Educational Multimedia and Software
By: Emily Muntz
Many educators considering purchasing educational multimedia and software ask the following question: Should we set up a computer lab for educational multimedia and software, or should the school put networked computers with educational multimedia and software in each classroom?
The answer to this, unless you have an unusual amount of extra space in your classrooms, is usually to set up a computer lab for educational multimedia and software programs for your students to work with during school hours.
Including a computer lab for educational multimedia and software lessons as part of your standard curriculum has many advantages. It is also a much easier maintenance proposition. As an alternative to computers in the classroom, a computer lab allows a whole lot more space. In addition, each student (or pair of students) in the class can access a computer at the same time instead of taking turns in the classroom, where there would be less space for computers and educational multimedia and software.
Computers and educational multimedia and software in the classroom may be more convenient, but it is quite an expensive proposition. In addition, having educational multimedia and software in individual classrooms can be troublesome and high maintenance. Computers in the actual classroom itself may very well be a more convenient and ideal setup for both the teacher and students. However, it is only slightly less of a hassle to use your educational multimedia and software in a computer lab.
Another advantage to having your educational multimedia and software located in one place is that you can hire one instructor who is well-educated on educational multimedia and software as the instructor for every group as the students take turns using the educational multimedia and software. Also, if your budget restricts your ability to set up computers in each classroom, but does allow you some wiggle room, and if in such a case having only one computer lab does not provide enough time to get all of the students into the computer lab daily, perhaps your school could set up computer located in more than one place throughout the school.
The notion of utilizing this new craze in educational multimedia and software and computer-based educational resources is not a new idea. In fact, when I was in school a decade ago, we had a computer lab we could use to complete homework assignments during free time or library time. The major difference is we did not have nearly the amount of educational multimedia and software that there is available today. Mostly, we worked with word processing and spreadsheets. Sometimes we had classes in the computer labs, but mostly those were in foreign languages and would take place during our foreign language classes and were lead by our instructors in that particular subject.
To incorporate educational multimedia and software multimedia services, first and foremost for the purpose of enhancing learning, there are many options available to you. There are dozens of educational software resources in the standard subjects taught in every school, as well as software for languages for English, German, Spanish, French, Chinese, and many more languages. There are also educational multimedia and software options in science, mathematics, history, and a host of others.
The proposition of educational multimedia and software curriculums does not stop here. There are many educational multimedia and software resources designed especially for teachers that include lesson plans, multimedia resources, educational newsletters, and so on, all designed to assist teachers being introduced on higher levels than ever before in the digital age.
Let us face the fact that educational multimedia and software may not be something to which a typical teacher today is accustomed. The most important thing is that the students can have fun learning with educational multimedia and software.
As I have emphasized thus far in this article, before you can consider using educational multimedia and software—you have to have a place for the computers you will need. If your school has a science or language lab already, one of these might be a good place for your school to begin. The library is also an ideal place and could open the doors for an expert in educational multimedia and software to be available as a computers instructor—leaving the curriculum to the teacher, because most educational multimedia and software will produce for the teacher assignments and exercises that are simple to grade and comprehend, while the teacher learns more about educational multimedia and software.
Computers in the classroom are sometimes a concern because the school must choose a method that will network all the computers in the school. There are a few options: dial-up access, such as a dedicated line for all school computers, high-speed digital, etc.
The most important thing, now that you have decided to try educational multimedia and software in your school, is to weigh your decision against the school’s needs and top priorities.
Software Considerations
If your school has budgeted money for computers and educational multimedia and software in the classroom, you must now consider which type of software will best suit the specific needs of your school and current curriculum.
First, consider the importance of management systems and whether you will you need to purchase one.
Make sure to choose your software carefully before deciding what hardware to use. All educational multimedia and software or will have specific system requirements.
If you already have your hardware, you must narrow down your software choices to the kind of program you want, and will be able to use, that has to do with the technology of your curriculum.
Consider that some educational multimedia and software program will include the option for you to receive a certain number of free upgrades for your system.
On the other hand, other educational multimedia and software programs will give you discounts (some with significant savings) toward the next upgrade.
Additionally, some educational multimedia and software programs will not include any kind of upgrade price break for you once the next version is released (which happens often). So, be careful to check.
Finally, the absolutely most important question you should ask when choosing your educational multimedia and software program is what kind of training will be required to learn the educational multimedia and software system. Without training, you will never be able to optimize your educational multimedia and software program to its full potential, thus robbing the students and teachers involved of the maximum benefits that are possible through your new educational multimedia and software program. Be sure to inquire about how much training comes along with the educational multimedia and software program you choose. If necessary, the instructors may need to be educated themselves in regard to the workings of your new educational multimedia and software.
Emily Muntz is with HomeroomTeacher.com.
Product Roundup
Teknimedia
Teknimedia, a developer of educational software for computer skills training and certification, is offering free online access to its popular PCIC3-Getting Ready for IC3 courseware to help K-12 teachers prepare for Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3). K-12 schools are increasingly using the IC3 standard to train and certify their teachers and students in the area of computer technology. For schools seeking effective, cost-efficient ways to prepare their teachers for IC3, having free access to Teknimedia's high-quality training is ideal.
www.teknimedia.com
Captain’s Log from BrainTrain
Transform your special education students into eager, successful learners. Using the Captain’s Log complete mental gym, a comprehensive set of research-based cognitive exercises, your students’ minds will wake up and turn on to learning. The computerized “games” make it fun and interesting for them to improve their attention, working memory, reasoning skills, response control, small motor coordination, listening skills, and more. Their improved cognitive skills can help them relate better to the world around them, reinforcing self-esteem and often generalizing into life-changing positive behavior.
www.braintrain.com
Headsprout Early Reading
Headsprout Early Reading is an engaging, Internet-based K-2 reading program that effectively teaches the essential skills and strategies required for reliable reading success. Headsprout Early Reading teaches typical 4-to-7-year-olds the critical skills and strategies essential for reading success. In less than 30 total hours of engaging, online instruction, your students will be reading mid-2nd-grade texts for meaning and enjoyment, with a potential reading vocabulary of more than 5,000 words. As a result of its rigorous formative product development process, Headsprout offers schools an exclusive money-back guarantee for any student who finishes the program and is not reading at grade level.
www.headsprout.com
SoftChalk
SoftChalk creates software for teaching. SoftChalk LessonBuilder is a powerful Web lesson editor that allows educators to easily create engaging, interactive content that can be displayed on an electronic whiteboard, delivered in any learning management system, or on a school server or CD-ROM. With LessonBuilder, instructors create interactive lessons with pop-up text annotations, self-check comprehension questions, and activities such as labeling, flash cards, drag-and-drop matching, and image maps.
www.softchalk.com
StudyDog Learning
StudyDog Learning specializes in teaching critical reading skills for the primary grades, Pre-K thru 1st grade. The StudyDog Individualized Reading (Online) program, where each student receives his own reading program based on a pre-test, is specifically designed for diverse classrooms. Thousands of teachers have recognized the value of StudyDog, as did AOL, who selected StudyDog as the best reading program after evaluating all of the major educational companies. The Pre-K reading program is the first comprehensive curriculum designed from the ground up to meet all state standards.
www.studydog.com
ASC Direct
ASC Direct has been providing language labs to educational institutions at all levels for more than 15 years. They have an all-digital system that will fit your program and budget – with student computers or without; portable or fixed; WiFi, LAN or standalone. The ReLANpro is a fully functional multimedia software system, making it possible to distribute streaming video, audio, text and television. With the addition of cameras, it has ASL capabilities.
www.ascdirect-usa.com
QuizPoint from LearningWare
QuizPoint: Online Quizzes and Games in a Flash allows teachers to create online quizzes and games to test content retention, review material, and engage every learner—no matter where they are. Captivate and teach remote learners anywhere anytime. Easy-to-use software makes game creation a snap. Game interface is engaging and intuitive for users. Simple one-click publishing puts your games on the Web instantly. It features a robust LMS (Learning Management System) for quiz grading and full reporting and analysis.
www.learningware.com/quizpoint
Gallopade
Choose your state! Use your PC, Mac or Whiteboard to teach state facts with ease. Gallopade offers two state-focused software products that make learning state facts fun and easy. In four exciting, colorful quests, the kids learn about their state government, symbols, history, geography, civics, commerce and geology. As teachers requested, the program is self-quizzing with instant verification and entertaining rewards. Any screen can be printed and resource materials (the teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and reproducible activities) help your student excel.
www.gallopade.com
Finalsite
Since 1998, finalsite Web Software and Service for Schools has been bringing cutting-edge Web design and Web software to leading independent schools and organizations around the world. finalsite currently serves more than 250 independent schools and a total of nearly 900 schools and educational organizations of all types. It is Web software balanced by design. Finalsite is creatively functional.
www.finalsite.com
Academic Superstore
Students and their parents, faculty, staff, and schools can save big on software with educational discounts from major manufacturers at Academic Superstore. Choose from more than 20,000 name-brand software and hardware products from industry leaders like Adobe, Microsoft, Inspiration, Riverdeep, Epson and more at discounted educational prices – as much as 85 percent off the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Buy in volume for your classroom or school and save even more.
www.AcademicSuperstore.com
FableVision
FableVision creates great tools for a wonderful classroom. SmartMoves, Body Puzzles for the Mind, combines movement and music to change the way we learn and remember. By practicing SmartMoves before a lesson for a few minutes each day, students build new neural pathways and become focused and ready to learn. Teachers will delight in how the program will facilitate the transition from play or lunch to learning. Students will be delighted in discovering an experience that will improve performance and is also fun.
www.fablevision.com
Learning Today’s Smart Tutor Reading
Learning Today’s Smart Tutor Reading program provides students with individualized instruction based on their ability level. The program automatically pinpoints and resolves learning gaps, ensuring that each student receives a program targeted to improve academic abilities and outcomes. It has been used by schools since 2002 and has demonstrated academic gains in some of the most academically challenged students. It is the company’s mission to ensure that the program works for all children.
www.LearningToday.com
