Chapter 4

Teaching with the Basic Three Software Tools: Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Database Programs

I found Chapter 4 very interesting and informative. It shares three basic software tools that teachers can share with their students, and where students can explore and learn how to use. This chapter talks about word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Word processing is a program that allows people to produce typed documents on a computer screen. Using word processing saves time and has easy exchange of work. Teachers who use this can create handouts or other instructional materials, lesson plans and notes, reports, forms, letters to parents or students, flyers, and possible newspapers. Spreadsheets are programs designed to organize and manipulate numerical data. Using spreadsheets can organize displays of information and increases motivation to work with mathematics. Teachers can use spreadsheets to keep club and classroom budgets, preparing performance checklists, and keeping a gradebook. Databases are programs that allow users to store, organize, and manipulate information, including both text and numerical data. Using databases allows comparisons of information through searches across files, and revealing relationships among data. Teachers can use databases to use information on students to respond to questions or perform required tasks, and sending personalized letters to parents and others.

When reading this chapter I found some very good types that will help me out as a future teacher. Using these three basic software tools will help me save some time and help organize myself with grades and other information. Using these tools will also help with handouts, writing letters to parents, and rubrics for grading. These software tools are a great way for teachers to stay on top of things. That’s what I like about this chapter and would like to recommend teachers to use these software tools in their classroom, not only for personal use but for students also.