CHAPTER THREE NOTES FROM "INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY FOR MEANINGFUL LEARNING" BY GRA

BE/GRABE
WORD PROCESSING
Word processing is one of the most commonly used computer tool application that
offer great potential for classroom activities. Teachers should consider word pr
ocessing as one component of a writing environment. It helps the students write
more effectively and develop writing skills more quickly. The great advantage of
word processing over using a typewriter is that you can make changes without re
typing the entire document. Word processing has features such as text input, sto
rage/retrieval, formatting, editing, special tools, spelling check, electronic t
hesaurus, and adding graphics. The common features of all word processors are in
sert text, delete text, cut/paste, copy page size/margins, search and replace, a
nd word wrap.
THE VALUE OF WORD PROCESSING FEATURES
The first impression on having features such as fonts, styles, printing multiple
columns on a page and manipulating the position of graphic within text in word
processing might be that such features having little to do with the message of t
he text or educational benefits of creating the text. But from a different persp
ective imagine the importance of purpose and motivation in effective writing and
in learning to write. Writers need to do tasks in which they could communicate
authentically what they know, want, or feel. WP features give appearance and per
ception of authentic authority.
WRITING PROCESS APPROACH
The process approach is operating within a writing community in which students w
rite, rewrite, read what others have written, and discuss the activities of writ
ing. It includes the stages of planning, drafting, editing/revising, and publish
ing. The publication step implies that studentsâ compositions are authentic produc
ts prepared to entertain/inform a real audience. Recent research indicates a pos
itive relationship between the frequent use of computers in editing written work
and the improved development of writing proficiency. WP will also contribute to
the other writing process stages such as planning phase using outlining tool to
encourage the exploration and organization of ideas.
SPREADSHEET APPLICATION IN SCHOOLS
Spreadsheets build an ideal bridge between arithmetic and algebra and allow the
student free movement between the two worlds. Students look for patterns, constr
uct algebraic expressions, generalize concepts, justify conjectures, and establi
sh the equivalence of two models as intrinsic and meaningful needs rather than a
s arbitrary requirements posed by the teacher. Electronic spreadsheets have been
created and used mainly as tools for mathematical and statistical calculations,
as numerical or textual data can be inserted into their columns and rows. There
fore, spreadsheets have become an important part of many different curriculums a
t different levels of education. Moreover, they have been used in education, esp
ecially mathematics education, as a tool in helping students understand mathemat
ical concepts such as plotting and exploring functions and patterns, exploring p
robability and statistics, mathematical modeling, and geometric transformations.
Relationships among different types of representations such as tables, equation
s and graphs are more easily comprehendible when all representations are visible
at once and linked to each other, i.e. when one makes a change in one represent
ation; corresponding changes in other representations are offered by the program
. Moreover, spreadsheets allow students to focus on the mathematical reasoning b
y freeing them from the burden of calculations and algebraic manipulations.
DATA COLLECTION SERVICES
Data collection devices allow students to measure various characteristics of the
ir physical world in the same manner used by professional scientists. The design
, implementation, analysis, and presentation of research based on these data pro
vide the bases for authentic projects. Educators can now purchase devices that a
llow devices that allow students to measure characteristics of the physical envi
ronment and store these data for analysis and graphical representation by calcul
ators and computers. All data collection devices consist of at least two compone
nts: 1) Sensor; which is sensitive to some aspect of physical environment 2) Per
sonal Data Assistant (PDA) is the interface that allows the user to tell the sen
sor what to do, stores the generated data, and transfer data to a computer. 3) M
icrocomputer-Based Laboratory (MBL) provides a link between a computer and the s
ensor. 4) Data Logger is a freestanding device that contains a sensor, an interf
ace, and a battery. It is connected to a computer for programming and uploading
data.