Instructional Software for Learning Spanish
Using instructional software in the Spanish classroom provides students the opportunity to practice their vocabulary, increase speaking confidence and find themselves "transported" to another country. There are five major types of instructional software and they each hold unique relative advantages:
- Drill and Practice Software
Drill exercises are a benefit in the classroom because they allow students to work at their own pace, provide immediate feedback to student work and save time for teachers because comments and grading are automatically generated. - Tutorial Software
Tutorials allow students to work at their own pace, receive feedback quickly on their work and potentially have access to advanced topics or subjects that may not normally be offered at their school. (For example, students may have the option to take a class on astronomy, an advanced math class or language.) - Simulation Software
This type of software provides students with a way to prepare for or review in-class lab exercises, as well as participate in experiments that wouldn't normally be available in the classroom setting. - Instructional Game Software
Using games to learn allows students to feel more comfortable taking risks, encourages students to work together in teams and often increases retention. - Problem-Solving Software
Having students solve problems increases interest and also encourages them to find answers on the own using provided and found resources.
Drill and Practice Software
Purpose: Drill and Practice Software provides students the opportunity to work independently towards the mastery of a subject or skillset. According to Roblyer and Doering (2013), there are three types of drill activities:
Potential Use: Drill and practice exercises may be used to help students review key vocabulary words.
Example and Application: StudyBlue, a free online review website allows students to create their own decks of flashcard or select from thousands of pre-made cards. Teachers may also create their own flashcards and share them with students in the class.
- Flash Cards- the most popular forms of drill exercises, gives students the opportunity to review a term or problem and choose the answer that applies.
- Chart Fill-in Activities- students are asked to completed sentences and charts at their own pace or set period of time.
- Branching Drills- in this type of drill, the activity works to find the student's current skill level and skips questions that are presently above or below their level.
Potential Use: Drill and practice exercises may be used to help students review key vocabulary words.
Example and Application: StudyBlue, a free online review website allows students to create their own decks of flashcard or select from thousands of pre-made cards. Teachers may also create their own flashcards and share them with students in the class.
Tutorial Software
Purpose: Tutorials are created to be a standalone or series of lessons that are similar in structure to those normally presented by a classroom teacher. Once finished with the lesson, students should walk away with an increased knowledge of the subject or topic and should not need to access any other materials.
Relative Advantage: Tutorials allow students to work at their own pace, receive feedback quickly on their work and potentially have access to advanced topics or subjects that may not normally be offered at their school. (For example, students may have the option to take a class on astronomy, an advanced math class or language.)
Potential Use: Students may use the tutorial software to review lessons previously taught in class and advanced students may choose to move ahead and start on new content when they feel comfortable.
Example and Application: iGrammar, this app for the iPhone or iPad gives students the opportunity to learn and review the rules of Spanish Grammar. After the completing each tutorial, they can complete an interactive exercise for review.
Relative Advantage: Tutorials allow students to work at their own pace, receive feedback quickly on their work and potentially have access to advanced topics or subjects that may not normally be offered at their school. (For example, students may have the option to take a class on astronomy, an advanced math class or language.)
Potential Use: Students may use the tutorial software to review lessons previously taught in class and advanced students may choose to move ahead and start on new content when they feel comfortable.
Example and Application: iGrammar, this app for the iPhone or iPad gives students the opportunity to learn and review the rules of Spanish Grammar. After the completing each tutorial, they can complete an interactive exercise for review.
Simulation Software
Purpose: Simulation software provides students with a virtual environment to learn about a topic or how to do something. They are interactive and great for group work.
Relative Advantage: This type of software provides students with a way to prepare for or review in-class lab exercises, as well as participate in experiments that wouldn't normally be available in the classroom setting.
Potential Use: Students could use simulation software to practice having conversations with native speakers or to have interactions like going to the grocery store or hospital in a foreign country.
Example and Application: 2Speak is a low-cost simulation software suite that allows students to have simulated conversations with native Spanish speakers. Students could use this software to reinforce vocabulary, learn about Spanish culture and increase their speaking confidence in a safe environment.
Relative Advantage: This type of software provides students with a way to prepare for or review in-class lab exercises, as well as participate in experiments that wouldn't normally be available in the classroom setting.
Potential Use: Students could use simulation software to practice having conversations with native speakers or to have interactions like going to the grocery store or hospital in a foreign country.
Example and Application: 2Speak is a low-cost simulation software suite that allows students to have simulated conversations with native Spanish speakers. Students could use this software to reinforce vocabulary, learn about Spanish culture and increase their speaking confidence in a safe environment.
Instructional Game Software
Purpose: Instructional games add elements like competition, score keeping and rules to the learning environment. They aim to make learning or reviewing a topic fun and entertaining.
Relative Advantage: Using games to learn allows students to feel more comfortable taking risks, encourages students to work together in teams and often increases retention.
Potential Use: Students could use instructional games to review vocabulary and practice conjugating verbs.
Example and Application: Quia Language Exercises offers a wide selection of games and allows teachers to customize the exercises based on vocabulary students are currently learning in class. Students may sign in to play the games and receive homework credit for their participation.
Relative Advantage: Using games to learn allows students to feel more comfortable taking risks, encourages students to work together in teams and often increases retention.
Potential Use: Students could use instructional games to review vocabulary and practice conjugating verbs.
Example and Application: Quia Language Exercises offers a wide selection of games and allows teachers to customize the exercises based on vocabulary students are currently learning in class. Students may sign in to play the games and receive homework credit for their participation.
Problem-Solving Software
Purpose: Problem-solving software gives students the opportunity to solve problems using critical thinking skills.
Relative Advantage: Having students solve problems increases interest and also encourages them to find answers on the own using provided and found resources.
Potential Use: Students could be provided scenarios like needing to give directions or translating a recipe and provide the required information in Spanish.
Example and Application: SEDL provides a number of scenarios for students to practice Spanish, including lyric translation, interviewing native speakers, creating a music awards program and more.
Relative Advantage: Having students solve problems increases interest and also encourages them to find answers on the own using provided and found resources.
Potential Use: Students could be provided scenarios like needing to give directions or translating a recipe and provide the required information in Spanish.
Example and Application: SEDL provides a number of scenarios for students to practice Spanish, including lyric translation, interviewing native speakers, creating a music awards program and more.
References
Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2013). Instructional software for 21st century teaching. Integrating educational technology into teaching
(6th ed., pp. 74-109). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Publishers.
(6th ed., pp. 74-109). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Publishers.
