As more computers are used in schools as instructional media, a large number of instructional softwares are being supplied by various agencies without any forms of verification on their instructional soundness. The purposes of this study were to devel...
As more computers are used in schools as instructional media, a large number of instructional softwares are being supplied by various agencies without any forms of verification on their instructional soundness. The purposes of this study were to develop criteria for instructional software evaluation and to evaluate existing instructional softwares using these criteria.
To achieve these purposes, this study first have examined critical activities comprising an instructional process and identified instructional principles according to the types of learning outcomes as well as to the types of softwares in order to derive theoretical basis for developing criteria for instructional software evaluation. Next this study have analyzed already developed criteria for software evaluation to find out their limitations and shortcomings in terms of their instructional soundness, and have developed instructionally-sound criteria for software evaluation. Finally this study have evaluated existing softwares to disclose the degrees into which instructional principles are incorporated in the production of these softwares.
The conclusion according to the results of this study are as follows:
1. Existing criteria for software evaluation do not thoroughly reflect instructional principles for effective learning. Accordingly, these criteria would evaluate softwares only on a superficial level.
2.The criteria for software evaluation developed in this study would provide meaningful and credible data for instructional decisions because they have been developed on the basis of effective instructional principles.
3.Existing softwares are not fairly sound in terms of instructional considerations because they have pooly incorporated instructional principles.
4.As for the types of learning outcomes intended by softwares, existing softwares to teach intellectual skills are higher in the degree of reflecting instructional principles than those to teach knowledge are. As for the types of subject matter, math is the highest and Korean language is the lowest in the degree reflecting instructional principles. As for the types of softwares, drill & practice type is the highest and game type is the lowest in the degree of reflecting instructional principles.