Thursday, September 3, 2015
Module 1 Blog Post
Word Processing Software
Benefits: Word processing is used in schools because it saves time, enhances the appearance of documents, allows for sharing of documents, and allows for collaboration on documents.
Issues: Not everyone is on board for the use of word processing in the classroom. There is debate over when students should begin using word processing and the time necessary to teach keyboarding skills would take away from other content areas. Word processing has had a negative effect on handwriting and on the scores of essay type questions versus handwritten assessments. Problems with inadvertent errors due to the autocorrect feature that can replace typed words with ones the software thinks is more correct can penalize the students unfairly.
Spreadsheet Software
Benefits: Spreadsheets are used to save time, organize displays of information, increase the motivation to work with mathematics, and support the asking of "what if" questions by encouraging problem solving.
Issues: The major issue with using spreadsheets is that there is a general fear of mathematics and processing numbers, which means no one wants to use them. There is also a need for time to get students used them, again, taking away from instructional time in content areas.
Presentation Software
Benefits: Presentation software helps to organize thinking about a topic, enhances the impact of spoken information, and allows collaboration on presentations.
Issues: There is no research to prove consistent impact on education impact as it depends on how its used. Presentations often negatively impact teaching styles as teachers tend to read from the PowerPoint and student participation seems to be discouraged as they are generally lecture-style presentation.
Classroom Uses for Word Processing
After teaching a lesson on the Civil War, I could have my fourth graders write journal entries from the perspective of a Union or Confederate soldier. They would write these on a computer, either a PC or Mac, using word processing software. This allows the students to more easily work through the writing processes from drafting to editing to final products while also practicing their keyboarding skills.
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I agree, sometimes presentations can negatively affect teaching. As teachers, we have to use our tools to emphasize what we want our students to learn...not use them as the only way we teach.
ReplyDeleteYour idea to use word processing software as journal entries is a great way to integrate technology with social studies. The students will love it too. I agree with your point that presentation software can pose a problem when the instructor uses it as a tool for lecture based instruction. There are so many other ways to teach using presentation software.
ReplyDeleteI love your classroom use idea of journal entries! The activity not only helps students take on the perspective of a soldier in the Civil War, but also enables them to become familiar with word processing software. Word processing software will help students through the drafting and editing processes. It will also help students develop keyboarding skills that are so vital in today's society.
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