Content Exploration Tools

In the past few weeks we have learned about content exploration tools. These are tools that can be used to explore new knowledge, review knowledge or apply knowledge. There are seven different types of content exploration tools, here is a list from the least complex to the most complex; Reference, Drill-and-Practice, Tutorial, Educational Games, Simulation, Open-Ended Tools, and Integrated Learning Systems. I will discuss a few of these tools.

First, the least complex tool is Reference tools. These have the purpose of providing information. They are usually in the format of text, images, animation, wtih no significant interaction for the person using them. The lowest tech/ no tech examples of these are text books and reference books. Also insturctional videos like Reading Rainbow. The Hi-Tech examples are things like US Census "Kids Corner." This website allows kids to learn information about the country population. Another site is Metropolitan Musuem of Art. This website is very fun because it allows kids to learn about art and do fun activites in order to learn about the musuem. YouTube videos and News Sources are also examples of resource tools. In the classroom they can be a more exciting way to present new information.

The next complex tool on the list is Drill-and-Practice tools. These serve the purpose of reinforcing concepts, while supplementing practice and feedback. Flashcards are the most common example of drill-and-practice. Other examples are multiplicatoin tables, and typing programs. Online there are websites like Aha Math and Quizlet that allow for drill-and-practice learning. Aha Math is fun becuase it turns the math problems into games, for example to do addition you count fish is a fish tank and there is an interactive boy that talks to you.

Tutorials are the next complex tool. These are a mixture of reference and drill-and-practice tools. They serve the purpose of instructing and giving practice and review. The onw downplay of a tutorial is that the student does not have room to ask question, they can only be taught what the tutorial tells them. Examples would be Rosetta Stone, to learn foriegn languages.