Blog 2--Software

Ok, here are my 5 most important software apllication that students should know.

I will begin with the most important, MS Word/Word processors. Word processors can be used in so many different subjects. Places such as businesses and schools relay having on this type of software; it’s hard to imagine life without word processors. Word processors allow all people the ability to communicate in a clear and effective way. I’m starting to believe that students should start learning word processors when about 4th or 5th grade. This will allow teachers enough time to teach hand writing skills and the importance of it. Most students use the correct fundamentals of hand writing skills by the 4th grade, so this 4th or 5th grade would be about right.

Going to my second most important application, Presentation Software. Teachers are begging to assign projects that have to be presented in a more formal and creative way, especially in college. All my professors have assigned at least one PowerPoint each semester I have been in college. This is type of assignment is taking over the dreaded “3-pg paper.” I really enjoy doing these types of assignments instead of a traditional paper because it allows students to really be creative and use things such as videos and pictures. Students should be introduced to this in 8th grade, even if it’s really brief, however students should be fully trained on this in the 9th grade.

Next on my list sitting at number 3 would be Spreadsheet applications. Now, this could have been in any of the top three to be honest, but I put it here because I’m going based on me as a student. I really don’t use this type of application regularly, but I do know that because I’m majoring in education that a lot of my remaining courses do require me to use spreadsheets when doing assignments. This is because I will be using spreadsheet applications pretty much the rest of my days. Plus, this is a very good way to organize anything that might be in disarray. Teachers can use it for attendance, grades, or charts, and students can use them for products and problem solving. This would probably be tied at number one with word processors if I was coming from a business aspect.

Moving on down to my 4th choice, I would say Reference Software. I really feel it’s important for students to at least get themselves familiar with some sort of reference software such as MS Streets or something like Encyclopedia Britannica, if you get my drift. It’s really important that students have different avenues when it comes to getting information on different things. This also saves a ton of space because instead of having a ton of “physical material,” you have something, usually a CD Rom that hold the information for you and all you have to do is play in on a computer or television. Students should be allowed to learn this type of software, depending on subject between 2nd and 5th grade.

Now to conclude my list, I would have to end with Drill and Practice software. I know, I know…it’s the “Drill and Kill” software, but I used it when I was younger for certain things such as the SAT’s and ACT’s and I did pretty well using that type of software. I can see how people might think this may not be effective because they feel it’s based on beating the game and not learning the content, but I have to disagree. I remember being in the 3rd grade and we would played a ton of drill and practice games. I of course wanted to beat the game, but I also knew I had to get the correct answers in order to beat the game. Games like these usually will draw the attention of the younger students, which can make learning things such as time tables and division a little easier for the students. These can be taught as early as 1st or 2nd grade.