More recently, multimedia and Web authoring software has been used for this purpose. Students practice problem-solving and creative strategies as they use the software to create programs and presentations. Learner-centered software tools are not particularly expensive. This section includes three different uses of IT to directly support learning. Computer-assisted research is the use of IT as an aid to doing library and empirical research.
Distance learning is the use of telecommunications designed to facilitate student learning.
CAL includes drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, and a variety of virtual reality environments that are designed to help students learn. Early CAL programs were essentially electronic versions of student worksheets. Current CAL software is highly interactive, able to track and respond to student answers with new problems. An ILS represents a major commitment for a school in terms of funding and instructional program. There are two major categories of computer-assisted research in schools.