Software in Education

Instructional contemporary software can be an incredibly beneficial addition to the 21st century classroom. Not only does it allow students to learn about advancements in technology, but it offers an opportunity to master many of today’s technological challenges. As David Williamson Shaffer explains in the Schools Use of Games for Learning and Assessment video, we do not live in an industrial economy anymore, we live in a knowledge economy and we must adapt. If Shaffer is correct, which would be difficult to contest, then the process to build a more knowledge driven economy must begin within our schools. Naturally, this is what instructional contemporary software aims to achieve and we are shown this through two videos, Digital Youth Portrait: Sam and Schools Use of Games for Learning and Assessment.

Sam, through her digital portrait, represents today’s modern teenager, one that is not only dependent upon technology, but one that is driven by it as well. Whether she is logged on to her computer, listening to her IPOD, or using a video camera to complete a class project, she is engulfed by technology. In her portrait, she discusses a game called “World of War Craft”. While the graphics are incredibly advanced and sometimes distracting, the game itself teaches teenagers to compete, use strategy, and problem solve all at once.

“World of War Craft” is an ideal example of what 21st century technology can offer instruction and assessment in our classrooms. Teachers can use video games to make higher-order-learning far more realistic and meaningful. The United States Military, for example, incorporates Pulse, a game that uses virtual reality to simulate hands-on medical experiences. This allows students in the medical and/or military field to make necessary connections beyond the textbook, which is something that any teacher strives to achieve. As we are told in Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, educators cannot always give students access to the resources or situations that video simulations can.

While instructional contemporary software can be beneficial to most classrooms, it is also important to note the possible negative aspects of its implementation. Technology is a great educational tool, but it does have the natural tendency to hinder person-to-person contact. Children and teens tend to spend so much time invested in their computer that it often takes away from valuable social skills, which have become a corner stone in most successful careers.