The Hard and Soft Wares of Evaluating Tools for Educational Purposes

The Hard and Soft Wares of Evaluating Tools for Educational Purposes



As an Educator, How Can You Evaluate Software and Hardware Tools Used for Instructional Purposes?



The basis for all software and hardware standards for use has two basic factors that have to be considered when choosing from the many available. The software or hardware has to be safe and reliable as well as have an educational motive. The educational motive goes more for the software than the hardware because the software is what is actually programmed to facilitate learning. The article that I chose can be located at the URL: http://entertainingten.blogspot.com/2009/09/evaluate-software-and-hardware-tools.html. This sites blog post by Erica Reill is very familiar to me in that she uses examples like Angel, the online system we use here at FGCU and Course Compass, which we also utilize. Ms. Reill states that the fact that Angel, “is a great course management tool for educators and students because lesson plans, tutorials, homework, and quizzes can all be accessed, as well as, communication between teachers and students.”

When evaluating software and hardware for educational purposes, Angel could be rated a 10 because it is directly related to course curriculum and facilitates student teacher organization and efficiency. That is not to say that Angel could not be improved upon. There are many updates and maintaince that Angel regulators must stay on top of, but so far off to a good start. In conclusion as an educator, when you are evaluating software and hardware to use in a classroom to assist you it is detrimental to find products that are useful and reliable but that also have validity toward the purpose of teaching.