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Educational software is varied in form and focus.
Some products are tools – developed to support
learners and educators in their respective roles. They are relatively
“content free”, making no specific reference to a topic or curriculum
and focusing rather on facilitating the development of content by
teachers or learners. Examples of “content free” educational software
include standard office products such as word-processors, spreadsheets
and presentation packages. Teachers use this type of software to
create their own content. There are also specifically designed educational
software products such as Kidspiration and Inspiration which are
used as “content free” tools by learners and educators to create
mind-maps and brainstorm ideas.
Other products are learning materials or resources
themselves – developed to present information in engaging ways to
guide learners and educators through a pre-defined curriculum. They
may be referred to as “content rich”, presenting a series of topics,
interactive activities and assessment options. A combination of
content rich and content free is also possible as some products
provide a core set of content while allowing learners and educators
to add to this bank of resources with their own ideas and content.
My World Africa is an example of such a product.
Within the “content rich” and “combined” categories,
products were selected to include a variety of learning purposes
such as products designed to:
- build learner’s memory retention; or
- allow drill and practice in repetitive tasks;
- encourage exploration or a predefined environment,
- present problems to solve or
- encourage creative thinking
- immerse the learner in a virtual environment
where they explore scenarios through simulations; or
- provide a databank of information (like a reference
or encyclopedia) from which learners and educators can draw.
How educational software is used (and was designed
to be used) also varies. Some products are designed for:
- classroom teaching in groups
- use in a computer laboratory that facilitate
tracking of learner progress
- stand-alone and independent use.
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