Instructional Courseware

Today, teachers are utilizing computers in their classrooms for more than the basic productivity tools of word processors, spreadsheets, and databases. A new breed of software, instructional courseware, may be exactly what you are looking for to spark students' interest and to teach challenging subjects to your students.

Table of Contents

To examine a topic, click on one of the links below. When you finish a topic, you may continue with the tutorial or return to this Table of Contents.

• Overview
• Types of Courseware
• Characteristics
• Advantages
• Authoring Systems

Overview of Instructional Courseware

Several terms have been used in recent years with respect to instructional courseware, but one that is particularly well suited for our purposes is computer-assisted (or aided) instruction (CAI). CAI may be used as a supplement for your instruction or as a complete lesson.With CAI, the computer can assist the teacher in implementing any or all of the four essential phases of instruction:

· presenting information

· guiding the student

· providing student practice

· assessing student learning

Commercial software vendors release new instructional courseware titles in ever increasing numbers. As a teacher, you must determine when to implement CAI in the classroom and what CAI to use. Additionally, you can create your own CAI with authoring tools that are readily available and relatively easy to use. An authoring system is a computer program that lets you create instructional software of your own. In cases where no suitable CAI exists, this may be your only option to provide your students with instructional courseware.

Types of Courseware

Generally speaking, there are five types of CAI. Each methodology has its own particular strengths and are discussed briefly below. The five types are:

· Tutorials

· Drills

· Instructional games

· Simulations

· Tests

Tutorials

Purpose: Present information and guide the student
Example: This lesson on courseware

Tutorials strive to provide sequenced, interactive material, to the learner. The learner is engaged in direct and continual two-way communication with the computer, i.e., an active participant. A tutorial is ideal for presenting new material, allowing students to progress at their own pace, and reviewing previously learned subjects.

You can design a tutorial in linear fashion (like a book) or with branching that allows students to control the lesson by their choices. Regardless of the type of design, tutorials should include embedded questions and remediation loops to ensure learners master material before moving on to more difficult concepts.

Advocates of tutorials suggest that they can facilitate learning better than a teacher because of the one-to-one learning. Many tutorials permit students to learn at an individualized rate. When you choose to incorporate a tutorial into your lesson, make sure that it matches your objectives, goals, and content. Review of tutorials prior to using them in class will ensure that they meet your needs. Tutorials are often combined with other types of computer assisted instruction such as drills.

Drills

Purpose: Provide student practice
Example: Math Blaster; Reader Rabbit

Computer-based drills can take the practice previously found in workbooks and flash cards to a higher level. When used in conjunction with other computer assisted instruction, usually a tutorial, drills are not intended to teach new material. Drills are designed to give students the opportunity to practice what they've already learned. Some of the arguments for using the drill software is that the software can determine the proper level of difficulty based on student ability, ensure completion, provide feedback to mistakes, suggest supplemental activities, and depending on its' design, record student results. Some drill software lets you incorporate randomly generated questions, interactive graphics, pacing and time measured responses, and student progress updates.

Many drills are used in subjects such as mathematics, foreign languages, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary, but they are suitable for practically all subjects that require the student to memorize facts.

Instructional Games

Purpose: Provide student practice and present information
Example: Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego

Instructional games provide students a means to practice previously learned material or gain new information. But unlike drills, games are competitive by design, pitting the student against the computer, another player, or time. Instructional games are difficult to design, and all too often, even those which are professionally designed turn out not to be fun and become another piece of unused software. Instructional games come in many varieties such as adventure, arcade, board, card or gambling, combat, logic, role-play, psychomotor, TV quiz, and word games. Like drills, these can be adapted to any subject that requires repeated practice.

Simulations

Purpose: Present information, guide the student, and provide student practice
Example: Oregon Trail

Simulations are unique in that they attempt to give the student a chance to participate in a real-life decision-making situation. They are an effective way of learning because. they require problem solving and decision making. Also, they provide a non-threating learning safe environment. Students can easily work in groups to solve simulation problems. Whole class discussions can assist in helping students prepare for the simulation and help them understand what happened after the simulation.

When utilizing simulations, it may be difficult to assess student learning using traditional evaluation methods. Alternative assessment strategies may be required to ensure that the objectives of instruction have been fulfilled.

Tests

Purpose: Assess student learning
Example: Graduate Records Examination

Using the computer to construct or administer tests offers the advantages of automatic scoring, randomly generated test items, testing at students' convenience, cross reference of test items to learning objectives, and ease of test bank maintenance. There are numerous testing software packages that can be utilized in the classroom.

Characteristics

When choosing or developing instructional courseware for your classroom, it is imperative that it matches the objectives of the course. Additionally, "good" instructional courseware has certain characteristics which you should look for when designing or selecting the software. Consider the following areas when you evaluate or design instructional courseware:

· Is the software easy to use?

· Do graphics and sound compliment the instruction?

· Are the pretests and post tests appropriate?

· Do tests measure student progress?

· Does the student have adequate control over the lesson?

· Can the learner review previous information?

· Are student scores automatically recorded? Can you access the scores?

· Can the software be used in collaborative groups?

Advantages

CAI has been shown to benefit students in a variety of ways. When CAI is used appropriately in your classroom, it can:

• Enhance student learning in terms of recall and time spent on instruction
• Motivate students
• Assist in developing teamwork skills
• Provide allowances for the difference in students
• Facilitate learning transfer to new situations

Authoring Systems

Authoring systems let you create your own instructional courseware. Today, most authoring systems use a windows "drag and drop" interface that makes it easier than ever to design, test, and implement new lessons. Authoring systems vary widely in functionality, and it is easy to find one that meets your needs, capabilities, and budget.

The following list, though far from complete, will give you an idea of what is available. HyperStudio, Hypercard, and Linkway Live are commonly found in schools.

Title and Publisher	Description
Authorware Academic Macromedia (Macintosh, Windows)	Prentice Hall and Macromedia have joined together to create an educational adaptation of Authorware Professional 2.0, the industry standard for creating powerful, interactive learning applications. Instructors can build applications customized to their course content from simple lecture presentations to complex student tutorials utilizing video, sound, and animation.
Authorware Interactive Studio Macromedia (Macintosh, Windows)	The Authorware Interactive Studio is the complete environment for creating and publishing interactive information. Combining an intuitive interface with a tightly integrated tool set and a wealth of features, the Studio turns your designs into realities. Whether you're a professional trainer, educator, publisher, or multimedia developer, you can bring your knowledge and ideas to the computer desktop and your intranet with the Authorware Interactive Studio.
HyperCard Claris (Macintosh)	HyperCard software is Claris' premier tool for creating custom software solutions for business, education, and multimedia. Commercial developers, consultants, in-house programmers, and end users can use HyperCard to acquire, manage, and display information any way they need to.
HyperStudio Roger Wagner Publishing (Macintosh, Windows)	Founded in 1978 by a classroom teacher, Roger Wagner Publishing has been providing software that emphasizes technology as a personal creative tool. The company is committed to supporting teachers with a vision of how the meaningful and appropriate use of technology can foster a more individual and humanistic learning environment.
Quest for Windows Allen Communication (Windows)	A fully-integrated authoring system, Quest for Windows is designed for developers at all levels. All multimedia tasks that are frequently used are available at the entry level. Developers work from WYSIWYG displays and floating toolbars to assemble graphics, text, audio, video motion, buttons and animations, or to set up branching and interactions. Novices can design and create dynamic titles and courses with Quest. At the same time, skilled experts will not be inhibited, either. All the power of "C" programming code is embedded in the system.
Toolbook II Asymetrix (Windows)	ToolBook II is a complete solution that includes tools for authoring, managing and accessing Distributed Learning and Multimedia applications. It includes the first authoring environment that delivers training and education applications in the native Internet formats of HTML and Java. Much more than an authoring environment, ToolBook II is the only solution with a server-based course management system that takes full advantage of the interactive, two-way communications offered by the Internet. In this way "certified understanding" is now possible where instructors are able to certify that courseware has been received and the extent to which the content has been understood. Finally, ToolBook II includes easy to install, end-user access tools, simplifying the configuration and deployment of multimedia ready Web browsers throughout an organization.

Click here for more information about InstructionalCourseware.

Cerita Lucu 1

Menantu yang Luar Biasa

Mamat ni amat lah tergila-gilakan Minah anak Pak Haji Dollah. Minah nie boleh lah tahan cun nya. Mamat ni pun tak kalah lah kacaknya. Ngurat-punya-ngurat tersangkutlah dua hati ini. Pak Haji Dollah bukanlah jenis yang memilih sangat orangnya, tambahan pulak si Mamat ini pandai berlakon, depan Pak Haji Dollah dia bukan main warak lagi, berkopiah dikepala. Selepas ditetapkan hari kahwinnya, maka lancar je jawab nikahnya si Mamat tadi. Biasalah malamnya agak lewat sikit keluarga Haji Dollah masuk tidurnya pasal dok berkemas rumah lepas kenduri siangnya. Pasangan Mamat dan Minah pun lewat jugak lah masuk tidurnya.

Selepas semuanya selesai dan semuanya nyenyak tidurnya, pagi besoknya Pak Haji Dollah pun mengejutkan semua isi rumah untuk solat subuh. Semua isi rumah pun bangun dan si Mamat dan Minah pun bangun mandi dan bersiap untuk mendirikan solat subuh. Tapi dek kerana lewat bangun, Si Mamat tak sempat bersolat jemaah dengan Pak Haji Dollah. Walaupun telah dikejutkan awal oleh isterinya Minah.

Maka, Pak Haji Dollah pun suruhlah menantunya tu solat sendirian ketika ahli keluarga lainnya sedang berwirid. Si Mamat pun qamat dan dirikanlah solat subuhnya. Selepas selesai solatnya dan memberi salam. Pak Haji Dollah pun menegur menantunya Si Mamat tadi, "Hai Mat kenapa solat subuh tiga rakaat?" lantas Si Mamat Jawab "eh.. ia ke? tiga rakaat? rasa-rasanya dah cukup empat rakaat tadi..."

Masya Allah.. mengucap panjang Pak Haji Dollah. Si Minah tersenyum sipu malu dengan gelagat suaminya. Sahla si Mamat ni tak pernah sembahyang subuh! Kantoi..kantoi..

Surat Al-'Isrā' (The Night Journey)

سورة الإسراء

I leafed through a few pages of Al-Quran during afternoon and by Allah's willing, i found out my old bookmark inside the Quran highlighted with yellow color. Cute! ^________^. After reading the marked ayat, my eyes were deeply shaded with tears and my heart was trembling with fear . Suddenly, there emerged a prostrated feeling overwhelming all over my body.

Below is a few ayat from the holy Quran that spontaneously touch my heart.

Sahih International

Say, "Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it - when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration,

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

Say, to the disbelievers of Mecca, ‘Believe in it or do not believe, as a threat to them; indeed those who were given knowledge before it, before its revelation, namely, the believers from among the People of the Scripture, when it is recited to them, fall down in prostration on their faces,

Malay

Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad kepada orang-orang yang ingkar itu): "Sama ada kamu beriman kepada Al-Quran atau kamu tiada beriman, (tidaklah menjadi hal); kerana sesungguhnya orang-orang yang diberi ilmu sebelum itu apabila dibacakan Al-Quran kepada mereka, mereka segera tunduk sujud (dalam keadaan hiba dan khusyuk);

Sahih International

And they say, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

and say, “Glory be to our Lord, exalting Him above [the claim] that [His] promise [of sending a prophet] had not been fulfilled. Indeed (in, softened) Our Lord’s promise, of its [the Qur’ān’s] revelation and the sending of the Prophet (s), is bound to be fulfilled”.

Malay

Serta mereka menegaskan (dalam sujudnya): "Maha Suci Tuhan kami! Sesungguhnya janji Tuhan kami tetap terlaksana. "

Sahih International

And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur'an increases them in humble submission.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

And they fall down on their faces, weeping (yabkūna is a supplement [to yakhirrūna, ‘they fall down’] also containing an adjectival qualification [of those falling down]); and it, the Qur’ān, increases them in humility’, in humbleness before God.

Malay

Dan mereka segera tunduk sujud itu sambil menangis, sedang Al-Quran menambahkan mereka khusyuk.

Alhamdulillah. Thanks quran.com for reading these ayat!

Kabir Bhatia (^__________^)V

Assalamualaikum wbrt.
There are thousands of ways to express our feelings and ideas such as through music, writing and video clip. Frankly speaking, i usually express my feeling through making video clip. Almost 5 years involving in making video clip, i have done more than 15 video clips including slideshow, short video, and short movie. In order to create a tremendous video clip or short movie, a director should have very high quality vision as well as creative ideas so that the video won't look dull and 'busuk' ^_^.

Kabir Bhatia

From my own perspective and opinion of Kabir Bhatia's movies, his miracle touch of making videos and movies is valueless. Cinta and Sepi (and others) have wonderful viewing angle. I think audiences love and support his movies including me!. In general, if we look at other movies in Malaysia, most of them have plain type of angle and also different zooming method. But for Kabir's movies, how he creates the scene to be more lively is so nice. I'm totally speechlees!. Double thumbs up! to Kabir Bhatia. Kabir’s also got good musical taste, good artistic and style sense, a package necessary to be a good director. Most of all, despite being a foreigner, Kabir has excellent instinct on how to satisfy the Malaysian film and television market. Unsurprisingly, he’s in high demand—thanks to his good taste and storytelling skills, as well as some captivating scripts. Kabir definitely has a fresh take in the industry.

Don't forget to watch his new movie, called 'Keabadian Cinta' at ASTRO CITRA.


The article below is an overview by Utusan Malaysia:

Lagi Tiga Kisah Cinta Dalam Satu

[Credit]

Oleh ABD. AZIZ ITAR
aziz.itar@utusan.com.my
Gambar ZAINI HUSIN

Kabir Bhatia merupakan pengarah yang berjaya mengangkat tiga kisah cinta dalam filem berjudul arahannya, Cinta yang mendapat sambutan hangat ketika ia ditayangkan di pawagam beberapa tahun lalu.

Selepas filem, pengarah berasal dari India itu kini tampil lagi menerusi paparan tiga kisah cinta berbeza yang dimuatkan menerusi telemovie terbaru arahannya berjudul Keabadian Cinta hasil skrip tulisan Mira Mustaffa.

Menurut Kabir, telemovie dengan durasi sekitar 90 minit yang akan ditayangkan menerusi saluran Astro Citra pada 14 Februari ini pukul 9 malam merupakan idea hasil daripada imaginasinya daripada kisah-kisah cinta.

Katanya, Keabadian Cinta yang skripnya ditulis oleh isteri beliau itu, ia bukan sekuel daripada filem Cinta, sebaliknya hanya mengambil konsep paparan tiga kisah cinta yang dirangkumkan ke dalam sebuah jalan cerita.

"Jalan cerita Keabadian Cinta dan filem Cinta tidak sama. Menerusi telemovie ini ia mengupas sebuah cerita romantik mengenai tiga pasangan terbabit. Banyak perkara yang boleh diungkap tentang rasa cinta dalam sebuah cerita.

"Sebagai contohnya, saya mahu menggambarkan bahawa cinta itu datangnya daripada rasa, hati dan perasaan. Ada pasangan yang saya gambarkan dalam telemovie ini seperti watak lakonan Sari Yanti yang buta.

"Namun kerana adanya rasa cinta maka mata yang buta bukan halangan untuk watak tersebut merasai perasaan itu," katanya bercerita kepada Hits tentang Keabadian Cinta pada pertemuan di Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini.

Telemovie terbitan Film Scape Production itu dilakonkan oleh ramai pelakon popular antaranya Remy Ishak, Sari Yanti, Cheryl Samad, Gavin Stemhouse, Fatimah Abu Bakar dan Eizlan Yusof.

Cheryl Samad yang sebelum ini pernah berlakon dalam drama bersiri Astana Idaman arahan Kabir berasa teruja melakonkan watak Maya dalam Keabadian Cinta yang menurutnya sarat dengan elemen cinta romantik hasil arahan pengarah itu.

Katanya, watak Maya iaitu seorang gadis Melayu yang berkawan dengan seorang jejaka mat salih iaitu David yang dilakonkan oleh Gavin begitu mencabar bakat lakonannya sepanjang terbabit dalam bidang lakonan lima tahun lalu.

"Selain memaparkan hubungan cinta antara watak Maya dan pasangannya yang berlainan bangsa dan agama, telemovie ini juga menguji kemampuan saya mewakili ramai gadis Melayu yang berkahwin dengan mat salih akhir-akhir ini.

"Ini mungkin salah satu realiti yang hendak digambarkan oleh Kabir bahawa cinta juga tidak mengenal batas sempadan bangsa dan agama," ujarnya yang sebelum ini pernah berlakon dalam drama Front Page juga arahan Kabir.

Eizlan Yusof yang melakonkan watak Rashad dalam telemovie menelan kos sekitar RM200,000 itu turut berasakan suatu kelainan dalam jalan cerita yang memaparkan topik cinta yang banyak berlaku dalam masyarakat.

Jelasnya, Keabadian Cinta yang menjalani penggambaran di sekitar Kuala Lumpur dan Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan itu misalnya, memaparkan watak Rashad iaitu lelaki dewasa yang bercinta dengan gadis remaja.

"Watak Rashad yang saya lakonkan juga mahu menggambarkan tentang satu lagi kisah cinta dalam telemovie ini iaitu tentang seorang lelaki berusia 40-an bercinta dengan gadis remaja berumur awal 20-an.

"Paling menarik apabila Rashad bukan sahaja bercinta dengan gadis remaja, malah kekasihnya itu juga merupakan anak kepada kawan baiknya. Di sinilah timbulnya konflik dalam cerita pasangan tersebut," katanya.

Sementara itu, Fatimah Abu Bakar yang melakonkan watak Mama, ibu kepada Maya (Cheryl Samad) tidak menafikan Keabadian Cinta mempunyai jalan cerita dan sinematografi yang menarik.

Tambahnya, penonton dijangka tidak akan kecewa menonton telemovie terbaru arahan Kabir Bhatia yang disifatkannya hampir sama hebatnya dengan Cinta yang turut dilakonkan oleh beliau.

"Walaupun ini adalah telemovie tetapi gaya sinematografi dan jalan cerita yang dipaparkan seperti sebuah filem. Saya dapati jalan cerita dan para pelakon yang ditonjolkan dalam telemovie ini ada kelas tersendiri.

"Watak David lakonan Gavin contohnya cukup mantap walaupun dialognya dalam bahasa Inggeris. Saya sendiri yang melatih Gavin dapat merasakan mutu lakonannya dalam telemovie ini. Saya juga puas hati dengan watak lakonan saya.

"Watak mama, memerlukan saya menjadi seorang ibu yang cukup kuat berleter dan kecoh di mana ia berbeza dengan watak Rubiah yang saya lakonkan dalam filem Cinta," kata ibu kepada pelakon popular Sharifah Amani ini.

Thanks to Utusan Malaysia.

How to Tell If a Woman Really Loves You

Men who are serious about a relationship want to know if their woman really loves them. Men strive to find out by asking friends and family members. Many men are just as bad as some women in a relationship who constantly wonder if the woman that their with really loves them. I have come up with some tips on how you can identify if a woman really loves you.

She has eyes only for you. You can tell if your woman really loves you when many hunky and sexy men surround you but she doesn't take a second to even look at any of them. She gives you her full attention by showing eye contact, smiling and facing her body towards you.

She answers your calls. You know if a woman is interested when she answers your calls every time. It is a wonderful sign if she also answers the phone by the second ring. You may find yourself spending hours on the phone talking and giggling with her about life.

She agrees to meet with you every time you ask her out. She wouldn't love you if she didn't want to see you as much as you want to see her.

She wants to go places and do things. She is not ashamed to be out in public with you.She wants to explore the world with you and do fun activities. For example, going to the movies, out to dinner, to a concert or amusement park.

She does things for you. She invests energy in pleasing and making you feels happy. For example, she will bake you cookies, invite you over for dinner or offers to rub your back.

She flirts with you. You can tell if she loves you when she constantly laughs at everything you say, touches you frequently and gives you that special look of love.

She wants to date only you. You know she is serious about you when she has verbally asked if dating each other can be exclusive. You are number one to her and all the other men in the world mean nothing.

She tells you "I love you." You can't get more straightforward than this. When she tells you those three special words she wants to take the relationship a little farther and get more serious.

These are some tips that you can tell if your woman loves you. If your woman displays all of these signs don't doubt her love for you and enjoy the relationship.

[Credit]
Published May 31, 2007 by: Write On

Viva Palestina

Outlandish
Look Into My Eyes

Look into my eyes
Tell me what ya see
U don't see a damn thing
Cuz u can't relate to me

U blinded by our differences
My life makes no sense to u
I'm the persecuted one
U the red, white and blue

Each day u wake in tranquility
No fears to cross your eyes
Each day I wake in gratitude
Thankin' God He let me rise

Ya worry 'bout your education
And the bills u have to pay
I worry 'bout my vulnerable life
And if I'll survive another day

Ya biggest fear is getting a ticket
As ya cruise your Cadillac
My fear is that the tank that's just left
Will turn around and come back

Yet do u know the truth of where ya money goes
Do u let the media deceive your mind
Is this a truth that nobody knows
Has our world gone all blind
Yet do u know the truth of where ya money goes
Do u let the media deceive your mind
Is this a truth that nobody knows
Some one tell me

Oh let's not cry tonight
I promise you one day it's through
Ohohoh my brothers
Ohohoh my sisters

Oh shine a light for every soul
That ain't with us no more
Ohohoh my brothers
Ohohoh my sisters

See I've known terror for quite some times
57 years so cruel
Terror breathes the air I breathe
It's the check point on my way to school

Terror is the robbery of my land
And the torture of my mother
The imprisonment of my innocent father
The bullet in my baby brother

The bulldozers and the tanks
The gasses and the guns
The bombs that fall outside my door
All due to your funds

You blame me for defending myself
Against the ways of my enemies
I'm terrorized in my own land
And I'm the terrorist

Yet do u know the truth of where ya money goes
Do u let the media deceive your mind
Is this a truth that nobody knows
Has our world gone all blind
Yet do u know the truth of where ya money goes
Do u let the media deceive your mind
Is this a truth that nobody knows
Some one tell me

Oh let's not cry tonight
I promise you one day it's through
Ohohoh my brothers
Ohohoh my sisters

Oh shine a light for every soul
That ain't with us no more
Ohohoh my brothers
Ohohoh my sisters

American do ya realize
That the taxes that u pay
Feed the forces that traumatize
My every living day

So if I won't be here tomorrow
It's written in my fate
May the future bring a brighter day
The end of our wait

Oh let's not cry tonight
I promise you one day it's through
Ohohoh my brothers
Ohohoh my sisters

Oh shine a light for every soul
That ain't with us no more

Ohohoh my brothers

Ohohoh my sisters

Task 2 Pn Azyan

Math Questions