Chapter 6: Word Processing Section II: Using Research and Communication Tools to Enhance Instruction

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Frameworks: What we know Research studies have found that there are multiple advantages of using WP with students. –Increased productivity of students –Increased accuracy of students –Improved student attitudes toward writing –Improved the quality of writing –Improved quality of organization, spelling –Effective assistive technology device for students with mild disabilities

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics: Uses of WP Teacher design and development of –Exams; quizzes; lesson plans –Grant proposals; reports –Communication with parents –Activity or research guide sheets Student writing assignments –Creative and/or collaborative writing projects –Journal writing; report writing –Newsletters, brochures, trading cards Voices in the Classroom Amy Kelly, MS K-12 teacher (French and German)

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics: Software Options for WP Stand alone / Full featured programs /Software suites –MS Word (Microsoft)MS Word –WordPerfect (Corel)- part of Word Perfect Office X3WordPerfect –Pages (Apple) - part of iWork ‘06Pages Integrated programs have WP function –MS Works (Microsoft) AppleWorks (Apple)MS Works AppleWorks Open Source –AbiWordAbiWord –Writer - Open Office SuiteWriter Specialized writing and multimedia software –KidsWorks - Grades 1-4 –Storybook Weaver Deluxe - Grades K-5 –Student Writing Center - Grades 4-9

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics: Word Processor Capabilities Word processing software has multiple capabilities that make it a useful tool. Working with Text –Entering, editing, saving and printing text Formatting –changes the look of a document or a selected portion of the document –use default settings or change them using document formatting paragraph formatting font formatting

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics - Document Formatting Document formatting is changing the default document settings. Orientation –Portrait –Landscape Margins –Margins are top, bottom, left, and right –Can be changed independently of one another

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics - Paragraph Formatting Paragraph formatting can be set for the entire document or just one paragraph. Alignment (justification) of text –Placement of text horizontally on a page Paragraph indentations –First-line indentations: used to indent first line of each paragraph in a document –Hanging indentations: indent of all subsequent lines of a paragraph –Block indentations: indent both left and right margins of the paragraph Line Spacing –Single, Double and 1.5

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics - Font formatting Modify the appearance of text by changing fonts Font Families –The division of fonts into families that share common traits: serif, sans-serif, mono-space, gothic Typeface –Differ in appearance and size Type Size –Font size is measured in points (72 pts. = approx. 1 inch) Type Case –UPPERCASE and lowercase letters Emphasis shadow –Bold, Italic, underline, shadow, emboss, etc.

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics - More Options More Formatting Options –Bulleted or numbered lists –Columns –Tab settings; leaders Insertions –Page numbers –Headers; footers –Page breaks; section breaks (widows/orphans) –Hyperlinks –Tables Tools –Spell Check, Thesaurus, Dictionary; Word Count Styles Text wrap –Wrap text around pictures

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Basics: Moving between Platforms Tips for Safely Moving between Macs and Windows –Save files to Windows-formatted disk if you will be working on both Windows and Macs –USB drives are universal –Always keep a back-up

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Adapting for Special Learners Zoom Option –Allows increase of size of the screen display of text (no change to font size of the printed text) Text Color and Background Color –Text and background can be changed Create contrast Most effective when used electronically Speech Recognition –Feature is designed to support the need for dictation of words or numbers

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Adaptations Using WP for Access Spelling and Grammar Checking –May be turned on or off –When turned on, automatic notices appear (red underline for misspellings in Word, green underline for grammar issues) Document Templates –Templates can serve as guides for students Readability Statistics –Teachers can check the difficulty of a document by checking these stats Auto Summary –Will analyze a digital document and produce a summary of the main points

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Specialized Word Processors Text-to-Speech Word Processors –Allow auditory feedback of text in a variety of formats Word Prediction –Predicts an word from the first few keystrokes –Presents possible choices that can be inserted with one key stroke or mouse click Rebus-Based Word Processor –A rebus is a picture or symbol that is used in place of or to describe a written word Portable Word Processors –Text is entered directly into this portable device and then printed

Section II: Using Research & Communication Tools to Enhance Learning Chapter 6: Word Processing Questions???