Computer Assisted Instruction: Free Software Constructing the Procedural Knowledge of People with Moderate and Severe Mental Retardation

In order to reduce the use of illegal software, Free Software Steering Committee was established in 2002, in Taiwan, and in 2003 was actively promoted and integrated into the computer teaching at schools at all levels including special education. The characteristics of free software was to reduce the economic burden of teachers. Also, the free learning activities promoted by the Ministry of Education reduced the cost of teacher learning. In this article, through the hands-on experience of a special teacher, it is found that using free software to make up educational materials is free from time and economic constraints. Teachers can easily follow needs of the student and curriculum at any time to design multimedia teaching materials by themselves; students can simultaneously use teaching media, reducing costs on teaching tools. Self-designed interactive game teaching software can not only effectively enhance the concentration, memory and procedural knowledge of students with moderate and severe mental retardation, but also improve the classroom learning atmosphere. What is worthy of consideration in the future for teachers who are engaged in special education should be how to apply free software to teaching and how to act on its effect.