It never ceases to amaze me how technology has changed our lives and how easily we have adapted to the great changes that it has brought with it. The question is, has these changes been good or bad? The answer to that will always be relative to the one being asked. Some would say the former and others would answer the latter. Just like anything that we see in the world today, technology has brought with it advantages and disadvantages. I would say, though, that in some areas that improved through technology, I can only see the good. One of these areas is education.
For many years than I can care to count and for many people, education is the main factor that would get you somewhere and make you someone. Sadly, though, one of the problems that educational institutions face today is the one concerning students and their interest in learning. Without the inclination to do so, a student would never be able to retain the information he or she is supposed to learn in school. In this aspect, technology finds it way to help through the educational software.
The educational software is a computer-involved program that is said to precipitate interest in learning and interaction among students. Both teacher and student can benefit from this. The teacher can use this as visuals to support and enhance his classroom discussions; the student can use this to test his understanding on certain aspects of a particular subject he finds difficult with through the interactive quizzes that many education software programs provide.
Interesting visuals through videos, graphics and animation, as well as clear audio, can go a long way towards catching and keeping a students attention. This is probably why a lot of schools now make use of the educational software. Today, almost every academic subject there is has a software program that is dedicated to it, and it can certainly be effective in making even the most boring subject seem interesting. This, of course, is provided that the particular computer program that one chooses for ones discussions is capable of being interesting enough to precipitate learning from ones students.
No kind of technology can ever amount to an actual human being. After all, technology did come from us. Similarly, no kind of educational software can ever substitute a live teacher.
What you can do with the educational software.
Review.
At one point or another, you might find yourself forgetting particular details of a topic you ought to know. Your first inclination would be to review, and the educational software is one way of re-acquainting yourself with topics that you have forgotten.
Measure improvement.
This software can have level by level quiz or tests that you can take in order for you to see where you are at, comprehension-wise. When you figure out just how much you know and just how much you still do not, you would be better able to know which areas of study to focus on more and which to focus on less.
Advance study.
When I know that I am dealing with a subject that I find particularly difficult, I always make it a point to study in advance the topics that my teacher would be discussing on future meetings. The software program on academic subjects can help you study in advance while being able to simplify concepts for you.
The educational software can do a lot of things, but for teachers, the possibility that it can increase student attention and retention on topics is enough to make it a worthwhile purchase.
Matthew Stanton writes an article about Educational Software which will provide you with good thoughts and ideas how it can help you increase your knowledge about any subject matter in school. Simply visit this website at http://www.alleducationalsoftware.com
Free educational software is everywhere - you just have to look harder to find those that are good quality.
Free educational software on the Internet. If you have kids who are becoming more and more computer literate, its time you helped them download free educational software that they can use without your supervision. Devote an afternoon to downloading, because choosing from among the many freeware can get quite time-consuming. Also, involve your kids in choosing as much as possible. They will only use the educational software if they find it interesting.
Free educational software on the Internet comes in many forms, and the most common ones are games. Be careful to download only those that are nonviolent and constructive. You can also download free educational activities like counting and spelling freeware. Your kids will surely love them and have fun while learning.
Remember that some free educational software is not really free -just free trial versions that are designed to work for a limited time only. This is still a good deal, as you can try out the software and decide if you really like it before spending money.
Free educational software from hardware. The manufacturer of educational computer-based toys you buy will usually throw in free educational software that upgrades ones built-in to the toy. This is a great deal! The toy grows as your child's mental development grows. Free educational software of this kind is usually age-based - there are special editions for younger kids and more comprehensive versions for older ones.
Remember that as with any purchase, you need to use good judgment before installing free educational software. Be sure to read all the instructions, agreements and other important information before using the software.
Educational Software provides detailed information on Educational Software, Childrens Educational Software, Free Educational Software, Educational Software Companies and more. Educational Software is affiliated with Discount Embroidery Software.
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Educational software companies were among the first software developers in the early days of desktop computing. They recognized the potential of using computers for learning purposes, and were quick to develop products that helped make this happen. But because of market changes and fast-changing technology, these educational software companies have to face unique challenges now more than ever.
Problems facing educational software companies
The costs of education are running high, and this its toll on educational software companies. Schools are now hesitant to install additional infrastructures such as networks that are needed to run school-wide educational software.
The peripheral expenses involved in implementing educational software are getting higher, and schools usually can't afford to squeeze them into their already tight budgets. And even when administrators do request for budget realignment or additional funding from the state boards, their requests are denied more often than not. This is because state boards usually have budgets strictly set well ahead of time, and is almost never any room for deviation.
External financing is the obvious solution, but it may take years for schools to find this kind of money, if at all. Meanwhile, educational software companies suffer the losses and scramble to find viable financial means to subsist while schools that have already signed up to buy their educational software systems find ways to raise the funds to pay them.
The future of educational software companies
Companies that develop educational software are on shaky ground. They are very easily disturbed by downturns not only in the software and web industries, but in the educational system as well. The overall sales of both school-wide educational software systems and individual CD ROM-based systems has significantly decreased because of major changes in all these three stimulant industries around the year 2000. This is why many software companies have either closed or downsized.
Educational Software provides detailed information on Educational Software, Childrens Educational Software, Free Educational Software, Educational Software Companies and more. Educational Software is affiliated with Discount Embroidery Software.
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Children's educational software is widely available in schools, and to parents who want to make their home a healthy, learning environment for their kids. Even public libraries and museums, nongovernmental organizations and children's hospitals have this software available.
Benefits of children's educational software
By integrating technology into the learning environment, children's educational software can make learning highly personalized. The child can manipulate the software to fully understand the concepts being taught. They do not feel judged, even if they are slow-learners. The software can repeat information an infinite number of times without a problem.
Children's educational software also extends curriculum choice and helps develop multiple intelligences. For a very small investment, schools and parents can exponentially extend their current information libraries for kids. There is no need to build additional infrastructure or spend money on additional books. Everything is in one software package.
Children's educational software can o help build learning 'communities' that are connected either physically or virtually. Such software is typically linkable to other computers (and therefore other users). Some functionalities allow students to interact, form teams, or simple help each other out.
Buying children's educational software
You can acquire children's educational software either off-the-rack from software specialty stores, or through special authorized educational resellers. For use in schools and other learning institutions, the manufacturer or developer of the software usually gives licensing discounts and extra after-sales support. You can buy campus and school agreements, either open or select licences, and student and teacher licences, among many others. More often than not, manufacturers and developers of children's educational software give low-cost, comprehensive licensing agreements for the unique needs of primary and secondary educational organizations on an annual basis. They also offer volume-licensing arrangements exclusively to educational institutions, so that these schools can take advantage of significantly lower volume-based pricing.
Educational Software provides detailed information on Educational Software, Childrens Educational Software, Free Educational Software, Educational Software Companies and more. Educational Software is affiliated with Discount Embroidery Software.
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Science Academy Software has developed a new business model or paradigm for Education. It is a web-based "pay to play" educational game site named ScienceAcademy.TV for high-bandwidth clients. This article discusses the issues and rationale behind Science Academy Software's educational game portal ScienceAcademy.TV -- home to a new online educational game called "BasketMath V3.
Why "Pay-to-Play" educational games online?
Users get to have a learning experience in the form of a game.
It's appropriate for audiences for instruction, testing, drill and practice.
Web channel distribution allows learning to occur any time any place.
The entertainment value of the software contributes to pleasing user experience.
It's low cost alternative to traditional classroom instruction and educational software distribution.
Everyone benefits from subscribing (learning).
Traditional Educational Software Delivery Issues
A school teacher buying educational software, in the traditional sense, buys copies, lab packs or site licenses. They face a barrage of complex issues related to acquisition and use. Issues like:
1. Is the software appropriate? This requires evaluation in the form of asking: What is the instructional component? Does the software provide testing and assessment capabilities, is there a measurement of achievement? Are results immediate (we all know kids can't wait)? From a teacher's perspective, this means having students practice those areas of weakness to achieve mastery.
2. Can I use it in my class? Issues: will it serve my students? Is it safe? Are there school adoption procedures or bureaucratic red-tape to the software acquisition? What political issues will I have to deal with, if any?
3. Utilization - how much of this software really gets used by students? Will the software get reused after "newness" wears off? Students generally "burnout" or frequently use the game in the first 24 hours; interest thereafter declines.
4. Need for portability, Can I use it on all my PCs? Web enabled machines make learning possible anytime - at school, in after-school programs, or at home (learning occurs anytime any where).
5 Can instructional material be shared with diverse age groups or learning disabilities (people learn differently)?
6. Can instructional material provide support individualized attention (people learn at different rates)? It is great when you have a teacher, parent or tutor, but what if you don't? Educational software is the next best alternative.
7. Value is based on educational and entertainment elements to the software. Entertainment value is very important to the delivery of educational software: Ideally, the content should engage the user -- a characteristic of most video games. Most children today have a video game orientation.
8. The role of obsolescence: Books and printed materials wear, tear, and go out of date. Software on disk or CDROM also go out of date or may not run on newer machines. Upgrades also contribute to the logistical nightmare to school computers management and support. Not so with a Web application or services that can provide updates in a timely manner or "on-the-fly".
9. Warehousing-the need to track and inventory software, license requirements, serial numbers, the need to enforce copy protection measures and security.
10. Cost? Does fit in my budget? Web-based educational games offer relatively small entry, they are more cost effective when compared to the cost traditional educational software's direct and indirect costs associated with purchase, storage and inventory.
11. Freedom! - Can the software be used by students so as to free me to do other things (e.g. help other students, fill reports, administrative tasks)?
It is not Cheap
Developing web-based educational solutions costs time, money, and purpose. The money, earned from subscriptions, pays for the talent of artists, programmers, teachers, technical and support staff, and the costs associated with housing, hosting, marketing, distribution, security and other web services.
The people involved in delivering web-based educational games make their livelihood by communicating their craft in the only way they know how. They are driven by their desire to produce a product or service and, in a sense, they define themselves by the process and what they produce.
As with video games, kids usually "burnout" or play games most during the first 24 hours. This is why Science Academy Software has adopted one day subscriptions. The amount of "PlayTime" left is displayed in the login page. This places the impetus on the user, the player or student, to use the software while "the getting is good".
In this "entropy economy" old business models are evolving. An e-commerce implementation use allows subscribers instant access. Payment processing is immediate so users can immediately play the educational game.
Subscribers of pay-to-play Web-based educational games are able to appreciate the educational and entertainment value. They already have DSL, cable, or on a network and may know someone, their children or themselves, who could benefit from playing.
Developers of these educational games are simply using tools that are available for web-based delivery (e.g. Flash, Java, Video, etc.). It also helps if you can have someone handle your e-commerce (e.g. PayPal). Adoption of these technologies make interactive entertainment and education an emerging web-growth industry segment.
Perhaps your audience would be interested in knowing about this new paradigm?
Robert Cummings, President
Science Academy Software
http://www.scienceacademy.com
making your Learning Experience FUN!!!
Studies have shown that educational software is very effective enhancing the quality of teaching and helping students comprehends on a higher level. The software is widely available covering subjects like math, science, language and art.
What is educational software?
Educational software generally refers to software that can be used by both students and teachers to augment traditional teaching and learning tools. Nowadays, educational software is indispensable in learning environments, as it allows both educators and pupils to make best use of the educational functions of the computer.
What are the kinds of educational software?
Educational software can be categorized into content-free educational software, and content-rich educational software. Both are very effective teaching and learning tools when used correctly.
Content-free software refers to 'open-ended' software products that allow for user creativity. Examples of such software are graphics and word processing programs. Many educational specialists consider it as being 'more flexible,' because it allows teachers and students to generate their own content.
This kind of educational software is ideal for more advanced classes, such as creative writing. Teachers have to select educational word processing programs that contain limited menu options (no 'spell check,' for example), while supporting a variety of graphic, font and sound file formats. There is educational word processing software that allows auditory feedback, usually used in schools for challenged students.
Other types of content-free software include imaging software and photo sharing software.
Content-rich software, on the other hands, refers to commercially-produced educational software that contains multimedia content such as animation, graphics, sound and video. The information contained in this educational software is usually presented in a very structured manner. Other popular forms of content-rich educational software include science-simulation programs and multimedia encyclopedias.
Educational Software provides detailed information on Educational Software, Childrens Educational Software, Free Educational Software, Educational Software Companies and more. Educational Software is affiliated with Discount Embroidery Software.
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Have you heard of some piano teacher software that you can download and access online? Do you want to try such software on the web on your own that are highly recommended by piano teachers to all music teachers out there? If so, you better read on and learn how piano teacher software can change your teaching strategies and experiences in a classroom setting.
Music teaching resources have been available either via online or the traditional way of achieving professional growth such as through series of training, seminars and workshops. Online teaching resources have been useful tools in teaching music and other musical instruments effectively to learners of different ages and cultures for quite a few years now.
Piano teacher software may come in a wide variety of forms, structures and features. Reliable and useful software on piano lessons, piano teaching activities, and other related exercises in music education should be used and applied according to a specific topic or class.
Learning how to play the piano effectively and efficiently requires various learning sessions, multiple lessons on piano from reading music to playing a musical piece by ear. To adhere to these needs, music educators and music professionals think of a better way to do them. With this, piano teacher software offers a huge number of lessons coming from experienced musicians, professional music enthusiasts, and many more.
Why do you think piano teachers need such updated software from music teachers' website? Well, the answer lies in the desire and passion of music teachers to improve their teaching strategies and to make their students highly motivated in learning their lessons.
The following are the reasons and benefits that piano teacher software can provide:
Through this innovative software for piano teachers, students can learn to play the musical instrument at home - in their comfort zones. They will surely appreciate that they do not need to pay for high-priced and intimidating private lessons and tutorials.
Lesson and lecture guides are installed and integrated into the software so as to enhance the skills and knowledge of the recipients. This interactive software includes instructional guides on terminologies related to music, scales, chords, fingering and a lot more.
Basic playing techniques and other necessary information on learning how to read music and play an instrument.
Leading programs and software for music teachers can be seen and downloadable in a variety of music teachers' websites and resources. Specific piano teaching software can work and interact with an electronic keyboard or you can just put your computer unit near your piano as you practice.
Learning to play the piano requires time, effort, patience and discipline. However, there have been a lot of available resources, programs and software to help an interested learner to learn how to explore this musical instrument effectively and efficiently.
So, make your piano teaching technique a certified hit to your dear students and a very rewarding one. Find and download particular piano teacher software today and see how it can change your teaching and your students' learning experiences.
Music Teacher's Helper can provide you piano teacher software and music teaching tips to help you manage your private music studio. - Earl Marsden
Earl Marsden started developing a passion for music at the early age of twelve. He first learned to play the guitar at thirteen, and from there he pursued the study other instruments including the violin, piano and flute. Currently, he devotes some of his spare time to writing articles about music teaching while managing his own music studio.
Technological advances of the recent times have profound effects on music education. It has practically changed the landscape of teaching, including music teaching. Computers are now staples of classrooms and homes. They can easily be installed in studios. This gave an opening to teachers to make use of computer software applicable to music lessons.
These computer programs manage to make the teaching instruction easier for the teachers. At the same time, they also make learning easier for students. More importantly, they succeed in introducing to students a more interesting way to learn about music.
These music teachers software ranges from those focusing on the theoretical side to those catering to the applications of music. These give the option to the teacher and learner on what is applicable to them. More so, all of them may be utilized in class with each type of software becoming appropriate as the course progresses.
Many music teachers software commonly feature units in levels, from simple to complex. This makes them workable for both the younger students and the older ones. Furthermore, if a student has his or her own copy of the software, he can use it from the starting grades until the next higher levels.
Software on musical theories eases the jobs of music teachers to teach a topic that most students, especially younger ones, may find boring. They serve somewhat as virtual onscreen textbooks. And so students can readily utilize them to review or even study in advance.
Computer software on this subject may also offer quizzes wherein students can readily check if they got the correct answers. Or they may have interactive activities where students can be trained basic music like reading music or notes, listening, notation, keyboard, scales, rhythm, melody, key signature, time signature and harmony.
Still others actually teach students to play instruments, albeit, at first, they are trained thru digital musical instruments. But this will prepare them to handle the actual instruments at the appropriate time. Also, they can practice thru these software if and when their instruments are unavailable.
More advanced features include programs for musical compositions. Older students who have learned aptly from previous lessons can now apply what they learned. Since these are digital programs, playback is faster, making composing easier for beginners. They can also experiment and collaborate with their music teachers using this gadget.
To further ease the workload of the music teacher, these software even include progress reports. These record the scores of the students in all quizzes. Other activities such as assignments, even from the past, can also be listed and even printed. A cumulative score can then be obtained to produce a complete assessment of the students at the end of the term.
Essentially, the software provide a complete package for music teachers. Technology has indeed been a great help for music teachers and music students alike. Just as long as they are used without disregard to the personal interaction and relationship between the teachers and students, a better music education can be achieved!
Our website offers a reliable and efficient Music Teachers Software to suit your music teaching needs. Log on and we will gladly help you.
Elaine is a former choir conductor who is also fond of performing various instruments like violin, piano and guitar. With her great passion in music, she ventured into establishing her own music studio, where she devoted much of her time and skills in teaching young children. On her spare time, she dwells into writing her experiences and some tips for music teachers.
The decision to go to a guitar music school or university, instead of learning with guitar software, is the most common way to learn the guitar for serious aspiring students seeking a high quality guitar education. The desire to gain a strong guitar and musical knowledge is a serious educational pursuit and there are many levels of music theory curriculum, fretboard logistics, musical application and much more that non professional musicians do not realize until they have experienced many years of frustration trying to learn the guitar.
Therefore, going to a guitar school or university of some type to obtain a music degree with an emphasis on the guitar obviously makes sense, because a music school does not have the time, money, resources, or ability to attract high paying students with a program that is of the same low quality as the fifty dollar online guitar lesson downloads available on the internet.
Learning guitar in school isn't just simply about memorizing some chords or scales but requires a significant base of knowledge, study and practice. Without going to a music school the guitar player is faced with a plethora of online and other various computer programs and books with teaching programs that are consistently fragmented and "hyped" teaching methods that give you some information to get you on some learning path but never come close to fulfilling the term education. The term guitar education represents a serious study with university level and real world methodologies that provide the content of a music school. Education should also give you cutting edge methodology, teaching and practicing systems.
Guitar software offers you a chance to obtain an intensive, guitar education and musical application using methods that will turn you into the kind of knowledgeable and skilled guitar player that you have been hoping to acquire over the years without satisfactory success.
It is truly exciting and historical that with good guitar software you can bring the guitar university into your home in a complete instructional and practice center without leaving the house. Previously students of the guitar have not had the technology to be able to have total control of their learning and practice environment, even when going to a school computer lab.
Guitar students need structure, which is why they go to music school. Programs are structured to provide logical study paths and attainable goals. They need integrated courses that work together to give a big picture of what they are learning. This is why the music school provides a broad series of courses. And just as important the student needs interactive, musical practice to apply what they are learning. Often times a music school will have courses or labs for doing this. Therefore, a good guitar software program needs to provide all of these things for a student to have the real option of learning at home versus going to a school.
Few people have the opportunity to get the right teaching and tools to learn and master their guitar. For the guitar player who is serious about learning and is looking for something that will deliver more than just a lot of marketing and fragmented teaching, than it is possible to obtain a software program of a high caliber that will teach the guitar better, more thoroughly, and with more knowledge, than he or she ever dreamed about.
The level of guitar education a music university has to offer is important for your progress and it is nice to have this kind of education from home with software.
To Learn More About Guitar Software check out http://www.springofknowledge.com