Tuesday, January 21, 2014
3 Tools for the Schools
Word Processing Software: Word Processing is a useful and diverse program to use in the classroom. This program can be used to help students improve their typing skills by having them write out essays or short answer responses. Word Processing can also be used as a way to help make different templates and documents such as certificates, newletters, and lesson plans. A negative impact Word Processing might have in the classroom would be the way it could impact a students handwrtting skills as well as grammar and spelling. Teachers should keep this in mind; especially putting emphasis on the impact of grammar and spelling becuase students become heavily dependent on spell check.
Spread Sheet Software: Being a teacher requires extensive organzing and planning in order to efficiently run a classroom; with this in mind, a teacher might find Spread Sheet Software helpful in many ways for organizing. A teacher could use Spreadsheet Software to merge mail letters such as what we did in class the other day; this tool is helpful for sending out mass letters in a short amount of time. This Software would also be helpful with making gradebook sheets or charts with the students names to see how they are improving or evaluate them in areas they need help in. A teacher might even find use for this Software to help keep their perosnal documents such as bills in check too.
Presentation Software: Perosnally speaking, I think Presentation Software is highly effective in a classrooom and helps promote learning in all asepcts. Many students are visual learners and need something to look at as they learn. Presentations help grab students' attention and can help relay information to students in a different manner. Prezi and Powerpoint are too highly effective presentation softwares that I throughly enjoy using. Teachers can even have their students make Prezis and Powerpoints to present to the class; this would help get the students more involved as well as teach them public speaking skills that are vital in everday life.
Classroom Usage: I deffiantley see myself relying on Word Processing and Presentation software in my classroom, but I probablly will not make much use of Spread Sheet Software. Mostly I find myself making several Prezi presentations becuase I find them to be attention grabbers and they are an organized and efficient way to educate. I also like the idea of having my students get involved in the process of making and presenting becuase I think Public Speaking is a skill in itself that is dieing due to the heavy reliance on technology.
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I played with Prezi presentation once at my other University. I found it very interest to use in the classroom. You are right, spread sheets are useful for grade book and it definitely would make our life much easier.
ReplyDeleteI love Prezi! I not only use it in class, but I also have created several for lesson plans. It is something different and unique that students love to see and use. I had not thought about word processing impacting handwriting, but that is something I will keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteI have never used Prezi before, but everyone else has me interested in looking into it! I agree with you on the usefulness of Spreadsheet Software. I had never used it to merge mail letters until we did so in class, and I absolutely loved it! I can see how all of these tools will be extremely helpful to us later on when teaching.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your honesty- A lot of people feel that way about spreadsheet software! I don't think you should use it just for the sake of using it; you should have a true purpose/need. I am glad that you have a lot of fun with Prezi software- it is also a great way to get your student's attention.
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