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

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 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

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 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

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 Application Software

• Five major categories of application software

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 Application Software

• Starting a Software Application

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 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

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Application Software

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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

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 Productivity Software

• Word Processing Software

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

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 Productivity Software

• Word Processing Software

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

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 Productivity Software

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

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 Productivity Software

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

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 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

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 Productivity Software

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

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 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

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 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

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Productivity Software

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 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

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Productivity Software

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 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
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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

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 Productivity Software

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

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 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

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 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

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Application Programs, Web Applications, and Apps

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 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

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Graphics and Multimedia Software

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 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

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 Graphics and Multimedia Software

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

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 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

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 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
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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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
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 K-12 Educational Software

• Computer-assisted instruction is software

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

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 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
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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• ESL and foreign language applications provide K-

12 students with assistance in learning English
and other languages

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 Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Language arts applications support student

learning throughout the reading and writing
process

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 Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Math applications help students master basic and

complex mathematics

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 Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Science applications are available for all grade

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

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 Curriculum-Specific Educational Software

• Social studies applications encourage higher-order

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

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 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

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 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
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 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

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 Software for Home and Personal Use

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

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 Software for Home and Personal Use

• Entertainment Software
– Interactive games and videos
– Hobbies

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 Learning Aids and Support Tools

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

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 Software Versions and Upgrades

• Software programs are designated by a version

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

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 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

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 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

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 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