Teachers Discovering Computers

Integrating Technology in a Changing World

8th Edition

Chapter Three
Software for Educators
Chapter 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 Objectives

• Explain how to create documents

• Discuss why the use of video authoring and
editing software is important for K-12 schools
• Explain the difference between software
application, Web application, and app
• 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

• Stand-alone Operating Systems

– Windows 8
– Windows 7
– Mac OS X
• Embedded Operating Systems
– iOS
– Google Android
– BlackBerry OS
• Emerging Operating
System
– Google’s Chrome OS

5
Application Software

• Programs designed to perform specific tasks for

users
– As a productivity / business tool
– Assisting with graphics and multimedia projects
– Supporting school and professional activities
– Helping with home and personal activities
– Facilitating communications

6
Application Software

• Five major categories of application software

7
Application Software

• Starting a Software Application

8
Application Software
• Working with Software Applications
– Document - Piece of work created with an application
• Creating
• Editing
• Formatting
– Font
– Font size
– Font style
• Printing
• Saving
• Dialog box
• Voice recognition
• Note taking software

9
Application Software

10
Application Software

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Application Software

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Productivity Software

• Word Processing Software

– Used to create, edit, and format textual documents

13
Productivity Software

• Word Processing Software

– Formatting features
• Font and font size
• Color
• Borders
• Clip art
• Margins
• Wordwrap
• Scrolling

14
Productivity Software

• Word Processing Software

– Editing features
• Find or search
• Replace
• Spell checker

15
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Productivity Software

• Spreadsheet Software
– Allows you to organize numeric data in rows and
columns, collectively called a spreadsheet or
worksheet

17
Productivity Software

• Spreadsheet Software
– Spreadsheet organization
• Worksheet has columns and rows
• Cell - Intersection of a row and a column
– Labels
– Values
– Formulas

18
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

19
Productivity Software

• Spreadsheet Software
– Charts
• Graphically illustrates the relationship of numeric data

20
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

21
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
– Database Organization
• Database file
• Records
• Fields
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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

25
Productivity Software

26
Productivity Software

• Presentation Graphics Software

– Predefined formats - define colors and other elements
for backgrounds, text, and other special effects
– Various slide layouts
– Clip art / image gallery
– Slide sorter

27
Productivity Software

28
Productivity Software

• Presentation
Graphics Software
– Integrating electronic
presentations into the
classroom
• Nonlinear teaching and
learning
• Students and teachers
create presentations
• Can link to other slides,
presentations, and to the
Web
29
Productivity Software

• Personal Information
Managers (PIM)
– Software application
that includes an
appointment calendar,
address book, notepad,
and other features to
help organize
appointments, task lists,
and more

30
Productivity Software

• Software Suites
– Collection of individual
application software
packages sold as a single
package
– Lower cost
– Ease of use
• Common interface

31
Application Programs, Web Applications, and Apps

• A Web application, or Web app, is an application that allows users

to access and interact with software from any computer or device
that is connected to the Internet — which is sometimes called
cloud computing
• Many types of application software are available as Web
applications
• Thousands of games are available
• Experts often use the term Web 2.0 to describe Web applications
• Web applications and application software programs are usually
multipurpose programs
• Application programs typically are installed on a computer before
they are run, and Web applications are accessed via the Web

32
Application Programs, Web Applications, and Apps

• Today, virtually all mobile device users download

and use apps on their smartphones, tablet
computers, and other mobile devices
• An app, also called a mobile app, is a program you
can download and use primarily on your mobile
device
• Apps often are single purpose programs
– Apple’s App Store

33
Application Programs, Web Applications, and Apps

34
Graphics and Multimedia Software

• Desktop Publishing (DTP) Software

– Allows you to design, produce, and deliver
sophisticated documents that contain text, graphics,
and brilliant colors
– Page layout - arranging text and graphics in a
document

35
Graphics and Multimedia Software

36
Graphics and Multimedia Software

• Paint/Image-Editing Software
– Allows you to draw pictures, shapes, and other
graphical images using various tools on the screen
– Paint software
• Draw pictures, shapes, and other graphics
– Image-editing software
• Modify existing graphics
– Photo editing software
• Edit digital photographs

37
Graphics and Multimedia Software

• Clip Art/Image
Gallery
– Collection of clip art and
photographs
– Miscellaneous items
• Fonts
• Animations
• Sounds
• Video and audio files

38
Graphics and Multimedia Software

• Multimedia Authoring Software

– Used to create electronic presentations, simulations, and
software demonstrations that can contain:
• Text
• Graphics
• Video
• Audio
• Animation
• Screen captures

39
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
40
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

41
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

42
Software for School Use

• Gradebook Software
– Allows teachers to track
and organize student
tests, homework, lab
work, and other scores
– Often integrates with
other software packages

43
K-12 Educational Software

• An educational software
application refers to computer
software products used to
support teaching and learning
of subject-related content
• The number and quality of
educational software
applications designed
specifically for the K-12
learning environment have
increased dramatically in the
past few years
44
K-12 Educational Software

• Computer-assisted instruction is software

designed to help teach facts, information, and/or
skills associated with subject-related materials

45
K-12 Educational Software

• Drill-and-practice software is software that first

supplies factual information and then through
repetitive exercises allows students to continue to
work on specific materials to remember or
memorize the information
– Also called skills-reinforcement software
• Remediation is reviewing content many times and
using alternative means to help a student grasp
the concepts being taught
46
K-12 Educational Software

• An educational game usually includes a set of

rules, and students can compete against other
students or the game itself
• Many students find educational games a fun way
to learn

47
K-12 Educational Software

• A tutorial is a teaching
program designed to
help individuals learn to
use a product or
concepts
– Designed to tutor or
instruct

48
K-12 Educational Software

• An educational computer simulation or a video

game is a computerized model of real life that
represents a physical or simulated process

49
K-12 Educational Software

• An integrated learning system (ILS) is a sophisticated software

program usually developed by an established educational software
corporation as a complete educational software solution in one
package

50
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Creativity applications often have students start

with a blank canvas, which allows them to use
their imagination and ingenuity

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Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Critical-thinking applications stimulate students to

use critical-thinking skills

52
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Early learning applications are designed to

provide students in grades PreK-3 with a
developmental head start in reading, language
arts, math, science, and other curriculum areas

53
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• ESL and foreign language applications provide K-

12 students with assistance in learning English
and other languages

54
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Language arts applications support student

learning throughout the reading and writing
process

55
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Math applications help students master basic and

complex mathematics

56
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Science applications are available for all grade

levels and assist students in learning a wide
variety of science concepts

57
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Social studies applications encourage higher-order

thinking skills, provide reinforcement of facts, and
allow students to define their own path

58
Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Special needs software, also called assistive technologies

software, is designed specifically for students with physical
impairments or learning disabilities to assist them in
completing school
assignments and
everyday tasks

59
Software for Home and Personal Use

• Personal Finance
Software
– Simplified accounting
program
– Track personal income
and expenses
– Track investments
– Evaluate financial plans
– Maintain a home
inventory
60
Software for Home and Personal Use

• Tax Preparation
Software
– Guides individuals,
families, or small
businesses through the
process of filing federal
taxes
– Offer money saving tax
tips
– Prints tax forms

61
Software for Home and Personal Use

• Legal Software
– Assists in preparation of
legal documents and
provides legal advice to
individuals, families, and
small businesses

62
Software for Home and Personal Use

• Entertainment Software
– Interactive games and videos
– Hobbies

63
Learning Aids and Support Tools

• Help
– Online help
– Web-based help
• Tutorials
• FAQs

64
Software Versions and Upgrades

• Software programs are designated by a version

number
• Upgrade is a new version designed to replace an
older version

65
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 or
Information command
– Older version of software may
not open files created with the
newer version

66
Software Versions and Upgrades

• Microsoft Office 2007 introduced new file formats

called Microsoft Office Open XML Formats
– Based on XML
• The new file formats are applied to Word 2007
and later, Excel 2007 and later, and PowerPoint
2007 and later

67
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

68
Chapter Summary

• Explain how to create documents

• Discuss why the use of video authoring and
editing software is important for K-12 schools
• Explain the difference between software
application, Web application, and app
• Explain how to work with different versions of
software applications

69
Teachers Discovering Computers
Integrating Technology in a Changing World

Chapter Three Complete

Software for Educators