Educational Software is a type of computer program that helps teachers and students in the field of education. It has several different uses, from classroom management to student tracking. It can also provide students with an interactive learning experience. It can be used to create digital educational resources, including textbooks and course materials. It can help students connect with others in the field of education and share work on a global scale.

The evolution of computer technology and software has affected the world of educational technology in significant ways. The advancement of the personal computer and the availability of educational software in the home and school settings has allowed for a great deal of educational innovation. Educational software has developed from mainframe timesharing systems and basic bitmap graphics to the multi-faceted programs available today.

Some of the earliest educational software was designed to run on desktop computers with a high degree of user customization. The emergence of PCs that could be purchased for under $2000 changed the landscape of educational software and led to a number of companies and non-profits that developed specialized programs. Broderbund, The Learning Company, and MECC, the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium are some of the more well-known educational software producers from this era.

Today, software for education is often developed in a cloud environment. This allows the program to be accessed from anywhere and offers a much higher level of interactivity than traditional educational software. It can be used to create textbooks and resources, conduct tests, grade papers, and monitor student progress. Some of this software can be accessed from hand-held devices as well, allowing students to interact with each other and the teacher in a more collaborative way.

Lesson plan software is one of the most popular types of educational software available. This type of software enables teachers to organize their curricula, find resources like worksheets and quizzes, and even develop their entire semester or year curriculum in advance. In addition to using lesson plan software, teachers may use desktop publishing software to create newsletters, flyers, and other materials for their students and parents.

Tutorial software is another type of educational software that teaches students new lessons and provides them with a platform through which they can learn the lesson at their own pace. Drill and practice software is also a common type of educational software, providing students with a chance to strengthen their existing skills.

Other forms of educational software allow teachers to track students from the beginning of their academic careers, all the way through graduation. Some of these programs, like Gradelink and Wisenet, can handle schedules, assignments, grades, administrative reports, discipline records, medical information, IT support, tuition and billing, communication portals, and more. Other types of software for education, like Edmodo and Schoology, offer a more social networking-oriented approach to online education and can keep students engaged throughout the learning process. This is especially helpful for students that are at a distance from their teachers and peers.