How do I pick software?

Choosing the proper software for your program is similar to choosing appropriate print materials and textbooks. First you need to review your students' needs and your curricular goals. Are you looking for software to provide vocabulary or pronunciation practice?  Do you want something that focuses on listening, math, or grammar skills?  How can this software bolster and enhance your core curriculum?

How do I evaluate software appropriate for my learners?

Educational software can be expensive. Don't buy it until you and your learners have tested out the program thoroughly using evaluation guidelines. Request software demos or trial versions of programs whenever possible. Choose software that is user-friendly and that both you and your students can navigate quickly and easily. If you're spending an excessive amount of time learning how to use the software and training students to get through it, you'll be less likely to use it. 

You can use the MLC software evaluation guidelines for teachers, and the ones for students, and  modify these guidelines to more closely fit criteria relevant to your own program needs. If you want to try out a range of software programs, reserve a time to try out software from this list at our resource library in our computer lab.  Browse through this list of software programs used by Minnesota ABE programs to begin looking for software programs you might want to use as well.

Once you've chosen your software, remember to access start-up and on-going training on using the software and integrating it into your curriculum. Continue to evaluate the software with other teachers and learners so that you can determine whether it has been effective and whether your program should buy similar or different software in the future.  

How can I integrate software use into my overall curriculum?

Many software programs will have a table of contents or student workbooks that you can browse through to help you plan out how you want to use it with learners.  Pick and choose topics or skill areas that correspond to those you are currently practicing in your classroom to provide supplemental practice and drill. Guide students through directed computer tasks as you would guide them through print activities. Let students know the purpose behind each computer activity.  For example, tell them that they will now practice the past tense using the software as a follow up to the grammar lesson recently completed in the classroom.

Plan out in advance how much time will be allotted for set up, a directed activity, and break down.  Think about pre- and post-computer time activities that can tie computer lessons to your lesson plan. Use teaching strategies you might use in classroom activities, such as pairing students up to assist each other in problem solving and task resolution or completing a task independently and then sharing results with a partner. Always test out an activity to determine whether it is appropriate for the language and computer skill level of your students before using it with them.

Remember to have back up activities ready, just in case the software lesson you've planned falls through due to technical difficulties.  

Where do I find software reviews or articles on evaluating software?

Following are a few links to software reviews and articles that can provide you with a starting point for choosing and evaluating educational software for your learners.

National Adult Literacy Database (Canada) free/low cost software review

http://www.nald.ca/software

Computer Assisted Language Learning Resources Page

http://edvista.com/claire/call.html

TESOL CALL Interest Section Software List

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eli/softlist/

An Educator's Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/index.html

A Place to Start in Selecting Software

http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/cj_software_selection.html