Quality & Design of Educational Science Software - Contents

• Project Question & General Guidelines
• Who is the User?
• What kind of Educational Software?
  • Curriculum Design/Administration
  • Tutorial
  • Drill & Practice(DP)/Educational Game
    • Fear that computers will replace teachers (job security)
    • Fear that computers will start programming students independent of human wishes
    • Using the game element to improve effectiveness
  • Tools/Problem Solving
    • Students can focus less on the mechanics and drudgery of a task and more on the underlying concepts and knowledge.
    • These tools are supposed to make the students task easier, and therefore make the teachers job less taxing
  • Simulation & Off-Site Connectivity
  • Shells & Frameworks
• Appendix: Evaluation/Design Checklist
  • Hardware & Software
    • Memory
    • Operating System(OS)
    • Computer Language
    • Input/Output(I/O) Devices
    • Keyboard
    • Multiple Users
    • Technical Knowledge
  • Instructional Goals
    • Identify the Target Population
    • Identify the Instructional Objectives
    • List the Instructional Objectives of the Computer Assisted Instruction(CAI) Program
    • Make the Comparison
  • Instructional Design
    • Teaching Skills (Performance) & Knowledge (Information)
    • Scope
    • Sequence
    • Manageable Steps
    • Format
    • Appropriateness
    • Accuracy & Completeness
    • Interest & Student Motivation
    • Cultural Bias & Stereotypes
    • Adaptable to Differing Needs
    • Quality of Writing
    • Method of Delivery
  • Program Design
    • Instructions
    • Help Messages
    • Errors
    • Screen Formatting
    • Communicating with the Program
    • Interaction
    • Feedback
    • Branching
    • Remediation
    • Self-Pacing
    • Graphics/Sound/Color
    • Simulations
  • Management Benefits
    • Program Capabilities
    • Diagnostics
    • Instructional Management
    • Backup & Archiving
    • Documentation
    • Ease of Use
  • Documentation
    • Manuals and Contents
    • The Student Manual
    • Style and Organization for Both Manuals