Software Support Tools

8/14/2019 Software Support Tools

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Preparedby:Jupiter_site@PBEY4103

Based on the quotation above,integrating ICT in ESL classroom is oneof the efforts to boost the learning.ICT has been widely used especiallywith the help of various purposefulsoftware support tools. In educationfield, software support tools are list ofprogrammes that promoted instanceswhich could help us in teaching andlearning process. Depending on thecapabilities of the tool and the needsof the situation, these programs canoffer several benefits. (1)

Firstly, it is said to improve

productivity. Tasks can be completedquickly and the free time can berechanneled towards working withstudents. Secondly, it improvesappearance of work where teachersand students can have materials thatresemble professional designers. Infact, students will appreciate toreceive attractive-looking materialsand find it rewarding and challengingto produce great-looking products of

their own. Thirdly, software supporttools also help in improving accuracy.(2)

It helps teachers to keep precise,accurate records of events and studentsprogression. Fourthly, this tool actuallysupports interaction. Students can interactamong them while using certain software.These qualities can encourage many creative,

cooperative group-learning activities. Actually,there are many software support tools thatare available nowadays. However, they stilldiffer in purposes, benefits they offer andtheir utility for teachers. Some examples ofsoftware support tools are material generatorsand planning and organising tools. (3)

Material Generators is nice to have to helpteachers and students produce instructional

materials. Some of the examples are Desktoppublishing software, Test generators and Test itembanks, Worksheet and Puzzle generators, IEPgenerators, Graphic document makers and PDF andforms makers. Here, we will explain more onmaterial generators based on an example which isthe Puzzle generator. This puzzle generator isfound and can only be utilized in the internet. Thesoftware cannot be downloaded. This software is sosimple and easy to be used in the classroom. Theteachers do not have to explore in deep about the

skills of utilizing this software since it is so easyand it consumes less time to be able to produce thepuzzle. In addition, the activity is so popular; theteachers do not have to waste so much time inexplaining the instruction of this activity. (4)

...The evidence is accumulating that computers are having a decided impact on the way

our schools and society organize, communicate, and make decisions. (Nathan,1985).

Software Support Tools

Materials Generators


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These are some of the websites that provides software of the materials generators:-

Substitute Teaching Daily Plan Generator - Taking a day off? Here is a quick helper for creating asub plan for your big day off. :- http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/substitute/daily_plan/

Progress Report Generator - This can be used to create a progress report that can be sent home toparents. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/progress/

Lesson Plan Generator - Create a professional lesson plan in minutes. Our template usesthe current nationally accepted model. http://www.teach-nology.com/lessons/lsn_pln_create_lessons.php

Teacher's Weekly Schedule Generator - This generator can be used to make a schedule for yourday-to-day routine. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/week_teach/

Personal Education Plan Generator - The PEP Generator creates a form that is a crossbetween a behavior contract and an IEP. It allows teachers to monitor students who requiremodifications or curricular adaptations. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/goals/

These are some of the material generators software that can be found in thiswebsite;

http://www.fileguru.com/apps/composite_materials

Abilities Builder Spell Plus 6.6

Abilities Builder Fill-In Tests 6.6

Abilities Builder Matching Tests 6.6

Abilities Builder Language Plus 8.6

Pl anning and Organizing Tools
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/substitute/daily_plan/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/substitute/daily_plan/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/progress/http://www.teach-nology.com/lessons/lsn_pln_create_lessons.phphttp://www.teach-nology.com/lessons/lsn_pln_create_lessons.phphttp://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/week_teach/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/goals/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/goals/http://www.fileguru.com/apps/composite_materialshttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Spell-Plus/infohttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Fill-In-Tests/infohttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Matching-Tests/infohttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Language-Plus/infohttp://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/substitute/daily_plan/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/substitute/daily_plan/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/progress/http://www.teach-nology.com/lessons/lsn_pln_create_lessons.phphttp://www.teach-nology.com/lessons/lsn_pln_create_lessons.phphttp://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/week_teach/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/goals/http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/goals/http://www.fileguru.com/apps/composite_materialshttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Spell-Plus/infohttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Fill-In-Tests/infohttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Matching-Tests/infohttp://www.fileguru.com/Abilities-Builder-Language-Plus/info


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Planning and organizing tools includeoutlining and concept mapping software,lesson planning software, and scheduling ortime management tools. One example ofthis tool is called Kidspiration. It iscreated for younger or primary schoollearners. Kidspiration develops thinking,literacy and numeracy skills using provenvisual learning principles. In reading andwriting, Kidspiration strengthens wordrecognition, vocabulary, comprehension andwritten expression. (1)

Kidspiration helps students todevelop strong thinking skills,strengthen reading and writing skillsand build conceptual understanding inmath.Some of the features in theKidspiration software are Picture View,Writing View and Math View. InWriting View , students expand theirideas into written expression .Kidspiration's Picture View is used tobuild graphic organizers includingconcept maps, webs, bubble diagramsand Venn diagrams. In addition,according to Jean Piaget in his 4stages of children development,children at the age of 7 to 12 yearsold are concrete learners. (2)

Kidspiration

They need to experience andsee while they are learning.Therefore, teaching aids used must becolourful and attractive enough tothem. Thus, Kidspiration softwareoffers all those to the children formeaningful learning. Research showsthat visual learning is one of the bestmethods for teaching thinking skills.Visual learning techniques which isgraphical ways of working with ideasand presenting information can teachstudents to clarify their thinking andto process, organize and prioritize newinformation. Visual thinking andlearning utilize graphical ways ofworking with ideas and presentinginformation. (3)


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Research in both educational theory and cognitive psychology tells us that visual learning isamong the very best methods for teaching students of all ages how to think and how to learn.This software tool, Kidspiration, is based on proven visual learning methodologies that helpstudents think, learn and achieve. With the powerful combination of visual learning andtechnology, primary students learn to clarify thoughts, organize and analyze information,integrate new knowledge, and think critically. Yet, have to remember that this software has itsown limitation. We cant simply drag ideas around the map or print directly from the software.(4)

Example: Picture view can be transformed into


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http://www.mindmapper.com/ http://www.imindmap.com/

Based on the explanation above, it is proven that actually software supporttools help those especially teachers to lighten the task of preparing teaching andlearning materials. It is not just to make the task easier though, but the mostimportant thing is in helping the learning become more effective. As what alwayssaid, learning language is always boring. So, let us bring new life in ESL classroomso that our new generation will enjoy learning language.

These are some of the examples of websites that have planning and
http://www.mindmapper.com/http://www.imindmap.com/http://www.mindmapper.com/http://www.imindmap.com/


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Documents

Software Support Tools