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Educational Software

Click here to see our selection of Educational Software.

If school has budgeted money for computer software, where do you begin? What software that will suit your needs? What are management systems, and do you need to purchase one?

Software Comes First
Choose your software before deciding what hardware and platforms you will use. This way you can be sure that the programs you choose will work efficiently.

All software that you purchase has specific system requirements. If you already have your hardware, narrow down your software choices to those that will fit with your system and its capabilities. For example: If you have a networked system, be sure to see if the software you are looking at has a networked version.

What Kind of Program?
The kind of program that will work best has to do with your uses for technology in your curriculum. For example: thematic units that will reinforce what is taught in the classroom or do you want software offering tools that correlate with your curriculum?

There are three options to consider
· Integrated learning systems.
These programs cover several skills. Some lend themselves to thematic units and are usually geared more for the elementary level. Two examples are Jostens and Computer Curriculum Corporation. Some integrated learning systems are so comprehensive that you must also have a management system so teachers and students can utilize all that is available.

· Curriculum-oriented programs.
These are the most common kind of software packages. Choosing the best from what is available is quite a task. Knowing your needs and how this software will be integrated into your curriculum will help you narrow your search.

· Tool software.
This is not limited to a specific curriculum, but it is cross-disciplinary and helps students create project. For example: HyperStudio and HyperCard, will provide a platform for students to work collaboratively to build webbed projects—a topic is chosen, each student is responsible for researching an aspect of that topic and the software ties it all together in a webbed platform. Systems like Power Point are linear in their presentation and don't offer a webbed option. Also available are integrated packages. Examples of this kind of tool are Microsoft Works or Lotus Works. Paint programs and presentation software are often included in these packages.

Be sure to preview the software and ask questions such as:
Will this program operate on the system you currently have?
Is the program up gradable annually, or is it "as is"?

Some software programs will include purchase the option of a certain number of "free" upgrades. Others will give you discounts towards the next upgrade. Some will not include any kind of upgrade price break for the next version when it's released.

Ask how much training comes with the program? This is the most important question you should ask when choosing your software. Without training, you will never be able to optimize your software program.

This weeks top selling educational products

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Homeroom Teacher has the best selection of Educational Software at the lowest prices!

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