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The selection of suitable software can sometimes be confusing and difficult, but teachers will find this task easier by beginning with the intended purpose of the software. In this way, an overview of software categories used in the Laptops Initiative for literacy support will help teachers to broadly identify the type of software which might be suitable in a given school context.
Decisions will also be easier if teachers can visualise how they might use the software in their own practice. This will be helped by examining how other Irish second-level teachers have used software. Six case summaries of software in use in the Laptops Initiative are provided as examples of more detailed cases available from other sources. These sources include:
- The accompanying ‘Engaging Learners’ book which carries more information on the software categories and developed examples of software use in practice
- Evaluations of software undertaken by Irish teachers, including Laptops Initiative teachers, is available on Software Central
- Some examples of software in use can be seen in the ‘Engaging Learners’ DVD – the individual video cases from the four schools featured in the DVD can be downloaded from here.
Details of software and hardware suppliers from Ireland and overseas are available here.
Some general ‘hints 'n' tips’ on software selection and use, arising from the Laptops Initiative, may also assist teachers.
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