Cindy B. Allen

Session 7 - Software I and Multimedia

MERLOT ? Session 7 - Software Part I: Commercial CAI and Multimedia ? Commercial Software and Multimedia Websites

Description: 

     MERLOT is an acronym for Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching.  The website includes several free tutorials and other helpful information for students and teachers.  The MERLOT community consists of professionals in higher education that have created websites and supplied helpful information.  Membership is free and MERLOT encourages active participation to benefit different curriculums.

Key findings from readings: ?Teacher Beliefs about Educational Software: A Delphi Study?, by Diana L. Williams, Randall Boone, and Karla V. Kingsley

     In this article, the authors organized a group of teachers to evaluate educational software in the classroom.  Some of the problems the teachers discussed about educational software included:

1)      instructional design issues

2)      curriculum

3)      materials

4)      cost

5)      meeting specific needs.

The instructional design issues are the software is not always user friendly for the teacher or student since the designers of the software never asked a teacher or student what they needed.  Teachers must teach the curriculum and software does not always meet those curriculum needs.  Plus, materials and other helpful information (ex: help desk) are not always available to assist the teacher about how to use the software.  Cost is another factor since schools have to purchase a site license to use the software which can be very expensive.  Finally, unlike textbooks, worksheets, and other ?hard copy? material, a teacher cannot pick and choose what he/she wants to teach from the software nor can it be easily manipulated to fit into the curriculum.

     MERLOT has taken all these needs into consideration and organized their website into subject area so teachers can easily access their field of study.  Once the field of study has been assessed the teachers will find several, free websites (that teachers and professors have created) they can use to enhance learning in their classroom.  The websites include multimedia production (ex: PowerPoint and sound), real-life simulations (ex: leadership and accounting), and quizzes or flash cards to assist students with studying.   

Cindy?s ideas to apply in my own teaching:

     Currently I teach Business Education classes that include Principles of Business and Personal Finance, Business Law, and Computerized Accounting I and II.  When I visited the MERLOT website, I chose the topic, business.  Under business I chose ?Accounting? and found two great websites for my students to use.

     The first website was created by Michael Worthington from Elizabeth State University (right here in North Carolina).  On this website, Mr. Worthington has created ten tutorials for students to enhance their understanding of Accounting.  Some of the topics were an introduction, journal entries, and adjustments; which I teach in class and this website would be a beneficial review for my students.  The topics were illustrated through PowerPoint slides and students had an opportunity to move forwards or backwards (for clarification) with arrows at the bottom of the screen. 

     The second website was created by Professor Jim Formosa from Nashville State Tech.  His website gave an introduction (with voice) and an acronym (ALCIE) for students to remember what accounts are debited, credited, and their normal balance side.  This is one area my Computerized Accounting I students have tremendous difficulty with.  Once I have taught my students this concept, I will allow them to get on the computers and access this website to learn the acronym, ALCIE, listen to Professor Formosa (instead of me), and let them practice his quiz at the end to see if they comprehended what we both said.

Posted at 04:53PM Jun 11, 2006 by cballen3 in General  |  Comments[0]