Learning
About The 3 Basic Software Tools
In this blog we will
discuss the uses and problems that arise from the 3 basic software tools used
education technology according to chapter 4 of Integrating educational
technology into teaching.
Word
Processing Software
Word Processing Software is a great way to put
anything printed on paper into an organized format, producing teaching
materials that is accurate, polished-up, and completes tasks at a more productive
rate compared to handwriting. The word processing software’s excellent
qualities do not stop here; it attracts interaction by being able to share,
feedback, and collaborate (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, pp. 112-114), this
interaction can lead and foster creativity in cooperative group-learning
projects.
There are issues
that need to be addressed upon for example; that if students start word
processing too early around 4-5 years old, will not be willing to develop
written expression. Some organizations allow students to use word processing
over handwriting to answer essay-type test questions. But, research found that
students’ word-processed answers got lower grades than handwritten answers, and
also, the students that uses word processors over handwriting for their works
have more involuntary errors because of auto-correction (Roblyer and Doering,
2013, p. 120).
Spreadsheet Software
Spreadsheets are used often
in education because teachers use spreadsheets to keep track of their budgets,
grades, mathematical problem solving, and etc. The spreadsheets displays all
information in organized rows, and columns, the data is automatically
recalculated instantly, giving you assurance in the data and saving your time
(pp. 122-126). Students with difficulty in math are more likely to have
problems getting familiar with spreadsheet programs to assist them in their
math ability (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 125).
Presentation Software
Presentation software organizes
information (text, images, audio, and video) in slides, and present ideas in an
effective way that the impact of the information is enhanced to the best
understanding possible allowing for further collaboration with the students.
Presentation software must be utilized correctly to be able to teach
effectively (p. 128). Bad presentation habits can derail an education such as;
showing few slides at a time before having students apply the information,
using slides with no text (images), moving while presenting the slides, on the
last slide, moving forward directly to student work without giving out hard
copies (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 130).
Classroom Use
As a deaf science teacher in
the coming future, I will be using the PowerPoint software most often than
others, because it is crucial to the teaching method that I will use daily in
my classroom, the bilingual deaf education. It requires the information to be
presented via text on slides and then translated into American Sign Language.
Here’s a video of a renowned specialist in Bilingual Deaf Education, Dr. Robert
E. Johnson, presenting about Bilingual Deaf Education, and he is using the very
same method that he is presenting about.
References
Roblyer, M. D., &
Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational
technology into teaching. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Its interesting to see the methods teachers think of to get the message across. I can see where your affinity for presentation software will be tremendously beneficial. The method you are gonna use as a teacher, "the bilingual education" seems like a great way to ensure your students are learning effectively. Did any of your teachers use that method with you?
ReplyDeleteOf course, many of my teachers from Alabama School for the Deaf used this method with me out of necessity really... Because presentation software frees our hand up to use in effective dialogue with the students in ASL.
DeleteAndy, I found your blog post to be really insightful. The teaching method you intend to use when you become a teacher was really interesting to learn about. Even though you stated that you will use presentation software heavily in the classroom, do you think that spreadsheet software programs will be just as important in a science classroom? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteYes, Spreadsheet is just as important, it depends on what subject is being teached. Spreadsheets are seen more often in a math classroom than in other subjects. Spreadsheets are also used to help find research data, or surveys in some classes as well. Spreadsheets have many other uses.
DeleteFirst off, I love your blog URL! I didn't realize that you were a science concentration too. The video was great, do you plan to teach at a DHH school or with the bilingualism teach at any school DHH or otherwise?
ReplyDeleteYes I will teach the same method at both.
DeleteHi Andy, thanks for your post! I found your blog to be very informative especially the demonstration of bilingual deaf education in the video. I think PowerPoint can be very valuable when it comes to science education. What are some other tools that you might consider using in addition to PowerPoint in visual presentations?
ReplyDeleteAdding spreadsheets to the presentation can be a valuable asset as well, because showing data is a good way to convince the students.
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