The most important Spreadsheet terms I understand are as follows:
1. Worksheets
2. Formulas
3. Cells
4. Values
5. Rows
6. Columns
7. Calculations
8. Average
9. Sums
10. Data
11. Charts
12. Insert Function
13. Format Cells
14. Cell Styles
15. Insert Comment
My thoughts : I actually thought using Excel would be more difficult than Word. However, after using Excel for about 30 minutes, I realized how easy and helpful this software is to the user. IT saves enormous amounts of time, and it produces visually appealing products. I was able to formulate averages, sums, and create several types of graphs to display my information. After mastering the basics, I was able to apply different fonts, colors, and graphs to make the data most appealing. I really enjoyed using percents and pie graphs. It made my work seem very professional. I realized I could use Excel not only for managing my personal fiances and creating budgets, but also apply it to the classroom. There are many uses of Excel for my science and math classes. Also, this would be helpful to calculate grades with my students, rather than using a traditional handwritten grade book. Overall, I found using spreadsheets to be flexible, easy, and simple.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
TOPIC 2: WORD PROCESSING REFLECTION
Greetings! Here are some word processing terms that I am already familiar with and can use confidently.
1. document
2. word processor
3. store
4. insert
5. delete
6. text
7. file
8. cut
9. paste
10. copy
11. margins
12. word wrap
13. font
14. bold
15. italics
16. underlining
17. headers
18. footers
19. page layout
20. spell checker
I used this website as a reference to help me. You all should click this link to see it!
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/word_processing.html
Using Word Processing With my Students:
I have learned so much with word processing and useful ways to implement them in the classroom. I love that it helps students with the writing process. It encourages students to practice self editing. My students typed their most recent report on mobile laptops, and the level of motivation and effort increased signifiantly. Students focused on using the spell checker and punctuation devises. Some students used the thesaurus to make their writing pieces stronger. The word processing program really helped my students. Further, students worked extremely hard to make the appearance of their report look clean, fresh, and unique. Students played with font sizes, fonts, and colors. I saw a great deal of collaborative working take place. When students had questions about how to save a document or how to change fonts, students immediately helped each other. They were teaching each other and working together. They encouraged each other. My students were complementing each other on "how cool" something appeared on their document. I was simply a monitor and supervised. However, using the word processing program worked smoothly because we had prepared. Before students worked on word processors independently, they had three weeks on keyboarding practice. I also modeled how to open, save, close, and print a document before the students used the laptops. I also assigned two students as my "Technology Helpers". They helped assist other students with questions. Using word processing software in the classroom has been a success!
Personal Experience Using Word Processing Software:
For our SMU class assignments, I have enjoyed manipulating texts, margins, fonts, and graphics. I am familiar with most of the requirements; however, I have stumbled on text wrapping. I have always had a hard time with it! However, I liked learning about manipulating page margins and fonts. I applied these new learned skills to some documents I use yearly for my classroom. For example, open house letters to parents, awards, etc. I am confident using most word processing softwares, but would like to feel more comfortable using Apple's software.
1. document
2. word processor
3. store
4. insert
5. delete
6. text
7. file
8. cut
9. paste
10. copy
11. margins
12. word wrap
13. font
14. bold
15. italics
16. underlining
17. headers
18. footers
19. page layout
20. spell checker
I used this website as a reference to help me. You all should click this link to see it!
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/word_processing.html
Using Word Processing With my Students:
I have learned so much with word processing and useful ways to implement them in the classroom. I love that it helps students with the writing process. It encourages students to practice self editing. My students typed their most recent report on mobile laptops, and the level of motivation and effort increased signifiantly. Students focused on using the spell checker and punctuation devises. Some students used the thesaurus to make their writing pieces stronger. The word processing program really helped my students. Further, students worked extremely hard to make the appearance of their report look clean, fresh, and unique. Students played with font sizes, fonts, and colors. I saw a great deal of collaborative working take place. When students had questions about how to save a document or how to change fonts, students immediately helped each other. They were teaching each other and working together. They encouraged each other. My students were complementing each other on "how cool" something appeared on their document. I was simply a monitor and supervised. However, using the word processing program worked smoothly because we had prepared. Before students worked on word processors independently, they had three weeks on keyboarding practice. I also modeled how to open, save, close, and print a document before the students used the laptops. I also assigned two students as my "Technology Helpers". They helped assist other students with questions. Using word processing software in the classroom has been a success!
Personal Experience Using Word Processing Software:
For our SMU class assignments, I have enjoyed manipulating texts, margins, fonts, and graphics. I am familiar with most of the requirements; however, I have stumbled on text wrapping. I have always had a hard time with it! However, I liked learning about manipulating page margins and fonts. I applied these new learned skills to some documents I use yearly for my classroom. For example, open house letters to parents, awards, etc. I am confident using most word processing softwares, but would like to feel more comfortable using Apple's software.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
TOPIC 1 : THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
Greetings classmates! Here are the basic computer system terms that I understand.
1. Computer
2. Keyboard
3. mouse
4. Digital Camera
5. Pointing Stick
6. Touch Screen
7. Scanner
8. Monitor
9. Printer
10. Speakers
11. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
12. CD-Rom
13. Flash Drive
14. USB Drive
15. CD Drive
15. DVD Drive
New knowledge I learned about the computer system:
I wanted to expand my very basic and limited knowledge. The first place I looked was Wikipedia. From Wikipedia, I learned computers started around the 1940s-1950s. It was interesting to read about the beginning of computers, and also how calculators were developed first. Also, that there is much more technology than I once thought. I just assumed that computers were the first technology, but really technology has been around for generations. It simply depends on what technology is developing at that point in time. In one-hundred years, technology might mean something else surely! Computers could be old news! I also learned that most computers have MP3 players, which is a digital audio player. I was interested to learn what speech recognition was, and how a computer could understand voice commands. In speech recognition software, the computer has the ability to turn spoken words to text! I think this would be very valuable in the school setting, especially for students with learning disabilities. Also, I found it interesting that there were several different forms of mouses and keyboards. For example, there is a mechanical, optical, wheel, and cordless mouse. Further, the three types of keyboards are enhanced/extended keyboard, cordless keyboard, and ergonomic keyboard. I was fascinated by the ergonomic keyboard. This keyboard is separated into groups to help muscle strain. I personally have carpel tunnel syndrome and typing is often hard on my wrists and fingers after awhile. I looked and the costs for these keyboards are similar to regular keyboards. Researching about the computer system, I began to become curious about what other adjustments have been made since the invention of the computer to help persons with disabilities make the computer more user friendly. There are several software programs to make the computer easier for learning disabled persons. Using touch screens, microphones, touch pads, speech recognition, speakers, and picture tube technology are just a few ways to help making the computer system more user friendly. Lastly, I was interested in the types of connectors on the computer system. Specifically, the sound card connectors since I recently purchased a microphone to use with my students in class. I learned where to plug it and what the differences between the microphone, speaker, Line In, and Line Out connectors. I used the pictures in my research to try to connect my microhone, speakers, and headphones into my laptop. I felt I was taking research into action! Obviously I am just a beginner at learning the computer system, but I feel more confident now. I beleive I know most of the system, but I need to learn the proper technological terminiolgy for each componet. Feel free to check out the sources I used below and enjoy!
Sources:
Disability Services in Higher Education Resources
Wiki page on Computer Systems
Retrieved February 5, 2011.
1. Computer
2. Keyboard
3. mouse
4. Digital Camera
5. Pointing Stick
6. Touch Screen
7. Scanner
8. Monitor
9. Printer
10. Speakers
11. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
12. CD-Rom
13. Flash Drive
14. USB Drive
15. CD Drive
15. DVD Drive
New knowledge I learned about the computer system:
I wanted to expand my very basic and limited knowledge. The first place I looked was Wikipedia. From Wikipedia, I learned computers started around the 1940s-1950s. It was interesting to read about the beginning of computers, and also how calculators were developed first. Also, that there is much more technology than I once thought. I just assumed that computers were the first technology, but really technology has been around for generations. It simply depends on what technology is developing at that point in time. In one-hundred years, technology might mean something else surely! Computers could be old news! I also learned that most computers have MP3 players, which is a digital audio player. I was interested to learn what speech recognition was, and how a computer could understand voice commands. In speech recognition software, the computer has the ability to turn spoken words to text! I think this would be very valuable in the school setting, especially for students with learning disabilities. Also, I found it interesting that there were several different forms of mouses and keyboards. For example, there is a mechanical, optical, wheel, and cordless mouse. Further, the three types of keyboards are enhanced/extended keyboard, cordless keyboard, and ergonomic keyboard. I was fascinated by the ergonomic keyboard. This keyboard is separated into groups to help muscle strain. I personally have carpel tunnel syndrome and typing is often hard on my wrists and fingers after awhile. I looked and the costs for these keyboards are similar to regular keyboards. Researching about the computer system, I began to become curious about what other adjustments have been made since the invention of the computer to help persons with disabilities make the computer more user friendly. There are several software programs to make the computer easier for learning disabled persons. Using touch screens, microphones, touch pads, speech recognition, speakers, and picture tube technology are just a few ways to help making the computer system more user friendly. Lastly, I was interested in the types of connectors on the computer system. Specifically, the sound card connectors since I recently purchased a microphone to use with my students in class. I learned where to plug it and what the differences between the microphone, speaker, Line In, and Line Out connectors. I used the pictures in my research to try to connect my microhone, speakers, and headphones into my laptop. I felt I was taking research into action! Obviously I am just a beginner at learning the computer system, but I feel more confident now. I beleive I know most of the system, but I need to learn the proper technological terminiolgy for each componet. Feel free to check out the sources I used below and enjoy!
Sources:
Disability Services in Higher Education Resources
Wiki page on Computer Systems
Retrieved February 5, 2011.
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