Week #6: A Look At Software

According to Picciano (2011), the nature of software has not changed over the past several decades, its acquisition, people interface formats, and implementation have changed radically.  Throughout history all computer installations required a well-trained software staff to develop application programs using different levels of language. Software is a collection of instructions that enables a user to interact with the computer or have the computer perform specific tasks for them. Without any software the computer would be useless. For example, you wouldn't be able to interact with the computer without a software operating system.

 An operating system or OS is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer and software programs would be useless. Once major software applications such as database management system or a course management system are established in a school district, users such as administrators and teacher become dependent on the programming staff for support, documentation, maintenance, and modification of the software. A major application such as a student record-keeping system or a financial management system can have a useful life cycle.  As a result, users and programmers must have good working relationship and procedures for regularly maintaining and upgrading these systems (Picciano,2011).

Hall (2008), a good relationship with a colleague, boss or employee to have a good working relationship if people have a good working relationship, they are on good terms, and can work effectively together.

Therefore discerning a Christian view of technology leads to (Genesis 1:28), that God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God created the universe and established laws and norms for the world. These laws and norms have also been discovered for different aspects of computation. To a Christian scholar, the laws of computing are recognized as being part of God’s creation and ought to be explored. Through the creation story we are also introduced to the cultural mandate (Wolters, 1985).

At the time of creation, God gave us a job to be stewards of His world. God created the world with laws and resources that could be explored and put to good use to help fulfill this cultural mandate. Unfortunately, this mandate has sometimes been misused to justify exploiting and plundering the world and its resources. We are called to be faithful stewards of the world and care for it and all its creatures. It is the job of a Christian to investigate responsible ways to unfold the latent potential of technology in creation (Wolters, 1985).

Reference

Hall, Don (2008). The technology director’s guide to leadership: The power of great questions. International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): Washington, DC.

Picciano, Anthony G. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology (5^thed). Pearson Education, Inc.: Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Wolters, A. Creation Regained. Eerdmans, 1985.

Week #5 -EDU 638 - The Internet and Education

The Internet and Education

According to Picciano (2011), that the Web is still evolving and can require substantial resources, particularly in the time it takes to script, develop, and edit quality instructional multimedia.  Nonetheless, the potential of multimedia for web-based learning activities cannot be ignored and needs to be considered.  However, the author stated that in developing multimedia for web-based learning applications, teachers, and technical assistants should start by considering student access to the Internet.  The effective transmission of sound animation and full-motion video on the Internet depends on computer hardware and communications capabilities’.

The goal of the application is to provide learning  opportunities to students in their homes, then teachers should carefully consider the extent to which multimedia can be effectively used, because not all students have access to the Internet in their homes and some of those who do are using a slow speed modem connections. As connection speeds increase and the ubiquity of the Internet pervades, digital content reigns. And in this era, free education has never been so accessible (Picciano, 2011, p.148).

The author states that therefore in developing Internet applications for education, administrators should consider how to integrate the Internet with other data communications facilities in a school district.  Although, many school districts rely on the Internet exclusively for their data communications systems, it does not necessarily have to replace existing facilities such as LANS and WANs but can be used to enhance them.  Given the issues of student’s access to technology, technical support requirements, and difficulties involved in producing or obtaining high quality multimedia materials, teachers should consider providing substantive Web based animalization, audio, or video material only if it in fact adds to the instructional value of an activity (Picciano, 2011).

In order to become effective, with the Internet, many teachers should form a team with the IT support team, according to (Hall, 2011), called norming.  They should set the guidelines of what the students should and should not do. Also, teachers should have the best ways for the team to share their knowledge through tutorial videos and multimedia applications.

Reference

Hall, Don (2008). The technology director’s guide to leadership: The power of great questions.

     International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): Washington, DC.

Picciano, Anthony G. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology (5^th

     ed). Pearson Education, Inc.: Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Weel #4-Teaching and Learning

According to (Picciano, 2011, p. 102), that learning tool are software programs that have been designed to provide instruction on a specific, topic or subject area.  Generally, the computer presents some information or subject matter, the student responds, the computer evaluates the response and presents additional or new information, and the cycle repeats itself.  Therefore, the more the version you use the more sophisticated these programs can also maintain student assessments and can report the same to a teacher.  Among the most popular of these types of programs are drill and practice, tutorial, simulations, and instructional gaming.

However, integrated learning systems, (ILSs) are integrated systems of hardware, software, curriculum, and management components that are generally marketed by a single supplier. Also referred to as integrated instructional systems. Curriculum integration is a sample concept but is proving difficult to realize with instructional technology applications.  Picciano (2011), that integrating computer tools into the classroom is conceptually similar to integrating other tools such as chalkboards, overhead projectors, or paints and crayon.  Teachers’ and student have few problems, however, using these others, more familiar, tools in teaching and learning. Furthermore, these tools have limited application, so mastering them is an easy task. The curriculum can range from kindergarten through 12^th grade subjects, although many of the most popular ILSs are used for basic skills instruction in various subjects (Picciano, 2011).

Also, (Hall, 2008, p. 73), that technology should be used in the classroom as a tool to support instruction, and curriculum integration. In educational theory one of the three legs of the stool is curriculum instruction which is actually taught in classroom assessment that is tested. Curriculum is the formal guideline or standards for what should be taught. However, curriculum selection provides a high degree of control over what changes in instructional practice that can and cannot occur.  Teachers are generally held accountable for teaching prescribed curriculum and using its adopted materials.

Reference

Hall, Don (2008). The technology director’s guide to leadership: The power of great questions.
  
     International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): Washington, DC.

Picciano, Anthony G. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology (5^th ed). 

    Pearson Education, Inc.: Upper Saddle River, NJ.