it with the class. Optionally, they may want to review the reference materials available.

Time Frame:
8 class periods. 45 Min. per class.

Implementation Steps:
The time frame listed above is the longest case scenario. The number of actual sessions depends on the grade level, the number of software choices, and how much time the teacher feels is needed on the entire lesson. K, 1, and 2 have traditionally done more work with this type of software than the older students.

These software introductions might take place over a span of weeks or months. We do not recommend doing them back-to-back. Rather, pick a few of the best choices, introduce them and move on to project based activities. Then, if the need arises introduce more of the choices. Many primary teachers switch back and forth from educational software to project activity.

Steps for introducing educational software:

1. Explain why we use it. Some students will not realize it is educational.
2. Model just enough of the use of the program that they can begin. Include any "rules" we use with the program. (10 min)
3. Allow the students to begin using the program. (15 min)
4. Bring the students back to see the "next" part of the program. (10 min)
5. Hands-on time again. (15 min)
6. Repeat until all the features you want to cover are done.

RESOURCES

Lesson Resources:
Attachments:
Software List A list of all the software choices for students at Mountain View Elementary, Mac Lab.

Links:
Primary Internet Sites- mountain.adams12.org/21k.html A clickable list of our pre-screened Internet resources for K, 1, and 2.
Grade 3 Internet Sites- mountain.adams12.org/3rdSites.html A clickable list of our pre-screened Internet resources for 3rd grade.
Grade 4 Internet Sites- mountain.adams12.org/4thSites.html A clickable list of our pre-screened Internet resources for 4th grade.
Grade 5 Internet Sites- mountain.adams12.org/5thSites.html A clickable list of our pre-screened Internet resources for 5th grade.

STUDENT PRODUCT(S)

Product(s) Description:
N/A

REFLECTION

Comments:
We have successfully used this lesson plan at MVES for 8 years.


Kindergarten Software Choices - Mac Lab:

Kid Pix Deluxe 3
BIG_TEXT
Fun Fair
McGee
Zoo Zillions
WiggleWorks® Plus
Boogie Bunny 1.0
Kindergarten Keys
Logic Blocks 2.0
MacRobots™
Neko's Back! v1.0
MacMemory 1.0
Mac Concentration
Katie's Farm
ODS Robot Challenge
Reader Rabbit 3.0
First Grade Software Choices - Mac Lab:
MatchWord
Zoo Zillions
Kid Pix Deluxe 3
Word Munchers
WiggleWorks® Plus
TurboMathFacts
BIG_TEXT
Mac Concentration
MacMemory 1.0
Base Ten Blocks
Logic Blocks 2.0
MakeEmTalk
PlaceMaker™ Network
Turbo Math Facts
TimeTeacher
Reading Journey 1
Reader Rabbit 3.0
Game of the Winds
Boogie Bunny 1.0
Second Grade Software Choices - Mac Lab:
Inspiration® 6.0
MakeEmTalk
MacMemory 1.0
Mac Concentration
Zoo Zillions
Reading Counts!
PlaceMaker™ Network
Middle Text
MatchWord
Boogie Bunny 1.0
Logic Blocks 2.0
Launcher
Word Munchers
WiggleWorks® Plus
TurboMathFacts
Turbo Math Facts
TimeTeacher
Storybook
Scholastic Reading Inventory
Reading Journey 1
Kid Pix Deluxe 3
Base Ten Blocks
hyperPuzzle
AppleWorks
Game of the Winds
BIG_TEXT
Third Grade Software Choices - Mac Lab:
MacChess 3.0
Storybook
Stack - Blank
TEXT
super sentence
MacUSA
MakeEmTalk
Game of the Winds
Base Ten Blocks
MacGlobe
Scholastic Reading Inventory
Reading Counts!
Word Mania 1.0
Type To Learn
HyperStudio 3.2
Kid Pix Deluxe 3
PlaceMaker Network
MapMaker 1.0
Logic Blocks 2.0
Inspiration 6.0
TurboMathFacts
Turbo Math Facts
Zoombini
Zoo Zillions
2 Column Notes
AppleWorks
hyperPuzzle
EARTHQUEST
Fourth Grade Software Choices - Mac Lab:
HANGMAN 1.5
Storybook
Stack - Blank
Space Adventure
2 Column Notes
Number Munchers
Math Blaster Mystery
MakeEmTalk
MacGlobe
HyperStudio 3.2
MacChess 3.0
Kid Pix Deluxe 3
AppleWorks
TurboMathFacts
Turbo Math Facts
TEXT
Scholastic Reading Inventory
Reading Counts!
PlaceMaker™ Network
MacUSA
Peg Board 2.0a
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Oregon Trail
Decimal & Fraction Maze™
Catch A Letter
Zoombini
Word Mania 1.0
Type To Learn
EARTHQUEST
Inspiration® 6.0
Game of the Winds
Fifth Grade Software Choices - Mac Lab:
2 Column Notes
ODS Air Explorer
Kid Pix Deluxe 3
Decimal & Fraction Maze™
The Age of Discovery
TEXT
EARTHQUEST
Catch A Letter
Peg Board 2.0a
Fraction Matching 3
Scholastic Reading Inventory
Reading Counts!
MacChess 3.0
Game of the Winds
HyperStudio 3.2
HANGMAN 1.5
MakeEmTalk
AppleWorks
Zoombini
Word Mania 1.0
USA map game
Type To Learn
PlaceMaker™ Network
Inspiration® 6.0
MacGlobe
Math Blaster Mystery
TurboMathFacts
Turbo Math Facts
MacUSA
Storybook
Stack - Blank
Number Munchers

Developed under a grant from Sun Microsystems, Inc. Open Gateways at Mountain View Elementary School by Steve Gandy, Technology Coordinator - mountain.adams12.org/TISS © 2003