Vision of the text Teaching and Learning with Microsoft Office and Frontpagehas been designed to give busy (and often overwhelmed) teachers and students a quick way to understand the basics of key software applications. Our vision is threefold: to give a foundation of the basics of common application software; to provide a vision and a path of how to integrate and utilize the software within classroom settings (Note: Our goal is for you to frequently say,"Yes, I can use this!"); to create a learning environment that is engaging, interesting, and effective. Why so basic? Three points we want you to remember: Teachers and students have more demands put on them than ever before. Application software(e.g., word processors) are more powerful (i.e., have more features) and can offer more help to the teacher and students than in the past.
More than 90 percent of the time that teachers and students use computers they are working on the basic features of the most common software programs. An understanding of thebasicfeatures will help you use the computer in the classroom. Once you have that foundation, you will know what information to request and how to find it as additional, more advanced features are needed. Without the basic foundation, you won't know when, why, or how to use those advanced features. That would only lead to frustration--and we don't want you to experience more of that than necessary. Who is this? The subtitle for this text is "Basic Building Blocks for Computer Integration." This is our "Basic Block" who will guide you through the text. Why was this text written? As for most projects of this nature, this text came about because of specific needs.
In teaching our pre-service and in-service teacher courses, we needed a text that would a. quickly get students and teachers up and running with the basic Office software suite of programs; b. provide examples and projects relevant to individuals who were or wanted to be teachers; c. help preservice and inservice teachers develop the skill, as well as the desire, to integrate these powerful tools into their own classrooms in a manner that would significantly enhance the learning experiences of their present and future students. How does this text address those needs? There were several basic philosophies used throughout the development of this text. Don't overkill.Select and use basic key features of the software, but don't try to teach everything. Have learners understand the potential of the software, but let them be aware that they don't have to know it all in order to use the software effectively.
As experience and confidence grow, more features can be added to their repertoires. Help individuals quickly gain independence.Although some step-by-step "hand-holding" procedures may be needed in the beginning, quickly show learners how to find features and resolve problems on their own. Help them recognize when and how to obtain answers to questions they will have as they use the software. Support their efforts, but have students grow their own ideas and applications.Students should quickly come to feel this information is relevant now and in their futures. Provide them with examples they can relate to, and support their use of the software to address their own projects and needs. Using the software on their own projects quickly ensures the investment of effort that sustains the long-term use of these tools.
Envision the impact of integration.The impact of such tools on personal productivity should be immediately apparent; however, an extended goal is to demonstrate how software can be integrated in the classroom to enhance the educational experiences they develop and experience with their own students in the fu.