Technology Tools to Support Technology Tools to Support Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

CECS 4100

Chapters 5 and 6 IETTRhonda Christensen

“...The evidence is accumulating

that computers are having a decided

impact on the way our schools and

society organize, communicate, and

make decisions.”

From Nathan, Joe (1985). Micro-myths- exploring the limits of learning with computers. Minneapolis: Winston Press.

Technology Support ToolsTechnology Support Tools

• Improved productivity

• Aids teacher in performing many tasks

• Improved appearance

• Improved accuracy

• May provide more support for interaction

Types of Technology Types of Technology Support ToolsSupport Tools

• Materials generators

• Data collection and analysis tools

• Graphics tools

• Planning and organizing tools

• Research and reference tools

• Tools to support specific content areas

Using Materials GeneratorsUsing Materials Generators

• Desktop Publishing Software– focuses on communications through a

combination of written words and page appearance

– Includes many design principles

• Examples of DTP software include:– Publish It!, PageMaker, Publisher

Classroom Applications of DTPClassroom Applications of DTP• Newsletters and magazines

– culmination of a large project

• Brochures– travel for places of study

• Books and booklets– Kids love to be published!

• Flyers and posters– “Hide” grammar and spelling in these

activities!

More Material GeneratorsMore Material Generators

• Test generators and test question banks• Worksheet generators• Puzzle generators• Rubric generators• IEP (Individual Educational Plan) generators• Certificate Makers• Form Makers• Groupware Products

Material Generators to Help the Material Generators to Help the TeacherTeacher

• Test Makers – Professional looking tests with answer keys– Variety of test formats in familiar WP style– May randomize questions or multiple choice

responses

• Purchased software, free online or purchased online

Utility Programs to Help the Utility Programs to Help the TeacherTeacher

• Drill Sheet Generators and Organizers– Easily and quickly make flash cards,

worksheets, timelines, labels or flow charts– Help students review or practice– Display information in a variety of formats

• Examples include: Make-A-Flash, Timeliner software packages and many online sites

Utility Programs to Help the Utility Programs to Help the TeacherTeacher

• Puzzle Makers– Easily and quickly produce puzzles

– Word scrambles, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, gameboards

– Help students review information in a fun way

– Can be applied to all levels and subjects

• Examples include: Crossword Magic, Word Bingo, Crossword Wizard and Puzzlemaker.com

Utility Programs for TeachersUtility Programs for Teachers

• Productivity Software– Awards, posters, banners, cards, certificates– Can be used by teachers and students– Easy to produce professional looking products– Includes: The Print Shop, BannerMania,

Publisher, Online Resources

Using Data Collection and Using Data Collection and Analysis ToolsAnalysis Tools

• Gradebooks

• Statistical Packages

• Data Management (CMI) and Testing Tools

Utility Programs to Help the Utility Programs to Help the TeacherTeacher

• Grade Book programs– Record and average students’ grades

– Easy to use

– Easy to change

– Can manipulate data (sort or scale)

– Calculate statistics (current and accurate grades)

• Examples include: Gradebook, Gradebuster, Making the Grade, Excel spreadsheet

Utility Programs to Help the Utility Programs to Help the TeacherTeacher

• Statistical Programs– Help teachers complete calculations and

analyze statistics– May calculate simple averages or more

complex analysis of variance– Many gradebook programs include statistical

abilities

• Examples include: SPSS, SAS, StatView

Data Management and Data Management and Testing ToolsTesting Tools

• Computer Managed Instruction (CMI) - a record keeping routine within an instructional system – Integrated Learning Systems (ILS)

• New term is Data Management Software

Types and Functions of Data Types and Functions of Data Management ToolsManagement Tools

• Components of computer-based learning systems (ILSs)– Can handle large amounts of data on student

performance

• Computerized testing systems (aka CAT)– Generate test forms and process performance

data (ex. GRE, SAT, etc.)

• Test scoring and data analysis systems– either keyboard entry or bubble sheets)

Using Graphics ToolsUsing Graphics Tools• Print graphics packages

– Print Shop Deluxe

• Draw/Paint Programs– KidPix, Aldus Freehand, CorelDraw

• Presentation software/multimedia authoring tools– Began as electronic slide shows - but now

include multimedia and hypermedia– Examples: HyperStudio, PowerPoint, KidPix

Graphics Programs for TeachersGraphics Programs for Teachers

• Graphics include two-dimensional representation of images (charts and graphs, pictures and illustrations)

• Graphics are a powerful mode of presentation

Graphics Programs Graphics Programs

• Computer Aided Design (CAD)– Designing objects like cars or buildings– Saves time, money and potential errors– Includes ClarisCAD, Kid CAD, Sim City 2000

Graphics ProgramsGraphics Programs

• Presentation Graphics– Produce charts and graphs based on data– Common forms include line graphs, pie charts,

bar graphs, pictographs– Show pictorial form for data– Includes: Graph Power, Excel, PowerPoint

Graphics ProgramsGraphics Programs

• Paint Programs– Let users draw and paint computerized pictures– Let a user erase, change colors, size, fonts

easily– Some programs allow user to draw with a light

pen on a graphics tablet– Includes: KidPix , EA Art Center

Using Planning and Using Planning and Organizing ToolsOrganizing Tools

• Outlining Tools and other Writing Aids– timelines, story starters

• Brainstorming Tools– Inspiration and other concept mapping software

• Lesson Planning Tools

• Schedule/Calendar Makers

Using Research and Using Research and Reference ToolsReference Tools

• Encyclopedias

• Atlases

• Dictionaries

Using Tools to Support Specific Using Tools to Support Specific Content AreasContent Areas

• CAD and 3D Modeling/Animation Systems

• Music Editors and Synthesizers

• Reading Tools

• MBLs or Probeware– software with special hardware probes to

measure light, temperature, speed, voltage, etc.

Managing TextManaging Text

Word Processing and

Desktop Publishing

CECS 4100

Common WP CharacteristicsCommon WP Characteristics

• Collecting text

• Editing and revising text

• Saving text

• Printing text

Systems Used in EducationSystems Used in Education

• Bank Street Writer

• Magic Slate

• FrEdwriter

• Kid Works 2

• Storybook Weaver

• MS Word

WP in Integrated PackagesWP in Integrated Packages

• AppleWorks (integrated)

• ClarisWorks (integrated)

• Works (integrated)

• LOGOWriter (WP and programming)

Desktop PublishingDesktop Publishing(Combining text and graphics)(Combining text and graphics)

• The Print Shop

• The Children’s Writing and Publishing Center

• PageMaker

• The Writing Center

• MS Publisher

Four Major Stages of WritingFour Major Stages of Writing• Prewriting

– brainstorming– freewriting

• Composing– prompted writing– collaborative writing

• Revising – simple to move text, move paragraphs, etc.

• Editing– spell checkers (be careful)

Managing InformationManaging Information

Data Managers

What is a Data Manager?What is a Data Manager?

• A database is a collection of data

• Database management is an organizational structure that allows for retrieval of the data

• Basic features of a database management system– file -collection of information on a topic– record -all the information about one entry– field -fields organize the information in a file

Database ExampleDatabase Example

• Database file: “Whales”

• Record: May contain all the information about Beluga Whales

• Fields: – Common Whale Name– Scientific Name– Average length– Life expectancy

Computerized vs. Computerized vs. Non-computerized DBNon-computerized DB

• Manipulation of data with computerized

• Ex. Search for all whales longer than 50 ft– Much more efficient with computerized system

Database Systems in EducationDatabase Systems in Education

• Filemaker Pro

• Access (MS)

• MicroSoft Works

• Bank Street Filer

• AppleWorks

Database ManagementDatabase Management• Searching databases

– Library– CD-ROM– ERIC– Dialog

• Organizing information– Most effective reports don’t necessarily have

the most information

• As the size of information base grows, so does the need to organize it

Organizing Student InformationOrganizing Student Information

• Student schedules

• Attendance

• Disciplinary actions

• Hobbies

• Can search by any of the fields on any student population

Using Databases Using Databases in the Curriculumin the Curriculum

• Social Studies– Historical data– Geographical data (states)

• Science– Students create a database on a unit they are

studying such as birds

• English– On-going book reports to be shared with the class

Managing NumbersManaging Numbers

Spreadsheets and Statistics

SpreadsheetsSpreadsheets

• Information organized by rows and columns

• When one number is changed, it can recalculate all the numbers affected by the change.

Common Spreadsheet PackagesCommon Spreadsheet Packages

• VisiCalc (“grandfather of electronic spreadsheets” no longer made)

• Excel

• LOTUS 1-2-3

• AppleWorks

• ClarisWorks

• Microsoft Works

Spreadsheet ApplicationsSpreadsheet Applications

• Encourages Projections, “what if?”– Algebra– Budgets– Grades

• Gradebooks

• Financial Records

Spreadsheets in the CurriculumSpreadsheets in the Curriculum

• Comparison of data– estimation– comparisons by location

• Manipulation of numbers– economics– mathematics

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Statistics in the ClassroomStatistics in the Classroom

• Methods for describing and summarizing data

• Types: Descriptive or Inferential

• Descriptive– Reduce large quantities of data into manageable

size to describe precisely• Average• Standard deviation• Range of scores

Statistics in the ClassroomStatistics in the Classroom

• Inferential Statistics– Comparison and identification of relationships

(girls vs. boys)• Correlations

• t-tests

• analysis of variance

• Types of data– Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio

Statistics in the CurriculumStatistics in the Curriculum

• Statistic systems use spreadsheet to store data (a sophisticated subset of spreadsheets)

• Compare pre and post

• Diagnostic applications (aptitudes, ITBS)

• Data collection by students– Weights of two gerbils can be measured as they

grow and compared with how much they eat

Statistics in EducationStatistics in Education

• Statistics can help us answer questions about the characteristics of people, events, or objects.