Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Technology Support Tools

1. Technology Tools to Support Teaching and Learning CECS 4100 Chapters 5 and 6 IETT Rhonda Christensen

2. “...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.

3. Technology Support Tools • Improved productivity • Aids teacher in performing many tasks • Improved appearance • Improved accuracy • May provide more support for interaction

4. Types of Technology Support Tools • Materials generators • Data collection and analysis tools • Graphics tools • Planning and organizing tools • Research and reference tools • Tools to support specific content areas

5. Using 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

6. Classroom 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!

7. More 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

8. Material Generators to Help the Teacher • 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

9. Utility Programs to Help the Teacher • 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

10. Utility Programs to Help the Teacher • 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

11. Utility 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

12. Using Data Collection and Analysis Tools • Gradebooks • Statistical Packages • Data Management (CMI) and Testing Tools

13. Utility Programs to Help the Teacher • 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

14. Utility Programs to Help the Teacher • 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

15. Data Management and Testing Tools • Computer Managed Instruction (CMI) - a record keeping routine within an instructional system • Integrated Learning Systems (ILS) • New term is Data Management Software

16. Types and Functions of Data Management 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)

17. Using 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

18. Graphics Programs for Teachers • Graphics include two-dimensional representation of images (charts and graphs, pictures and illustrations) • Graphics are a powerful mode of presentation

19. 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

20. Graphics 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

21. Graphics 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

22. Using Planning and Organizing Tools • Outlining Tools and other Writing Aids • timelines, story starters • Brainstorming Tools • Inspiration and other concept mapping software • Lesson Planning Tools • Schedule/Calendar Makers

23. Using Research and Reference Tools • Encyclopedias • Atlases • Dictionaries

24. Using Tools to Support Specific Content 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.

26. Managing Text Word Processing and Desktop Publishing CECS 4100

27. Common WP Characteristics • Collecting text • Editing and revising text • Saving text • Printing text

28. Systems Used in Education • Bank Street Writer • Magic Slate • FrEdwriter • Kid Works 2 • Storybook Weaver • MS Word

29. WP in Integrated Packages • AppleWorks (integrated) • ClarisWorks (integrated) • Works (integrated) • LOGOWriter (WP and programming)

30. Desktop Publishing(Combining text and graphics) • The Print Shop • The Children’s Writing and Publishing Center • PageMaker • The Writing Center • MS Publisher

31. Four 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)

32. Managing Information Data Managers

33. 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

34. Database Example • Database file: “Whales” • Record: May contain all the information about Beluga Whales • Fields: • Common Whale Name • Scientific Name • Average length • Life expectancy

35. Computerized vs. Non-computerized DB • Manipulation of data with computerized • Ex. Search for all whales longer than 50 ft • Much more efficient with computerized system

36. Database Systems in Education • Filemaker Pro • Access (MS) • MicroSoft Works • Bank Street Filer • AppleWorks

37. Database 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

38. Organizing Student Information • Student schedules • Attendance • Disciplinary actions • Hobbies • Can search by any of the fields on any student population

39. Using Databases in 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

40. Managing Numbers Spreadsheets and Statistics

41. Spreadsheets • Information organized by rows and columns • When one number is changed, it can recalculate all the numbers affected by the change.

42. Common Spreadsheet Packages • VisiCalc (“grandfather of electronic spreadsheets” no longer made) • Excel • LOTUS 1-2-3 • AppleWorks • ClarisWorks • Microsoft Works

43. Spreadsheet Applications • Encourages Projections, “what if?” • Algebra • Budgets • Grades • Gradebooks • Financial Records

44. Spreadsheets in the Curriculum • Comparison of data • estimation • comparisons by location • Manipulation of numbers • economics • mathematics

45. Statistics 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

46. Statistics 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

47. Statistics 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

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