Computers as Tools Productivity

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Computers as Tools- Productivity

• Word
• Spreadsheets

Study Period 5, 2008
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"Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember,
involve me and I understand."
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Tools and humans

• Humans and tools have been inseparable throughout
  evolution
• Human minds have evolved to be adaptive in
  learning to use new tools
• Computer tools are qualitatively different from
  previous tool types
• Computer applications have the potential to be
  used in many different ways

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Traditional tools for teaching and learning

• Oral traditions
• Pencils, pens and paper
• Abacus, shells and trading items
• Rulers, protractors, graph/charting
• Pens and maps
• Books as stored Knowledge

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Activity1 Describe a book as a tool

• How does it work?
• What are its components?
• What are the features of a skilled user?
• What are the features of an unskilled user?
• Are all books exactly the same?
• How does it break down?

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Computers as Tools

• Computers can function as various types of tools.
• Many tools have the flexibility to function as
  different types of tools eg productivity,
  instructional, cognitive
• As a productivity tool it allows the user to
• be more efficient,
• provide impressive professional looking
  presentations,
• incorporate a variety of media
• improve quality

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Word processing in a class

• An entry, manipulation storage tool
• One of the most popular tools
• Characteristics
• Editing
• Formatting
• Integrating graphics
• Special functions such as spell checker, grammar
  checker, thesaurus
• Storage retrieval

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The Writing Process

• Supports planning, drafting, editing, revising,
  publishing
• Students can use outliner to support planning
• Students make more revision
• Students have fewer errors
• Opportunity to publish to an audience becomes
  important

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Uses in the classroom

• Examples
• English writing a story
• Maths preparing a survey
• S E collating information from the internet
• PE Health researching a sport writing it up
• Science writing up a science experiment
• LOTE exchanging information about your culture
• Arts incorporating graphics in artist project
• Technology Design Inventors

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Activity 1 collaborative writing in Word

• Start a story about a chance encounter with It
  was a hot morning. As I walked along the beach I
  met ????
• Swap seats with a colleague and continue writing
  by activating track changes in Word
• Swap again and again
• Original author, to accept or reject changes
• Embellish the story that you have ended up with
  using graphics tools.

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Activity 2

• Select any piece of text that you may have on
  your computer/memory stick
• Using the style tool in Word make up some
  headings for your paragraphs. Some headings could
  be Heading 1 while others could be Headings 2 or
  3
• Depending on what version of Word you are using
  find Table of Contents activate
• You may find this tool very useful for drafting
  essays

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What is a spreadsheet?

• Numerical record keeping system
• Essentially its a grid of empty cells with
  columns identified by letters and rows by numbers
• Cells may contain
• Text
• Numbers
• Formulas or mathematical functions

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How can spreadsheets support learning?

• Students are able to
• Explore mathematical relationships
• Facilitate calculations
• present data in various ways eg charts
• Simulate models
• Test hypotheses involving numbers and formulae
• Promote organisational skills
• Facilitate decision making and problem solving
• Explore the what-if questions

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Spreadsheets as an enquiry tool

• Spreadsheets engage a variety of mental processes
• Students identify relationships and patterns
• Support problem solving (cognitive effort
  off-loaded)
• Develop understanding of interrelationships
  procedures
• What if capabilities

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Uses of spreadsheets in the classroom

• Examples
• Maths Personal budget
• S E Temperature rainfall
• Science Genetic traits
• PE Health Food groups
• English Running record of reading
• Technology Design Record quantities of
  material needed

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Activity-graphing clothes

• You are to create a spreadsheet that identifies
  types of clothing eg (T-shirt, thongs, shoes,
  jeans etc) then record the number of people in
  the class with that type of clothing make
  numbers up if necessary.
• Record Chart the different types of clothing in
  Excel.
• Plan another activity that you might use with a
  Year 5 class

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References

• Jonassen, D.H. (2000) Computers as Mindtools for
  Schools Engaging Critical Thinking.
  Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
• Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Moore, J. Marra, R,
  2003, Learning to solve problems with Technology,
  Merrill Prentice Hall, NJ.
• Concept to Classroom Inquiry-based learning
  Online, accessed 30 March, 2004 URL
  http//www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/mon
  th6
• Grabe M Grabe C, 2004 Integrating technology
  for meaningful learning, Houghton Mifflin,
  Boston.