Software Basics for Elementary School Teachers
— by Lisa Richards, Educational Outreach Writer
Long gone are the days when teachers were limited in their teaching methods to a simple chalkboard and textbook. Today, with constant advancements in technology, teachers have the opportunity to introduce new ways of teaching to their young students. These exciting new advancements in technology enable teachers to not only teach their students about various academic fields but also to watch their students become excited about learning. The benefits of using computers and age-appropriate computer software are countless. Children improve hand-eye coordination with the use of a keyboard and mouse or even when using a touch-based tablet, but they also can absorb a lot about the specific subjects they are learning about.
Mathematics is often a subject that kids have difficulty understanding and developing an interest in. The use of mathematical software can teach children the math they need to know in a way that feels like they are simply playing games. Children will need to understand how to use basic math in a variety of ways throughout their lifetime, so it is very important that they fully comprehend the important basics, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, which they learn at the elementary-school level. There are various mathematical software programs for students of elementary-school age that teachers can use in the classroom, regardless of which area of math they are currently teaching.
Science has always been a favorite subject for children. Science comes along with fun projects and interesting information about the world around them. Teachers of elementary-school-aged children often use demonstrations and hands-on projects in the classroom to ensure that children are fully engaged in the science lesson. Unfortunately, not all scientific matters can be demonstrated in the classroom, and this is where the use of science software in the classroom becomes helpful. Many types of scientific software are available for teachers with students in elementary school to ensure that both simple and complex scientific matters can be thoroughly explained and demonstrated to children.
Learning to read and write is a big part of elementary school. Children in this age range have skill levels that vary greatly. The use of computer software can allow teachers to further evaluate the understanding and skill of each individual child. Computer software in the classroom also allows these children to learn more at their own pace, which can be helpful for both those that need extra help and those that are ready to move forward to the next level. Everything from learning the alphabet to creating stories is possible with the use of software in English class.
History can be a very difficult subject to teach to young children. At times, they can have difficulty understanding the concept of a different time and way of life than their own. The good news is that once children get past this, they begin to realize it can be fun to pretend to exist in notable times in history. Pretending is a way of learning for children, as it helps them identify with other people which in turn helps them to understand the struggles or successes famous historical figures experienced. When teachers use computer software designed to teach children about history, a lot of times, they are games based in role-playing. There are role-playing historical software games for many of the important dates in history, which makes learning about these time periods a lot of fun.
Art is an exciting class that gives children the opportunity to express themselves in a variety of ways. Children are familiar with painting, crayons, and drawing, but introducing the use of the computer into art class can open up a whole new world. With technology constantly changing, more and more art forms are taking to the digital world. Teaching children to create art with software on computers can give them an exciting way to create unique masterpieces that are different from what they may usually do to create artwork.
Music class no longer has to mean children singing old nursery rhymes or playing recorders in unison. As children are exposed to different types of technology, they are given access to discover new types of music that they may or may not have heard before. Creating music with the voice or with an instrument is often a hobby that children will carry with them for life. There are multiple types of musical software for children, everything from games to teach them to play the piano to studios to compose their own music. Giving a child a place to create their very own composed music may just be the key to inspiring the next Beethoven!
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