Teachers Discovering Computers
Integrating Technology
in the Classroom
3rd Edition
Chapter 3
Application Software Productivity Tools
for Educators
CHAPTER 3 OBJECTIVES
Explain the role of an operating system
and list the main operating systems
used on today’s computers
Define and describe a user interface
and a graphical user interface
Identify the important features of widely
used software applications
Describe the advantages of software
suites
2
CHAPTER 3 OBJECTIVES
Explain how to create documents
Discuss why the use of special needs
software is important for K-12 schools
List and describe learning aids and
support tools that help you use and
learn software applications
Explain how to work with different
versions of software applications
3
THE OPERATING SYSTEM
The Role of the Operating System
• System Software – consists of programs
that control the operations of the computer
and its devices
• Operating system – contains instructions
that coordinate all of the activities of the
hardware devices in a computer
4
THE OPERATING SYSTEM
Using Different Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows
– Windows 98
– Windows 2000
– Windows XP
– Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
• Macintosh Operating System or Mac OS
• Other Operating Systems
– UNIX
– Linux
5
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Programs designed to perform a specific task
•
•
•
•
•
As a productivity / business tool
Supporting school and professional activities
Assisting with graphics and multimedia projects
Helping with home and personal activities
Facilitating communications
6
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Five major categories of application
software
7
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Starting a Software Application
• Desktop
– Icons
– Buttons
• Menu
– Commands
– Submenus
8
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Starting a Software Application
• Example: Paint program
– Window
– Title bar
• Common elements among operating
systems
9
10
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Working with Software Applications
• Document – Piece of work created with an
application program and saved on a disk
with a unique file name
11
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Working with Software Applications
• Document
– Creating
– Editing
– Formatting
– Font size
– Font style
– Saving
– Printing
– Dialog box
– Voice recognition
12
FORMATTING FEATURES
13
DIALOG BOX
14
VOICE RECOGNITION
15
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Word Processing Software
• Used to create, edit, and format textual
documents
16
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Word Processing
Software
• Formatting features
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Font and font size
Color
Borders
Clip art
Margins
Word wrap
Scrolling
17
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Word Processing
Software
• Editing features
– Find or search
– Replace
– Spell checker
18
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Word Processing
Software
• Other features
–
–
–
–
Headers
Footers
Templates
Wizards
19
20
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Spreadsheet Software
• Allows you to organize data in rows and
columns, collectively called a worksheet or
spreadsheet
21
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Spreadsheet Software
• Spreadsheet organization
– Worksheet has up to 256 columns and 65,536
rows
– Cell - Intersection of a row and a column
– Labels
– Values
– Formulas
22
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Spreadsheet Software
• Calculations
– Formula – Performs calculations on data in the
worksheet and displays the results in a cell
– Function – A predefined formula that performs
common calculations
23
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Spreadsheet Software
• Charts
– Graphically illustrates the relationship of numeric
data
24
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Database Software
• Database – A
collection of data
organized in a
manner that allows
access, retrieval, and
use of that data
• Similar to a manual
filing system
25
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Database Software
• Database Organization
– Database file
– Records
– Fields
26
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Database Software
• Developing a
database
– Determine data that
you want to keep track
of
– Define the fields
– Enter the data
– Use the database to
produce information
27
Microsoft Works field entry screen
28
Data entered into the database
29
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Presentation Graphics Software
• Allows you to create documents called
presentations, which are used to
communicate ideas, messages, and other
information to a group
30
Teachers and students use presentation graphics
software to create electronic slides. The slides can be
displayed on a computer, projected on a screen,
printed and handed out, or made into transparencies.
31
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Presentation Graphics Software
• Predefined formats – define colors and
other elements for backgrounds, text, and
other items on the slides
• Various slide layouts
• Clip art / image gallery
• Slide sorter
32
Slide Sorter View
33
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Presentation
Graphics Software
• Integrating electronic
presentations into
the classroom
– Linear teaching and
learning
– Students and teachers
create presentations
– Can link presentations
to the Web
34
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Personal Information
Managers
• Software application
that includes an
appointment calendar,
address book, and
notepad to help
organize appointments
and task lists
35
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
PDA Software
• Uses vary and include
– Personal Productivity and Business
– Communications
– Medical and Scientific
– Travel and Global Positioning
– Games and other Entertainment
– Multimedia
– Education
36
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Software Suites and Integrated
Software
• Collection of individual application software
packages sold as a single package
• Lower cost
• Ease of use
– Common interface
37
Integrated
Software Package
Software Suite
38
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
Desktop Publishing Software
• Allows you to produce sophisticated
documents that contain text, graphics, and
brilliant colors
• Page layout – arranging text and graphics
in a document
39
Teachers and students use desktop publishing software
to lay out school yearbooks and create flyers,
certificates, newsletters, and other types of documents
40
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
Paint/Image Editing Software
• Allows you to create and modify graphics,
like those used in DTP documents and Web
pages
• Paint software
– Draw pictures, shapes, and other graphics
• Image editing software
– Modify existing graphics
• Photo-editing software
41
With image editing software, artists can create and
modify a variety of graphic images.
42
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
 Video and Audio Editing
Software
• Modify a segment of a
video, known as a clip
– Add and remove clips
• Add special effects
– Sounds
– Banners
– Credits
43
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
 Clip Art/Image Gallery
• Collection of clip art and
photographs
• Miscellaneous items
–
–
–
–
Fonts
Animations
Sounds
Video and audio clips
44
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
Multimedia Authoring Software
• Used to create electronic interactive
presentations that include text, video,
audio, and animation
• Often used in education
• Delivered via CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
45
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
Web Page Authoring Software
• Allows you to create Web pages and
organize, manage, and maintain Web sites
• Many packages allow creation of Web
pages
• Word processing programs allow creation
of Web pages
46
Microsoft Word can convert Word documents into a
Web page
47
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
 Web Page Authoring
Software
• Popular packages
–
–
–
–
Microsoft FrontPage
Netscape Composer
Adobe GoLive
Macromedia
Dreamweaver
48
SOFTWARE FOR SCHOOL USE
School and Student Management
Software
• School management software
– Centralized program that allows district and
school personnel to manage school district
operations
• Student management software
– Allows administrators, teachers, and other staff
to track information on students
49
Washington County Public Schools uses its wide area
network that connects all district classrooms to track
student attendance, records, grades, and more.
50
SOFTWARE FOR SCHOOL USE
Grade Book
Software
• Allows teachers to
track and organize
student tests,
homework, lab
work, and other
scores
• Also integrates
with other software
packages
51
SOFTWARE FOR SCHOOL USE
Educational and Reference Software
• Educational software
– Software designed for the learning environment
• Reference software
– Provides valuable and thorough information for
everyone in an educational setting and in the
family
52
Reference software, such as Microsoft Encarta
provides valuable and thorough information for all
types of users.
53
SOFTWARE FOR SCHOOL USE
Special Needs Software
• Software designed for students with
physical impairments or learning disabilities
• Examples
– Speech synthesis software
– Software with text enlargement features
– Talking software
54
Utilizing assistive technology software, teachers help
students with disabilities learn subject-related content.
55
SOFTWARE FOR HOME AND
PERSONAL USE
Personal Finance
Software
• Simplified
accounting program
• Track personal
income and
expenses
• Track investments
• Online banking and
investing
56
SOFTWARE FOR HOME AND
PERSONAL USE
Tax Preparation
Software
• Guides individuals,
families, or small
businesses through the
process of filing federal
and state taxes
• Offer money saving tax
tips
• Prints tax forms
57
SOFTWARE FOR HOME AND
PERSONAL USE
Legal Software
• Assists in
preparation of legal
documents and
provides legal advice
Entertainment
Software
• Interactive games
and videos
• Hobbies
58
LEARNING AIDS AND
SUPPORT TOOLS
Using Help
Trade books
FAQs
Tutorials
59
SOFTWARE VERSIONS
AND UPGRADES
Software programs are designated a
version number
Upgrade is a new version designed to
replace an older version
• Windows upgrade
60
SOFTWARE VERSIONS
AND UPGRADES
Using Different Software Versions
• A school may have a mix of different
software versions installed on its computers
• Determine software version with the
software’s About command
• Older version of software usually will not
open files created with the newer version
61
SOFTWARE VERSIONS AND
UPGRADES
Using Different
Software Versions
• Saving a file in
earlier versions
62
SOFTWARE VERSIONS
AND UPGRADES
Working with Macintosh Computers and
PCs
• Sometimes must move files between the
two platforms
• Some PC programs allow you to save files
in a Macintosh format
• Software packages that do file conversions
63
Many software programs allow a file to be saved in
various formats
64
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Explain the role of an operating system
and list the main operating systems
used on today’s computers
Define and describe a user interface
and a graphical user interface
Identify the important features of widely
used software applications
Describe the advantages of software
suites
65
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Explain how to create documents
Discuss why the use of special needs
software is important for K-12 schools
List and describe learning aids and
support tools that help you use and
learn software applications
Explain how to work with different
versions of software applications
66