Educational Software

I work as a teacher so I could talk about educational software for a long time. Ever since the notion of software appeared, it had more or less educational purposes.The first recorded use of hardware and software in education dates back from the 1940s, during WW2. That was the time when American scientists developed flight simulators for airplane pilots to help them train for different situations that could appear in the sky.  So, because they couldn't afford to risk a lot of airplanes and the lives of the pilots until they learn how to do it, they used this simulator for training.

Educational software developed in time and nowadays there are probably thousands of websites and companies that offer educational software. You can find it both on CDs, DVDs and even online. All of them aim to teach a certain thing by using interactive and funny methods, both for adults, but mainly for children. Most of this software is designed for home use, because at school the teachers only use it as additional material, while at home they do it all, including the job of a teacher.


Some of the best educational software for children are : Disney Interactive - uses interactive activities based on Walt Disney cartoon characters like Winnie the Pooh, Aladdin , Mowgli and Mickey Mouse, The Learning Company's reader RabbitThe Cluefinders and Zombinni series.

Besides the classroom aids used by the teachers, there is the courseware that is designed mainly for college students and adults. The term combines two words: course and software. First it was meant to be an additional material for university professors, but in the meantime its meaning changed to a course support nowadays.



Then there is the reference software that is not structured to teach people something, but it offers valuable help because it contains a lot of specific information in a certain field. They are dictionaries, on magnetic support or online support. Even Wikipedia is included in this kind of software, with the specification that it is developing permanently, growing like a living organism.

Some computer games are thought to have educational value, for example the games that involve building cities and the setting in is the Ancient Rome, for example. By playing the game, the users find out a lot of details about the buildings, habits, society and socialization during that time.

There is another kind of educational software user in corporate training - people who work in certain companies use it to learn different computer applications that are necessary in their work in the company.

Generally this kind of software is designed for specific educational purposes. For example when you want to learn a foreign language, you get the software that helps you learn a certain language. In order to learn a foreign language you have to cover four different basic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. And this software includes different activities for every skill: you have audio support for listening, written texts for reading and different exercises for grammar and spelling. You can find it in electronic form or online, too.



You can find driving test software and you can use it to practice before getting your driving license. It's better to learn how to react in certain situations than to be forced to face them when they happen. in fact this software provides several maps and a real wheel and real pedals; all you have to do is watch a screen and act like you are really driving the car: break, speed, slow down when it's a curve, avoid dangers and respect the established itinerary.

There is software for learning to perform human and animal disection.

There is interactive geometry software or all kinds of software for all kinds of purposes.



Here is a list with ten of the most popular educational software:

1. WordWeb (language software) - is more than just a simple dictionary, as it offers word definitions, synonyms, antonyms and words related. it works both online and offline and it's easy to use.

2. Athan (Azan) basic is a religious software designed especially for Muslim believers. Besides the normal prayers that appear on screen when the time is right for one of the five times when a Muslim has to pray every day, it also offers a special compass for orienting the user towards Mecca.

3. Client for Google Translate 4.2.241 - the most famous and widely used translation free services in the world.

4. Google Earth - uses maps and diagrams, images taken from satellites and a combination of maps and real land in order to find certain locations or even learn the geography of some regions. It's very interesting because the maps and the satellite photos are real and you can actually see what the land looks like from space. It provides different degrees of zoom.

5. Power tab editor - music software

6. Oxford dictionary of English - language software

7.Typing Master Protyping tutor - teaching tools

8. Ela- Salaty -religious software

9. Viper- the anti-plagiarism software

10. Rapid typing tutor - teaching tools

There is a good variety of educational software and all variants are, no doubt, very good and very documented. However, the most widely spread are those for children. There are lots and lots of pleasant kinds of software that teach little children how to write, how to recognize letter, sounds, learn numbers, etc. But the most appealing thing is that every software wants the user to learn something by having fun and by using entertainment. All the images are brightly colored and nice, attracting children. They consider they are playing rather than learning. They learn cause and effect and interact with cartoon characters, all activities taking place in a relaxed atmosphere.

I'm so glad that things evolved this way, because i hated the old teaching methods where all the children had to stay still in their desks and listen to the teacher , then repeat mechanically, like little robots. Now both teaching and learning are by far a lot more  fun and a lot more challenging than they used to be.