5.+Software+for+Teaching+and+Learning

This page contains resources that specifically refer to the Software Programs available on the school network.

toc There are a series of programs that can be used in and out of the classroom to enhance the learning for students. Some of the programs that will be discussed on this wiki page are available on the internet. Others are available through PC Programs that are accessible on teacher laptops.The links below have been provided as a guide for quick reference while you are creating resources.

There are many web based tools and programs that can be used by both the teacher and students. Have a look at this. The software and tools featured on this mindmap may not be a part of your skill set - do not be alarmed. There are many Online Learning Sites (some are free). This link will take you to a site that features many software and web tool tutorials. There may be links that you could share with students. There are "quizes" attached to some of the tutorial groups as an extra feature.

=Starting Out=

Planning is the key. It is imperative now, more than ever, to plan technology based resources.

It may be that someone has already done this. Practice good conduct, (one factor of being a digital citizen) and include an acknowledgement of other's work. Provide a reference list at the end of the presentation or document. If you are planning an Internet Based Resource, like a WIKI or BLOG, you should also consider adding a Creative Commons Licence. The link to their website is here. Some WIKI or BLOG sites have this licence already (refer to the bottom of this space).

More than likely, if you are going to choose resources already made, it will be necessary to customise this resource for your own audience. Remember to acknowledge the original source.

Referencing work, acknowledging others, and being a good role model for the students is essential when planning resources. If the school is practising a specific referencing method, then model this method in your work. Students will return to your good resources if they are stuck on referencing.

Consider the following when planning presentations:

Storyboarding - even if this process happens in your head. Sequence learning - start at the beginning and go to the end. Segment learning if possible - make the presentation interactive so that students can see one segment from another. Guide students through the design of the presentation so that they can use the presentation again without teacher guidance. A number of mobile devises have the capacity to play/save resources. NOTE: Only linear presentations can be shared on Slideshare or Google Docs. Publishing the presentation now and in the future. (on the web, Local Area Network (LAN) or through the LMS).

=The PowerPoint Presentation as a foundation for other tools=

This software has been fundamental for educators for a long time and it is good to know that the skills of PowerPoint can be transferred to other applications that are web based. (for example, Google Docs and Slide Rocket). A finished Powerpoint presentation can be transported into other web based tools such as the PREZI. Web Based tools however, are linear. If there are many segments in the content - perhaps publish that number of presentations. Platforms such as this wiki space allows presentations to be uploaded in the format that it was designed. An example of an interactive presentation can be found below:



This link will take you to a space that provides some tutorials to make interesting presentations including making a Quiz, Adding Impact to your existing presentation and Publishing your presentation online. You can use an Adobe Presenter tool, too.

The PowerPoint can also be uploaded and configured to the FLIP CHART tool in ActivInspire (the whiteboard software system used at school). When using images, the alignment may need adjusting. All links (web based and within network) work when converted to the FLIP CHART mode. Before presenting to the class, make it a practice to check ALL your links to make sure they work and the sites are still active.

Designing Presentations
This video outlines five rules for presentations that can be incorporated into the design of presentations for classroom and student use. The presenter, Nancy Duarte also authors a blog space that features her other skills and talents.

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Other Presentation Tools - Web Based
There are a number of Web Based Presentation tools available for the education market. The ones that an individual teacher chooses to use for teaching and learning can be found in the following list. There are many others - refer to the Mindomo map on E-Learning Tools for more.

Glogster There is an education subscription to this presentation tool.

Prezi Please make sure that you work with the Student/Teacher Licence - this allows teachers and students extra storage space and secures your Prezi's to a limited audience. You will need to use your School email (as Prezi checks the domain of your email address). Ask students to work with content being private. If students need to print their presentation for moderation/verification purposes - the presentation will print in PDF format.

Slide Rocket There is an education version with Google Apps for Education email accounts. This is a great tool for backchat (if you are wanting to collect stats on your resources).

Slide Share A great space to place linear presentations. A great resource for presentations if you do not have the time to create. You may be able to DOWNLOAD presentations (if this option is available on the toolbar). I chose instead to embed a sample wiki about the founder of this tool (wikispaces). To do this: go to the object (video/slide show) you wish to "embed" and click onto the "EMBED" icon. This will "copy" this Code to place into the Widget on your internet space (Wiki or Blog).

In this wiki, on the editing toolbar there is an icon labelled Widget. Click onto "Widget" and then choose OTHER.

Right click into the space provided and click PASTE. This will Paste the code you copied from the EMBED icon on the object you are copying.

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Note: This is an example of a SLIDE SHOW from the site www.slidesharenet.com. The content of this slide show is discussed in the WIKI section.

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=Word Processing=

Microsoft have tutorials that introduce the program Word 2010. Alternatively, a list of these sessions is below and I have linked to one that may be what you are looking for:

If you are NEW to Word Processing:

Get to know Word 2010 There are new names for each of the spaces on the screen. (Tabs, Ribbons, Backstage are a few)

Beginning to use Word 2010 This lesson provides video footage on the following: moving around a document, scroll bars, use formatting, UNDO and REDO, move text by using Cut and Paste, change line spacing and alignment of text.

Creating a document using Word 2010 This lesson outlines the following: type where you want, fix spelling, make a list, change page margins, add styles to selected text and save your work.

The Navigation Pane This lesson shows how to work with multi-page documents. This is part of the View Tab. This tutorial uses a Marketing Plan as the example text. Finding and Replacing words/phrases is also highlighted in this tutorial.

Protecting your Files This lesson provides answers to the following: What is Active Content, ActiveX Controls and Macros? What is the Backstage View regarding Active Content. How do I Enable Active Content? When is a file trusted? How to access the Trust Centre? and What is a Protected View?

Fun, New Features in Word 2010 Text effects, Picture editing tools, adding screen shots (the document is to be formatted as a Word 2010 for this option), and SmartArt graphics.

Page Numbers, Headers and Footers This lesson is long, but segmented. It is an excellent guide in inserting Page Numbers, Headers and Footers.

Table of Contents (TOC) This lesson provides a thorough example of the use, creation and steps to customise a Table of Contents.

Creating accessible documents This lesson contains tips for specific audiences. Please watch and learn if you are working with students with specific needs.

Using the Review TAB in Word 2010. This lesson contains tips on how to annotate Word Documents with COMMENTS that students submit. This Ribbon could also be used by a group of teachers who are working on a common document (test development is an example) and changes need to be tracked.

Creating a Reference List This provides a list of instructions on how to add a citation and source and create a reference list/bibliography or citation. The source list stays on the ribbon (within the computer you are using to create the list) not with the document. There is a way to SHARE YOUR SOURCE LIST. Below are some steps to do this.

Each of these lessons provide a Practice Document. If you prefer, a practice document is below. This document is in Word 2010 format. You will need Word 2010 installed on your computer to continue with practice document from the links above.



__**Things to consider:**__

When re-working or designing a document, consider the document's use - will it be printed for the group of students or will they use on their computer? If the students are going to write, are the spaces they are to write adequate for all handwriting styles? Is there a space for their name? Should I be considering specific modifications?

If the student will use on a system, what should the document look like? Should I protect part of the document and only allow the student to enter in the appropriate spaces? Would it be better to use another program or tool that is web-based. (eg a Survey - www.surveymonkey.com may be a better option).

Change the document however you wish. You may need to incorporate items that your Department requires for various reasons (eg. footers with file-names and path). Add styles to the text, spaces for students to input their responses and rework the image. Reflect on your finished work.

__**Other Tutorials:**__

Word Tips and Tricks Includes converting a list to a table, adding check boxes to lists, making bullets more interesting, cropping a picture into a shape and other tips. Do you prefer Keyboard Shortcuts? Keyboard shortcuts may be the way you navigate around a program - have a look at what they are for Word 2010. Forms This link provides steps to create a form. Tables This link provides a slide show (18 slides) stepping out how to create a table. Hyperlinks This will take you to the Learning Space "Internet4Classrooms". The site may ask you to complete a questionnaire. It is OK to close this window and you are still able to view the information. Templates already designed for teachers - this list may have something you are looking for.

Word Processing is a great tool to provide students with notes and interactivity (links to web and other documents within the LMS). Teachers will need to be skilled in hyperlinks.

A sample document I always hyperlink is the trusted lesson plan.

SHARING A SOURCE LIST
(a) Enter your source list into your Word Document as normal. As you enter in references' data, it stores in the Citation and Bibliography Ribbon (under the References TAB). (b) To share your reference list with others, open Manage Sources, and then click the BROWSE button. This will take you to a file with the name Sources.xml. (c) Copy Sources.xml and paste where you or another user would like to access in the future. (It could be in another directory in the school's Intranet, a page in your Learning Management System). (d) To use on another system, Open Word 2010 and the document where the Source list will be used (e) Go to the References TAB and then Manage Sources (f) Click the BROWSE button and find where the Source.xml file has been saved. (g) Select this file and then OK. The list of "sources" should then be found in the Master List window. (h) Work with this source list by selecting and adding to the current list.

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=OneNote=

Another program that allows teachers to share notes and interactivity is OneNote. This platform looks like a notebook where users (both teachers and students collaboratively) are able to share files and links. Schools that have a team of teachers designing and developing a unit of work may find this software very useful. It can contain all the resources required for the unit of work (Files, Links, Images, even conversations and video files). There is only one file - which, when updated, is sync'd back to the shared file space. All users of the file are then able to access this one file; knowing that the information shared is current and up to date. There are no versions/copies.

The video below is from Microsoft's website outlining a teacher's use of the software in their classroom.

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This link (and the OneNote link above) provides further insight, instruction and ideas on how to use OneNote in the classroom for organisation, research and collaboration projects.

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=Spreadsheets=

Here is a link about how to use Spreadsheets in classrooms. I particularly like this web page as it shares many different ideas from various other sources. I have used spreadsheets in a traditional sense (for Budgets etc) and in workplace situations where there are multiple pages that are linked via various codes and cells. The program Excel offers classroom teachers much more.

Microsoft have tutorials that introduce the program Excel 2010. Alternatively, a list of these sessions is below and I have linked to one that may be what you are looking for. Each of these links goes to a video file created by Microsoft. The videos are segmented according to the topic discussed. At the end of each of the videos, there is an opportunity for practice, test, and feedback. A Quick Reference Guide is also available. The timings of each video varies (1 to 6 minutes for each learning segment).

Basic Functions of EXCEL 2010 This link provides text support only. There are steps to follow for "creating a worksheet", "applying formatting", "creating a table" and other functions to get you familiar with the interface of a spread sheet program.

What Does EXCEL 2010 Do?

Switching to Excel 2010 Introducing the RIBBON and switch from a previous version. Simple Tasks including creating a new spreadsheet, printing and saving a spreadsheet.

If you are NEW to EXCEL, Getting Started and Getting to Know Excel 2010 - Introducing the physical features of a SPREAD SHEET, Basic Maths in a Spread Sheet, Column Titles, the Type Point, Printing

Securing your Excel 2010 files - Active Content - Macros and Activ X, Backstage View, Trusted documents, Protected Views

Creating Formulas Simple and Complex Formulas, cell references, Math symbols, SUM and AVG Functions.

VLOOKUP Introducing and Using VLOOKUP, Absolute Cell references in VLOOKUP, Avoiding VLOOKUP errors

Data and Conditional Formatting using the Conditional Formatting Tool on the STYLES Ribbon.

Sparklines - Introducing Sparklines, Line, Column and Win/Lose Sparklines

Excel Tables to Manage Information - Introducing tables, sort and filter and remove duplicates in tables, using formulas in tables

The IF Function What is this function? How can you use this function? Add and Multiply IF functions, Using more than one IF function

Basic Charts Introducing Charts and Types of Charts, Changing Chart Views and Chart Types, Chart Tools

Running MACROS in Excel 2010 The Developer TAB, Introduction to Macros, Purpose of Macros, Editing Macros, Saving Macros in Worksheets.

Dates in Excel 2010 Dates and Formulas, Serial Numbers for dates.

Functions and Formauls (plan, budget and saving) using Excel 2010 - this is a practical video using Functions and the Formulas TAB

Shortcut Keys I and Shortcut Keys II These two tutorials will highlight keystrokes that can be used instead of mouse/icons for a selection of commands. Other resources outside of Microsoft's website that may be of interest when learning about Spreadsheets and Excel 2010:

LearnFree.org

Creating Reports (also known as PIVOT TABLES)

Working with Pivot Tables - Advanced resource

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=Movie Making=

Movie Making is a great way for students to present their MULTIMODAL assignment tasks. Most teachers are asking for students to create multimodal presentations which combines presentation (PowerPoint) with another medium.

Movie Making can be done with a windows based product called Windows Movie Maker. A link to a YouTube video is here. This program is available on all systems in the school. Students MUST choose the computer system they want to make their movie. Students should complete their movie at this place and then publish. The Movie Maker Project File (their draft and working copy) cannot easily be shared. The Published Movie (final product) can.

It is important though that images/file from other sources are acknowledged in credits. There is some debate about embedding resources or providing links to work with the copyright laws, particularly regarding You Tube videos. Here is a link to You Tube's copyright education pages and frequently asked questions.

Assessing a Movie
If you are marking the Movie outside a presentation, use the Controls (play, pause, stop) when the Movie is played through the Movie Playing software.

If students are going to use Movie Maker within their presentation to an audience, the movie is able to be embedded into Presentation software. Students may need assistance in scaffolding or breaking their movie up in parts.

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=The Internet and Email=


 * The Internet**

What is the WWW?

Discover the Internet by clicking here. This will take you to a site that explains in detail the following topics: Browsing the Internet, Email and Chat.

What does the internet do to our brains? Here is an interesting article link that may help respond to that question. Three of the 15 points (1, 2 and 11) highlighted in the article by Online College (and sourced from the Committed Sardine's Blog) includes research findings from current studies.


 * Outlook and Email**

Looking for tips to work with Outlook, the Email system that is currently being used at school - this link may help.

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=Adobe Products for the Teacher=

Adobe Products that every teacher may need for classroom resource preparation:

Photoshop (for image enhancing)
Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Photoshop Tutorials

Media Encoder (encoding video files taken from digital camera/iProducts to embed into presentations/ActivInspire teaching tools)
How to use Adobe Media Encoder

Flash (for animations)
Five Steps to Learning Flash

Flash Animation Tutorials

Fireworks (for image enhancing and simple animations)
Learn Fireworks

Fireworks Tutorials

Adobe Acrobat
Learn Acrobat 9

=EXTERNAL LINKS=

=REFERENCES=