I couldn't agree more with Grahm Kent's message about the use of computers in labs or instruction in general. Tutorial software is often just another medium for displaying the same message students will see in a diagram in the book, on videodisc or video cassette. Truly useful software for instruction is interactive. Students input data and the computer spits out results. I have three programs in my non-majors labs that students can't get enough in lab.
Students input data on and the computer generates an analysis.
One program analyzes diet. One anlyzes food labels on cans, cereal boxes or junk food and the last one predicts their life expectancy based on how they answer a series of questions about their health and lifestyles. Not only are these fun, but they also teach the role of computers in science - research tools as important as the microscope or the electrophoresis gel. The key is interactive, not just watching something on the screen. The three programs I am using are listed below.