1. Teaching and Learning with Technology
Chapter 7
Software for Teacher Tasks

2. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Learning Outcomes
Describe the types of software that might be used for teacher tasks.
Identify how the components of a productivity suite can be used to help you be more effective and efficient in carrying out your professional responsibilities
Categorize classroom management software and its role in accomplishing teacher tasks
Locate and review available online tools and apps that can be used for teacher tasks
Investigate the challenges and opportunities associated with using teacher task software

3. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Types of Software
Productivity Suite
Usually includes word processing, spreadsheet, data base management, and presentation software
Available across districts for administrative and teacher use
Classroom Management Software
Includes attendance reporting, grade books, other custom options as determined by district
Both types together often referred to as administrative software
In combination with apps for mobile device, address most teacher tasks

4. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Productivity Software in the Classroom
Software literacy includes the ability to use common productivity applications
Word Processing
Creates, edits, enhances documents
Additional capabilities include spell/grammar checkers, thesaurus, graphics, formatting options
Used by teachers for memos, tests, student documents, calendars, flyers
Capable of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) display to preview documents before printing
Can convert to PDF (portable document formatting) for viewing by all regardless of software

5. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Productivity Software in the Classroom
Electronic Spreadsheet
Organizes, inputs, edits, and charts data, especially numeric data
Additional capabilities include auto calculations, formulas, functions, multiple styles of graphs, templates
Used by teachers for grade books, tracking experiments, budgets
Capable of What If analysis to test how outcomes will change if individual values change

6. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Productivity Software in the Classroom
Database Management Software
Organizes, maintains, and retrieves target data
Additional capabilities include sorting data, formal report formats, and queries to find specific records
Used by teachers for keeping student records, classroom inventories, and organizing student project data
Dedicated databases are the foundation of school library catalogs

7. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Productivity Software in the Classroom
Presentation Software
Organizes and presents information in a series of slides
Additional capabilities include animation, hyperlinks, embedded multimedia, external links, and multiple options for sharing or printing
Used by teachers for to support instruction, tutorials, student project presentation, presenting professional reports
Offered with easy-to-apply themes and formats for professional looking results

8. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Classroom Management Software
Assists educators in accomplishing the tasks associated with the day-to-day management of their classrooms or their schools.
School Management Systems
Customized to meet needs of district
Used to organize district or school-wide data, schedule classes, maintain grades and attendance
Classroom Management Systems
Site licensed by district or available for individual classrooms
Used by teachers for to help manage classroom tasks (e.g. behavior, seating, recording grades)

9. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Classroom Management Software
Rubrics are useful in determining the best software
Offer an objective evaluation across key characteristics
Helps to select software best for targeted tasks
Saves the time and effort of integrating software into the classroom, even if the software is initially free or inexpensive

10. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Online Tools for Teacher Tasks
Online and mobile tools add potential to what is already available from installed district, school, and classroom software
Online Tools
On line productivity tools (e.g. Google Apps) are free collections of productivity software
Can be used just like any purchased applications
However, must have online access
Other online tools enhance presentations
Some add video and audio to information (e.g. Prezi)
Others are designed for social media (e.g. Empressr)

11. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Online Tools for Teacher Tasks
Other online tools help to
Align with standards (e.g. Standards Toolbox)
Create virtual classrooms via a learning management system (e.g. Moodle)
Offer teaching tools to create rubrics, quizzes, web quests
Provide a platform for authentic assessment via electronic portfolios

12. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Online Tools for Teacher Tasks
Apps for the Classroom are teacher tools for mobile devices
Apps for Administrative Tasks include
Productivity apps (e.g. iWorks and GoDocs)
Calendars, to-do lists, note takers, and calculators
Implementing apps in schools has challenges
Technical support for downloads to devices
Loss of control to prevent inappropriate apps
Difficult to keep up with ever emerging apps
So many options, rubrics should be used to select the best apps

13. Chapter 7 Software for Teacher Tasks
Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities include
Inexpensive but powerful support for tasks
Reinforces 21st century skills
Improves task efficiency and accuracy
Challenges include
Using software selected by others which may not be optimal for your tasks
Training for efficient use of the software
Keeping up with changes from new versions
Equipment updates required for new versions
Older software conflicts after updates
Funding for software, updates, training, and support