How to Evaluate Educational Software

There are lots of programs on the market that claim to be educational software. Some of these programs are great tools for helping people learn, but others aren't much more than video games and a vocabulary list. You should know how to evaluate educational software so you can get the best value for your dollar.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Evaluate Educational Software

1. Check the user reviews at online retailers. Most large websites have a spot for user reviews on each product's page. Remember that some companies hire writers to post favorable reviews of their products, so be sure and read as many reviews as you can find to help ensure an unbiased opinion.

2. Compare the price of the software to its features. Language software, for example, is generally very expensive. You should get many features if you buy an expensive program. Look for online lessons, access to updates, voice interface and printable lessons.

3. Do a little research on the software's developer or publisher. Companies that make other educational products or offer private lessons generally have good educational software.

4. See whether you can download a trial version to help you evaluate the educational software. Smaller companies and website-based programs tend to offer free trials more frequently than brand name products.

5. Find out how the students' achievements and progress will be tracked. Get a program that allows each student to have their own login name that is saved to the school network so it can be used at any computer.

6. See whether the program offers a variety of teaching methods, including both visual and oral instructions. You need to be sure the program will work with students who prefer different methods of instruction.

7. Examine the networking abilities of the educational software. Newer programs allow the teacher to work at one computer which can do things such as control the lesson plans and view students' progress.

Tips & Warnings

• You can sometimes save money by purchasing several years of courses at once.
• It's essential to investigate any study that the seller cites in its marketing literature. Email the researchers and request a copy of their findings to review any claims that the product's manufacturer is making.
• If you plan to install the software on multiple computers, you need to make sure that they all meet the system requirements before you buy the program.
• Investigate any awards the educational software might have won. Often the groups that present the award, such as a magazine or educational group, maintain a list of comparisons between different programs.