15 Terms Nobody Wants to Memorize, but Every Teacher Should Know (P. 33) 1. Simulations - A software package that attempts to simulate a real-world event. These digitized worlds allow students to make decisions and then weigh the impact of their decisions.
2. Recall questions - Recall questions are included on an evaluation tool (usually a test) to see if a student can remember something without prompts or choices.
3. Recognition questions - Included on an evaluation tool (usually a test) to see if a student can give a correct response based on the choices or options listed. Usually a matching, true-false or multiple choice format.
4. Tutorial narratives - A tutorial usually consists of standalone training segments that can be pieced together to create a whole learning tool. This collection of segments is called a tutorial narrative.
5. Conditional branching - A temporary wayside in a tutorial that allows a student to find out more about a topic or discover a new approach. Once complete, the student then returns to the linear tutorial.
6. Decision points/paths - All tutorials include segments that require the student to make decisions that lead to a particular outcome. These are decision points that lead down a particular decision path.
7. Learner Level - The ability level of the student to be able to complete tasks. Usually software is rated by learner level for appropriate application in the classroom.
8. System requirements - The requisite hardware and software to operate a piece of software on a computer.
9. User interface - The visual quality and physical arrangement of the software as it appears on the screen. This is rated in terms of usability and efficiency.
10. Navigation buttons - On screen actuators that a person uses to control the progress of a program. In the case of tutorials it will take a student from one screen to the next.
11. License agreement - A contract made between a software company and the consumer as to proper use of the software.
12. Software piracy - The intentional copying and distribution of software for profit that breaks a license agreement-this is an illegal action
13. Online Journal - Two definitions: a professional publication that is distributed or can be read via the world wide web AND an online location for a person to share ideas or store his/her own ideas.
14. Browser - A piece of software designed specifically for navigating the world wide web.
15. Search Engine - A web site that finds web sites based on content or subject requests and returns a list of those sites to the user.