Skip to main content

How useful are Software apps like office software 3.2.4

I must say that office software is an invaluable resource to the teacher. What you would have taken ages to do can now be done in a matter of moments. A learning aid you used some time back and now needs to be modified can be worked on quite faster than you would have using charts or models for that matter. Take the case of diagram drawn on a chart which, with time needs to changed. Take a map of Africa, for example. Drawn 5 years ago, it does not have the country - Southern Sudan. You would probably have to buy a new one or draw a new one (both ways being costly in terms of money and time). Using a projector with images downloaded from the internet, you can update your information quite cheaply and quickly. Talk of a list of new words that have to be increased, a diagram in science that needs a 3D feel, a song in sol-fa notation, the list is long. Office Software is definitely a thumbs up.
As concerns stifling of depth of knowledge, I would say let us use office software for what it can do and find alternatives for where it is challenged. For example, I can introduce a concept with the help of power point like "States of Matter" and then later take my learners to the laboratory to show them what these states really look like. The skill you have as individual also in a way may limit you not the app itself limiting you.

Comments

  1. I like the way in which you cite actual examples where office software can help you to more than just use technology as a substitute.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insight into my project work 6.2.4

In an attempt to state the curriculum objectives of the project with specific 21st Century skills and higher-order skills, I have written down the following: Objectives: Identify aquatic organisms in a water sample. (curriculum) Use sampling and counting techniques to estimate population size. (curriculum) Collaborate in groups to agree, with substantial reasoning, on the most appropriate sampling method to apply for each of the different water samples to be taken.(21st Century skill) Critically examine data on numbers of micro-organisms in the different samples and, considering other environmental factors observed, draw a conclusion about the patterns. (21st Century skill) Create a blog with content compiled by all learners, containing details of the story of the entire project, the observations made and the conclusions/hypothesis deduced.  (higher order thinking) Together influence the community to implement workable solutions which either guarantee the safe use of drink...

6.5.4 Reflect: Role playing in PBL

It is in this lesson of the course that I have eventually come to fully comprehend what Project Based Learning is all about. Its about applying all the skills the teacher has learnt to ensure that there is full engagement of the learner during the teaching-learning process.  In order to engage learners we have to be creative, imaginative, and innovative. We strive to: Draw in the students' interest to the topic,Capture their imagination in the real-life scenario of the task, Engage them cognitively through real-life responsibilities and role playing. This is a very exciting teaching - learning experience in which both the learner and teacher are highly enthused in the process. It is needless to mention that the entire project will give the learner an early exposure into applying the skills, so far built in their school life, in real "work-like" experiences. For instance, a learner may get engaged in a real debate to pass a controversial law; participate in a human rights...

How I would integrate search literacy and information literacy -- 4.6.4

Looking at how I would integrate search literacy and information literacy, I am drawn to believe that the first step would be to make an attempt to change the mindsets of those who are going to get involved in this integration. Change them to the mindset that will embrace the integration of course. This is because no clear achievement can be made in this line unless those I am going to work with (including myself) have the will power to see these innovations coming to pass. Once those minds are changed for the 'good' then we can get to work. It will be important to ensure that all skills needed to interact with computers and/or any media we are going to use are mastered and the learners are proficient in the use of these tools (I am assuming that the technology and facilities we need are already in place). Later, use of relevant applications and the browsers must also be mastered. The skills of the learners can be improved as they get along. Next is to ensure that the learn...