514-2 Operating Systems



Gareth Seigel

3/17/09

SED 514 Assignment 5

INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

1) Software Vocabulary – Define the following terms/acronyms:

Installer: An installation program or installer is a computer program that installs files, such as applications, drivers, or other software, onto a computer. Some installers are specifically made to install the files they contain; other installers are general-purpose and work by reading the contents of the software package to be installed.

Site License: the term "site license" is now commonly used to describe licensing of software to a particular entity which is unrestricted by number, regardless of the physical locations where the software may be used.

Java Applet: an applet delivered to the users in the form of Java bytecode. Java applets can run in a Web browser using a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), or in Sun's AppletViewer, a stand-alone tool for testing applets Applets are used to provide interactive features to web applications that cannot be provided by HTML

Shockwave Flash (.swf): is a file format which refers to a partially open repository for multimedia and especially for vector graphics, originated with FutureWave Software and has come under the control of Adobe. Intended to be small enough for publication on the web, SWF files can contain animations or applets of varying degrees of interactivity and function.

First person shooter: is a video game genre, featuring a first person perspective, with which the player views the action as if through the eyes of the protagonist and in which the primary element is combat based around shooting. The genre can also fall under the wider definition of shooter game, which in turn falls under action game. First person shooters employ both science fiction and real world settings and may feature realistic design or more stylised gameplay

God Game: is a construction and management simulation that casts the player in the position of controlling the game on a large scale, as an entity with divine/supernatural powers, as a great leader or with no specified character (as in The Sims and Spore), and places them in charge of a game setting containing autonomous characters to guard and influence.

(3) Initial Software Review: Take a look at three different interactive programs/websites and write an initial review.

• What is the topic of the software?

• How do you interact with the software?

• What sort of feedback do you get from the software?

| |Title |Review |Screen Shot |

|1 |Scratch |Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy | |

| |() |to create your own interactive stories, animations, | |

| | |games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the | |

| | |web. | |

| | |Scratch is designed to help young people (ages 8 and up) |[pic] |

| | |develop 21st century learning skills. As they create and | |

| | |share Scratch projects, young people learn important | |

| | |mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning| |

| | |to think creatively, reason systematically, and work | |

| | |collaboratively. | |

|2 |Explore Learning |Offers a catalog of modular, interactive simulations in | |

| | and science for teachers and students in grades | |

| |.com/index.cfm?) |3-12. Simulations are called “Gizmos.” | |

| | |Gizmos are fun, easy to use, and flexible enough to |[pic] |

| | |support many different teaching styles and contexts. | |

| | |Our Gizmos are designed as supplemental curriculum | |

| | |materials that support state and national curriculum | |

| | |standards; in addition, Gizmos help teachers bring | |

| | |research-proven instructional strategies to their | |

| | |classrooms. | |

|3 |WISE (Web-Based Inquiry |The Web-based Scientific Environment (WISE) is a free | |

| |Science Environment |online science learning environment supported by the | |

| |( Science Foundation. In WISE modules, students | |

| |) |work on projects related to topics such as global climate| |

| | |change, population genetics, hybrid cars, and recycling. | |

| | |Students learn about and respond to contemporary |[pic] |

| | |scientific controversies through designing, debating and | |

| | |critiquing solutions – all on the WISE system. | |

| | | | |

| | |Students do most activities on the computer, using a web | |

| | |browser. Special WISE software guides students through | |

| | |evidence and information pages that provide content, | |

| | |“notes”, “hints”, and discussion tools that encourage | |

| | |students to reflect and collaborate, and other tools for | |

| | |data visualization, causal modeling and simulations, and | |

| | |assessment. | |

(3) Formal Software Review Select one software product for formal review and presentation to the class. Write your review following the format below. You can collaborate with one other person (each person should have a copy on their assignment).

514 INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE REVIEW

Title: Graphing in the coordinate plane

By: Gareth Seigel

(1) description of SOFTWARE (what do students do with it, what can they learn)

Explorelearning provides simulations (called “Gizmos”) on math and science topics covering grades 3-12 curriculum. Gizmos are designed to be supplemental curriculum so that students can use simulations to support their learning of classroom and textbook based academic content.

(2) Basic Information

(a) Publisher or Website name •

(b) Type of software:

_ __shareware __X_freeware ___ commercial

___ free website ___ pay website

(c) Cost $ N/A (if available - either individual copy or site license)

(3) APPROPRIATE Population (Paragraph form)

What grade levels is this program appropriate for? What (if any) special populations does it support?

Explorelearning is suited for students in grades 3-12. Because it is flexible and intended to supplement national and state-based curriculum, it can be used by teachers to serve all student populations, except perhaps some special education students, as determined by IEP.

(4) MAKING CONTENT ACCESSIBLE

(a) What is the advantage of the interactive software over a regular classroom lesson? (e.g. provide an interesting context,

As a supplement, Explorelearning is not intended to take the place of an actual classroom lesson, so it does not necessarily have an advantage over it. But as a supplement, it helps to vary instruction for students (keeping students engaged), it provides an interesting context for learning, it allows students to “learn by doing” – Great for kinesthetic learners. Since it is also very strongly visually based, visual learners benefit as well.

(b)

(5) ENGAGING STUDENTS IN LEARNING

(a) What type(s) of reasoning or problem solving does this program encourage (rote memorization, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, deduction, induction, etc.)? The lesson I sampled - “Quilting Bee – Symmetry” helps students memorize, apply, and evaluate information needed to understand the concept of symmetry.

(b) Would this software maintain the interest of students?

Yes. It should. Nothing is a silver bullet, but this software is excellently presented and organized, and easy to use. Definitely worth a try.

(6) Lesson Idea. Describe how you would integrate this software into a weekly lesson:

A) Outline of Lesson (What will be the topics and primary activities for the week including the assessments that you would use):

See Lesson Plan on Educational Software

(4) Citation and Presentation of Software: Post a reference to the software you reviewed in Nicenet and give a brief explanation of how you would use the software in your classroom. SEE REFLECTION on NICENET

[pic]

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