Chapter 4

About Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Database Programs

Word Processing- A software tool that is used by both students and teachers to create documents.
Word processing is a time saver. It allows for modifications and changes to a document as is is being created.
Word processing improves the appearance of the documents that are created.
Word processing allows teachers to share the documents they have created with other teachers. The documents can easily be modified by the recipient to suit their needs.

Students can begin word processing by 5 years old. Those who like this idea believe that word processing will encourage written expression without the handwriting component. Others worry about the impact word processing will have on the development of hand writing skills. Still others argue over whether students need to be taught proper keyboarding techniques before they begin word processing in earnest.

Spreadsheets- A software tool that is used to put information into rows. Used by teachers for class lists, grades and other record keeping.
Spreadsheets are sometimes called "a way to word process numbers."
Spreadsheets can be time savers, useful in displaying even non numerical information like class lists, allow students to see an immediate impact of making changes to the spreadsheets data, make it more interesting for students to work with numbers.

Database- "Organizes and stores collections of information." Used to find and retrieve information quickly. Like an online filing system.
Databases are used to store, pull up, and analyze information as well as link websites to documents.
Databases save space and expense in storing information, save time in finding and updating information,and make it easy to compare related or similar information.

Top Ten Integration Strategies for the Basic Three Software Tools
1. Sweet hypothesis testing- Have students predict average number of M&Ms or Skittles of each color, then count various packages and build a spreadsheet to display and chart the numbers and calculate averages.
2. Paragraph coherence- Show students how good paragraphs are put together using word processing software to scramble sentences in a paragraph and have students use the copy-cut-paste features to put sentences in correct order.
3. Process writing- Have students use word processing software to do drafts of their compositions; have them email drafts and send them corrections and suggestions in a different color type.
4. Colorful Writing- Students use the word processor's font color option to highlight and discuss various functions in compositions (e.g. , topic sentences, emotion-evoking content, factual content and descriptive words and phrases).
5. Elections concepts- Use spreadsheet software to demonstrate how many different ways a president could win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote.
6. Pizza problem solving- Students use a spreadsheet to calculate the most cost-effective pizza purchases to serve various numbers of people.
7. Presidential comparisons- Use database software to build a U.S. presidents database in order to compare characteristics such as an individual's background and experience before becoming president.
8. Online surveys- Students show how to do survey reserach by collecting data online and using a spreadsheet to recieve and analyze it.
9. Political cartoons- Students use word processing and clip art to create political cartoons that illustrate various concepts and currents events.
10. Grave thoughts- Have students collect birth-death date information from tombstones, enter it into a database and query it to answer questions about life spans in various decades.

Website Resources
Microsoft Wordhttp://www.microsoft.com/wordInformation, tutorials, and downloads for the word processing program.

Microsoft Excelhttp://www.microsoft.com/excelInformation, tutorials, and downloads for the spreadsheet program.

Filemaker Prohttp://www.filemaker.comInformation, tutorials, and downloads for the database program.

Technology Tutorials on the Webhttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htmTutorials for many educational software programs.

USDA Food Composition Datahttp://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/DataA nutrient database from the U.S. Department of Agriculture