Classroom "Basic Three"

Software Tools for the Classroom

 There are three basic software tools included in the software suites sold today. Those include word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. 

Word Processing Software

The software that has had the most prevalent impact on the classroom is the word processing software (Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.116).    As a 6^th grade teacher, I can tell you that I use this software the most in my classroom.  Teachers find that it can save them time by allowing them to modify materials without having to start from scratch; improve the appearance of documents by providing a typed version rather than a handwritten version; allows them to easily share documents that can be edited with other teachers; and also collaborative sharing of documents via programs such as Google Docs, which has opened a whole new window of opportunity in the education world alone.

There are disadvantages to using word processors as well.  One of the most impactful issues I have found in my classroom is the effects the use of it has on handwriting and spelling. Though no researchers have done official studies to validate that word processing has impacted handwriting as a whole, cursive handwriting “is on the wane” due to word processing and other technologies (Supon, 2009; Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.120).  Assessment, auto-correct and questions of what age to start students using word processing are other concerns.

 

Spreadsheet Software

Of all software available, spreadsheet software is my favorite!  This software has so many tools and functions built into it that you can complete most any type of data organizing task imaginable.  It is designed to organize and manipulate numerical data in rows and columns (Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.122).   Advantages to educators using it include saving time, organizing display of information, support use of “what if” questions, and increase motivation to work with mathematics.  The largest issue with using it is the hurdle of getting the students over the fear of processing numbers, mathematics (Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.125).   

Presentation Software

Presentation software is used to display information in a slideshow format.  (Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.125). Teachers use presentation software to help organize thinking about a topic, enhance the impact of spoken information, and allow collaboration of presentations (Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.124-125).  The disadvantages to using it include the impact of the software on the info presented and teaching style. I don’t utilize it in my classroom as often as I could, as it takes a while to build a presentation, and it can take a fair amount of research to prepare.  Many educators utilize it to present info summaries, demonstrate materials for discussion, present illustrative problems and solutions, practice screens, assessment screens, brief tutorials, and book reports; while students use it to present a project (Doering & Roblyer, 2013, p.131-133).

 My Classroom Usage

As mentioned above, I use the word processing software most in my classroom.  Here is an example of a field trip permission form that I recently sent home if you would like to review it. 

References

Doering, A.H., Roblyer, M.D., 2013, Integrating Educational Technology Into Teaching: 6th Edition,

United States of America, Pearson Education