Chapter Three

Productivity Software Applications for Educators

Objectives:

You will be able to:

Define application software.
Identify different types of application and productivity software.
Locate Web resources that can be used in the classroom.
Describe the difference between operating system software and productivity software.
Demonstrate basic word processing skills.

This is Important Because...

Productivity software has the potential to significantly minimize the amount of time teachers spend on repetitive and tedious tasks. Furthermore, productivity software can be integrated into the curriculum and impact the learning of all students. There are many different types of software, and equally as many uses. Remember, it is the effective integration of quality software that makes a difference in teacher effectiveness and student learning.

Software

Software n. Date: 1960: something used or associated with and usually contrasted with hardware as: a: the entire set of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with a system and especially a computer system; specifically: computer programs b: materials for use with audiovisual equipment Source: WWWebster Dictionary

Chapter 3 introduces application software, productivity software, graphics and multimedia software, software for school and professional use, software for home and personal use, and other software topics. Research has shown that effective integration of technology, including educational software, does make a difference in student learning. Review the sites below to read about current research studies and to gather ideas for how to use specific software applications in your classroom.

Microsoft Classroom Teacher Network - Many great resources and ideas are available at this site. Be sure to check out the links listed on the left-hand side of the page.
In and Out of the Classroom with Microsoft Office - Learn how to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher. Gather ideas for how to integrate these software applications into your classroom. Links to tutorials and lesson plans are also available.
E-Gems: Electronic Games for Education in Math and Science is a research project with many facets out of the University of British Columbia.
Educators' Portal - This page provides updated education news, resources, and links for educators at all levels. This is an excellent resource for keeping up to date!

Word Processing

There are many ways teachers can effectively integrate word processing into the classroom. Students are generally more motivated to write when they can enter their work in a word processing program. Adding clip art and graphic images also enhances their work and increases their motivation. Chapter 1's In the Lab section, starting on page 1.37, provides links and instructions for creating documents with clip art as well as productivity and integration ideas. Chapter 2's In the Lab section, starting on page 2.46, provides instruction on how to use Templates and Wizards. Both sections also have links to additional word processing ideas and resources.

Visit the following sites to see how other teachers are integrating word processing skills in their classrooms.

Academy Curricular Exchange - Language Arts Lessons Elementary (K-5) - This site has numerous links to activities that would be used in language arts and that could also incorporate word processing skills for students. Many of the activities could be modified to fit any grade level.
Computer Skills - Using Technology in the Classroom - The first lesson on this page integrates word processing skills in a social studies setting. Great lesson plan!
Shelly Cashman Site - In the Lab - Check out the keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheet, and database tutorials.

Spreadsheets and Databases

Spreadsheet programs are a great time saver when collecting numerical data, calculating statistics, and charting data in a visual form. Spreadsheet skills can be used for almost an unlimited number and variety of tasks. Many schools provide teachers with a grade book program which is really created in a spreadsheet. Using spreadsheets in the curriculum can help students to understand their function and find creative ways to display their data. Chapter 3's In the Lab section of the textbook provides instructions for building a grade book using a spreadsheet program as well as additional links and ideas for integrating spreadsheets into the classroom curriculum.

Databases are the solution for handling and managing large volumes of data. The classic example of a database is you local telephone directory. The directory can print the contents of the database by customer name which is how we get the pages we consider our white pages. The yellow pages come from the same database but have been extracted by the type of customer, a business. Other types of reference books can be created from the same database such as a cross-reference index, which extracts and arranges the data by street address. The ability to manipulate large amounts of data to produce different results is the power of a database. To learn more about databases, including how to create a database, and additional integration ideas read pages 4.44 through 4.46 in your textbook or visit the In The Lab section for Chapter 4 at the textbook Web site.

Spreadsheets

North Carolina Public Schools InfoWeb has links to lesson plans that utilize spreadsheets for grades 6-8. These lesson plans could be modified to use with lower or higher grade levels as well.
Microsoft Lesson Plans provides links to two different lesson plans that use Excel in math.
EXCEL-lent Middle School Math Lessons is a great article that focuses on an interview with Illinois middle school teacher Kelly McMahon. She shares the three important roles Excel plays in her seventh and eighth grade classrooms. Included in the article are samples of student work, ideas from other teachers, and practical Web sites to help teachers get started using Excel in their own classrooms.

Databases

North Carolina Public Schools InfoWeb has links to lesson plans that utilize databases for grades 4-8.
Grade 4 Database Application is very creative lesson plan that can be used at a variety of levels.
Mathematicians Are People, Too! is a lesson plan for grades 5-8 where students learn about the contributions of famous mathematicians.

Time Saver!

When you are creating a computer file, like a word processing document, the computer stores the file temporarily in the computer's memory. Saving a file records the file permanently on a storage medium, like a floppy or hard disk. It is important to save your work frequently because if you have an electrical failure or the computer is accidentally turned off, your work is lost. As a result, saving frequently can never be overemphasized and you must emphasize the importance of saving frequently to your students.

The first time you save a file, you will use the Save As dialog box. The Save As dialog box allows you to save a file on a floppy disk, a zip disk, or the computer's hard disk and to name the file. After you have saved a file, you only need to click Save on the File menu to save the file again. However, if you wish to save a file under a different name, save the file in a different location, or both; you will need to click Save As, instead of Save on the File menu.

Teachers do not have time to create everything from scratch, instead open a similar document or file, save it using the Save As option with a new file name and/or new location, and then modify it as necessary. In many cases, only slight modifications are required. Many teachers create a personalized school letterhead (or stationary) and save the file as a "letter template" for continuous use. Each time you need to create a memo or letter, simple open the "letter template" and save it under a new file name.

Chapter Three Assignments

Read Chapter 3 in the textbook and the supplemental information provided with this chapter. Review the Special Feature following Chapter 3, "Creating a Teacher's Web Page Using Microsoft Word." You will be using this special feature to create a Web page.
Go online to the Shelly Cashman Web site, http://www.scsite.com/tdc2/ and review the following textbook end-of-chapter sections.

"Education Issues"

Write a 150 - 300 word reflection on Educational Issue #4 (page 3.43) “Computer Use in the Classroom,” focusing on what you learned. Do not summarize the report, instead discuss ideas and significant insights and how the information can be used to support classroom integration of technology, also reflect on your personal reaction to reading the article. Type your assignment single space with an extra line between paragraphs. You must use Microsoft Word.

Send this document via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter's due date.

“In the Lab”

#1 - Follow the directions given on page 3.46 – 3.47 using Microsoft Excel to create the Grade Book Spreadsheet shown in Figure 3-51. For additional help using Excel try accessing one the of the tutorials listed on the website on in your textbook. You must use Microsoft Excel.

· To calculate the total for each student use Auto Sum or the formula =sum(c4:f4) changing the number to correspond to the appropriate row

· To calculate the class average for each assignment use the =average(c4:c16) changing the number to correspond to the appropriate row

Send this document via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter's due date.

Create your own web page following the directions given on pages 3.50 – 3.66, “Creating A Teacher’s Web Page Using Microsoft Word.” You must use Microsoft Word.

· Insert your name instead of “Mr. Johnson.”

Send this document via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter's due date.

3. Complete Chapter 3 Test