Chapter 5

Chapter 5 ( Teaching with Software Tools: Beyond the Basic Programs )

Introduction to other software support tools
-  Software support tools help immensely
 +Improved efficiency, productiveness, appearance of product, accuracy and timeliness of information and more support doe interaction and sharing.
Types of Software Support Tools
- Material Generators, Data Collections and Analysis tools, graphics tools, planning and organizing tools, research and reference tools, and content area tools.
- they are constantly developing new tools for software
- some examples are Netbooks, PDA,s and Cell Phones
+ these types of improvments help communication
-Web-connectivity features (these allow live web page links, and others usefull things such as the ability to connect to all types of media
- Software Suites ( these makes capabilities of software much easier to use) 
+ an example of this would we dreamweaver, adobe, and photo shop just to name a few

Using Materials Generators
-  These include publishing software, rubric generators, and others
Desktop Publishing Software
- Give complete control over powerful communication tools
Desktop Publishing Software
-Offers more control over design and production of the document then regular desktop publishing
Making the most of desktop publishing software
-Most effective way if user knows nothing
-Can be an entire field of expertise in itself
-Teachers and student do not need to be experts though
-There are many products available today that make this very easy to do
Example Classroom Applications
-Teachers should develop classroom projects using many of the material generators
-It has been shown to improve children self esteem and self worth
-Provide practice in English  (i.e making brochure to apply language skills)
-Provide practice in research findings ( i.e showing students how to find places on a map)
- Provide opportunity to create works ( i.e students can show things they did or made like a book they wrought, or some other work they created)

Test Generators and Rubric Generators

-test generators are used to create and enter questions
- types of software include test creation and revision procedures
- test creation- produces tests in a standard layout; teacher does not need to worry about formatting
- Random generation of questions- these items are selected randomly from an item pool to create different versions of a test
 - selection of questions programs allow teachers to specify criteria for making test
 -  Answer Keys automatically provide an answer key when test is generated
- Test item banks allow use of existing questions
-Online rubric generators- system creates a rubric system for the teacher

Worksheet and Puzzle Generators
- Produce exercises for practice rather then test
-Puzzle generators automatically format and create all kinds of games students can use

IEP generators
- Provide on screen prompts that remind users of required components in their plan

Graphic Doucument Makers 
- software tools that make it easier for making graphic materials

PDF and Forms Makers
- permit the viewing and sending of documents and images

Using Data Collection and Analysis Tools
-  Electronic Gradebooks are a program that allows a teacher to enter student information such as names, score, and test score
- Statistical packages help with qualitative data collection
+ it performs that calculations involved in any kind of qualitative procedue
-Student Information Systems are networked systems that help educators keep track of student class, and school data
- In the 1970's, known as CMI systems
-Computer-Based testing systems allow students to take tests onscreen or to put test answers on bubble screens
- Computer adaptive systems generate questions based on the students performance
+these systems can be controversial

Student Response Systems
- are a combination hand held and hardware that allows students to answer while it displays results at the same time

Using Graphics Tools
- Draw/ Paint programs allow teacher to insert documents
-Image editing tools are tool of choice. it will enhance all kinds of stuff including photos, and other types of images
-Charting Tools automatically draw and print desired charts and graphs entered by users
-Clip Art packages expand on drawings, photos, cartoons, and other types of art ware

Using Planning and organizing Tools
-Concept software
-Outlining Tools and Concept Mapping Software are developed to help prompt writers as they develop their outlines
-Concept mapping software designed to help people think through and explore ideas or topics by developing concept maps
-Lesson planning software helps educators develop lesson plans using software that can be used for classes
-Scheduling and Time management tools help formulate plans for daily, weekly, or monthly events

Using Research and Refernece Tools 
- Electronic encyclopedias allow people to browse through information electronically  without the hassle of going through lots of books
-Electronic Dictionaries are online dictionaries that allow people to find words and other things of that nature

Using Tools to Support Specific Content Areas
- CAD is a system of graphics production that allows users to prepare sophisticated, precise drawings without doing anything manually
-Music Editors, Sequences and MIDI Tools help people develop music compositions on screen
-Music Sequencers support the creation of music scores
-Reading tools are a variety of software that allows teachers to help students become better readers
-Probeware software accompanied by special hardware sensors designed to measure light, temperature, voltage and speed
- Graphing Calculators are data grabbing devices that help collect and evaluate data
-GIS is a computer system that is able to store in a database a variety of information about geographic locations (this is similar to the GPS)