The basic software suite consists of three of the most widely used software support tools. These tools are word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs. These programs teach students 21st-century skills while making daily work more efficient and effective.
Word processing software allows people to type documents on a computer or other device. It allows the user to save the document for another time, publish it as a web page, PDF files to save the formatting, or RTF files to remove the formatting.
Word processing software’s biggest relative advantage is that is saves time writing text and makes changing the text easier and more flexible. This allows students to make changes to their writing easily. Students do not like to make changes when they hand-write a piece of writing. Using word processing software lets students edit and revise with ease. They are more willing to add to and fix up writing. It also allows students to save and share documents, enhance the document appearance, and collaborate on documents. Google Docs is a great app that allows students to work on a document simultaneously. It also saves the revision history incase something is deleted or the teacher needs to check it.
Not only is there a relative advantage for students, word processing software has made teachers’ (and many other workplace environments) life much easier as well. Teachers can create documents easily and efficiently, save and share documents with colleagues and parents, create and edit lesson plans, and enhance communication. Teachers can also collaborate with students using word processing software. Google Docs is also great for this. Teachers can suggest or edit on the same document as students, leave typed comments, and even leave voice comments.
Spreadsheet software are designed to organize and manipulate numerical. Spreadsheets store information in columns and rows, and formulas can be applied to the cells. This software is another time-saver that can be used in the classroom and workplace.
Spreadsheets can save time by storing information and completing calculations and recalculations quickly and accurately. This can make math or another subject area working with spreadsheets more motivating. Information can be organized to design charts, schedules, attendance lists, dictionaries, and much more. Students can store save the information and share it with other students or the teacher. Students can use spreadsheets to help answer “what if” questions. The automatic recalculation of numbers helps students see what happens when certain numbers are changes. This helps them visualize the results.
Teachers also reap the benefits of spreadsheets. Teachers can also use spreadsheets to find calculations. One common way teachers do this is to show student growth. They can input data from the beginning, middle, and end of the year and use a formula to find the difference and show the amount of growth. Spreadsheets can serve as anecdotal checklists, gradebooks, budgets, and much more. Teachers can put a word wall into a spreadsheet and share it with students.
Presentation software is used to display information using a slideshow. The information in the slideshow can include text, pictures, audio, and videos. The most popular relative advantage of presentation software is supporting a speaker while presenting information to a listener. Presentation software can also help people organizer their thinking about a topic, enhance the impact of the spoken information, and allow collaboration on presentations. Students and teachers can contribute to the products in a variety of ways by choosing text, audio, images, or video.
Presentation software can be used in a number of ways. Students or teachers could present a summary of information. This could include book reports, informational reports, or persuasive reports. They can also include hot spots in the slideshow that take the presentation to a link or site to receive more information. Slideshows could be used to give a brief tutorial. Teachers could show students how to complete a math problem, a science experiment, or explanation of a concept. Slideshows can be used for interactive storybooks or games, such as jeopardy. These both motivate and engage students.
The basic software suite may be overlooked and thought of as simple, but there are so many uses that can create an amazing relative advantage for both students and teachers. It is hard to think of how much more work there would be without word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Technology tools for 21st century teacher . In J, Johnston, (Ed.) Integrating educational technology into teaching (pp. 31-71). Boston: Pearson.
I also noted the ease of making revisions for students as an advantage. I notice such an increase in production from students from my non-tech days to now. I first started teaching in 2002, so the introduction of Google Apps has been amazing for increased productivity.
ReplyDeleteI am just in my third year teaching, but implementing Google Apps has made such a difference for me too. Students love to be able to collaborate and see someone else typing or editing on the screen. And they certainly try harder and put more pride into their work when it is easy to make it better and neater.
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ReplyDeleteI love your idea of using a spreadsheet to make a word wall! I am definitely going to copy this idea. It might also be fun to let the students create their own word walls later in the year. Thanks for the excellent idea. I'll be passing it along to the other teachers in my grade level!
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