Whenever people think about computers, they are most likely thinking about the computer machine such as the television-like monitor screen, the keyboard to type on , the printer which produces copies of text –and-graphics material, and the computer housing called “the box” which contains the electronic parts and circuits (the central processing unit) that receives/stores data and directs computer operations. The computer machine or hardware is naturally an attention- getter.
It’s more difficult to realize, however, that the computer hardware can hardly be useful without the program or system that tells what the computer machine should do. This is also called the software.
There are two kinds of
software:1. The system software. This is the operating system that is found or bundled inside all computer machines.
2. The application software. This contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem.
In turn the applications software maybe:
(a) a custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations, or
(b) a commercial software packaged for personal computers that help with a variety of tasks such as writing papers, calculating numbers, drawing graphs, playing games, and so much more.
Microsoft Windows
Also referred to as a program, Microsoft Windows or Windows for short is an operating environment between the user and the computer operating system. Also called a shell, it is a layer that creates the way the computer should work. Windows uses a colorful graphics interface (called GUI-pronounced “gooee”) that can be seen on the computer screen or monitor whenever the computer is turned on.
The user can work with on-screen pictures (icons) and suggestions (menus) to arrive at the desired software. Windows 95 (now improved with Windows 2003 and 2007) is a software designed for Microsoft Windows. Actually, Windows is in itself a self-contained operating system which provides
• User convenience - just click a file name to retrieve data or click from program to program as easy as changing channels in your TV screen.
• A new look - fancy borders, smooth and streamlined text fonts.
• Information center - Windows put all communications activities (e-mail, downloads etc. in a single screen icon); adapts/configures the computer for the Internet.
• Plug and play - configures the computer with added components, such as for sound and video.
Instructional Software
Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers. The teacher through his school should decide on the best computer-based instructional (CBI) materials for the school resource collection. But beware since CBIs need much improvement, while web-based educational resources are either extremely good or what is complete garbage. In evaluating computer-based educational materials, the following can serve as guidelines:
• Be extremely cautious in using CBIs and ‘free’ Internet materials.
• Don’t be caught up by attractive graphics, sound, animation, pictures, video clips and music forgetting their instructional worth.
• Teachers must evaluate these resources using sound pedagogical principles.
• Among design and content elements to evaluate are: the text legibility, effective use of color schemes, attractive layout and design, and easy navigation from section-to-section (such as from game to tutorial to drill-and-practice section).
• Clarity in the explanations and illustrations of concepts and principles.
• Accuracy, coherence, logic of information.
• Absence of biased materials (e.g. gender bias or racial bias
A lot of software
nowadays which are considered to be useful and bad for students, education
expert is doing software or apps that can help the educator to lessen their
burden in explaining hard concepts but some application such thing became
easier. In our computational physics we experience in doing programs that we
can apply in our instruction in the future like using MOODLE, C++, C# this task
help us to appreciate how our calculator are programmed by the expert or we
also experience how an IT programmer works in order to make a very useful
program.
There are many software that are very useful for us, like
doing report presentation through Microsoft powerpoint, doing homework and
assignments through Microsoft word. This implies that every software has its
own characteristics but differ on the users. Teachers should always look into
the student welfare before using any software for instruction; a teacher also
serves as a guidance councillor, and an expert of that software.
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