Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Chapter 4: Teaching with the Basic Three Software Tools
Chapter 4 discusses the three basic software tools, word processing, spreadsheet and database programs. Within the chapter, the authors give arguments to why teachers use word processing in the classroom. They argue that word processing has been the greatest impact on education when considering technology resources. Word processing is the mostly commonly used software in the education. It is used for a number of reasons. Word processing saves times, enhances document appearance, allows sharing of documents and allows collaboration of documents. I could not imagine being a teacher and not using word. As an early childhood teacher, Word is used weekly, if not daily, for newsletters, worksheets, lesson plans, annual reports, posters and having students work on keyboarding skills as well as story writing and so on. While reading this section of the chapter, I thought about what I have learned about making accommodations for students. Having electronic documents created in software like word or spreadsheet, can be very beneficial if (or when) you have a student in your class with a disability that requires modifications to how material is presented. For example, if you had a student with low visibility, it may be necessary to make worksheets in larger print, or in different contrasts. You can easily go into a word document and make these changes. For a student with a disability like ADHD, images may be needed to give prompting cues to the student. Images can also be easily inserted into a word document. Before having word, it would have taken much longer to recreate a suitable, individualized document. Basic software tools have definitely transformed the education field, including saving time and allowing for individualized documents/worksheets.
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I do agree with you on how important word processing is. Everyone uses it. We use it in school and when we are at work. I think that it is very valuable to anyone. At my work we use it all the time for newsletters, notes and lesson plans. Word also helps students at home and in school. I agree with you on how a teacher can change a document to help a student.
ReplyDeleteI think that word processing is one of the most common softwares in education and that you are right, it has really changed teaching. Word processing software really simplifies a lot of daily tasks such as creating worksheets and newsletters. I cannot imaging the amount of time it would take to make classroom newsletters by hand. Word processing is great for students who have a disability. Another way it can be used is alongside software with text to speech capabilities so that a student with a visual impairment or reading delays can participate with the class.
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