I found this chapter very helpful. It provided a clear explanation of the basics for using Excel. Many people consider this the best spreadsheet program presently available. I learned about the following.
SPREADSHEET LINGO: knowing the proper terms makes it much easier to learn and use the program. Some of the terms I learned about include Spreadsheet, Worksheet, Cell Address, Workbook and Range.
ANATOMY OF THE EXCEL 97 WORKSPACE: It’s important to be familiar
with the critical screen elements to help save time. Some of the
new elements I learned about include active cell, Column heading, row heading,
sheet tabs, tab scroll buttons, formula bar, formatting toolbar, standard
toolbar, name box, menu bar and status bar.
USING THE MOUSE TO MOVE AROUND: This is essential for making
a cell active.
USING THE KEYBOARD TO MOVE AROUND IN EXCEL: Some of the shortcut
keys are arrow keys, tab, shift + tab, enter, Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+End.
Other information I found helpful included moving between
sheets, entering worksheet labels and numbers, selecting cells, editing
cell contents, copying, cutting and pasting excel data, copying and moving
worksheets.
JOHN GRANNISS – BOOK REVIEW #2
REVIEW OF CHAPTER 15 – CREATING, EDITING, AND RUNNING A POWER POINT
PRESENTATION
FROM USING OFFICE 97 BY J. FREEZE
I learned that power point is a tool for creating professional
quality presentations to be viewed on the computer, the Internet, on paper
and on transparencies via overhead projector. Once power point techniques
are mastered, quality work can be done in a short period of time.
Some of the things this article introduced were how to pick the
best PowerPoint design tool, getting to know the screen elements, using
the AutoContent Wizard, saving a presentation, inserting,deleting, and
moving slides, choosing a color scheme and running a slide show.
This information helped me get my “feet wet” in beginning to
understand how to use PowerPoint.
JOHN GRANNISS – BOOK REVIEW #3
REVIEW OF CHAPTER 18 – ACCESS 97 ESSENTIALS
FROM USING OFFICE 97 BY J. FREEZE
I learned that Access 97 provides an easy method for entering
data into a database. With Access I can build a data base to hold
all of my information, use forms to view and update information, search
and sort information, and generate professional reports to present the
information. I learned that I can use the Database Wizard to create
any of 22 predefined databases and I can use Switchboards to select database
functions like Forms and Reports. I learned that I can view and edit
database information with Forms. I also found that I could preview
reports before sending them to the printer.
I found this information helpful in giving me an introduction
and overview to Access 97.
JOHN GRANNISS
REVIEW OF CHAPTER 25 – OFFICE 97 AND THE WEB
FROM USING OFFICE 97 BY J. FREEZE
I learned that Office 97 has extensive Web capabilities. This chapter supplies all the information needed to build my own Web page and publish it to the Internet. I learned that there are different techniques for publishing a document to the Web versus making it available in a public folder. I also learned that there are many ways to make my Web page standout, from textured backgrounds to scrolling text. With a little knowledge of HTML, I have many advanced capabilities. I also found the information needed to publish it to the Web.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR EDU 360
Stacey Graham
1. Thomas, Susan Gregory. Lots of software made for kids is junk; This
is the good stuff. U.S. News Online: 1997
This article attempts to help parents decide what home computer programs
will be useful for their children. U.S. News enlisted children,
parents, and teachers to evaluate off-the-shelf programs available
to
children. They include reviews on programs dealing with math
and
science, reading, creativity and productivity, and use of programs
by
toddlers.
2. Gleick, Elizabeth. Role of a new machine. Time: 1995.
Highschool students taking the calculus Advanced Placement examination
are required to bring to the exam a graphing calculator. If they
don't
have one the required to fill out a waiver saying that they will not
challenge any bad scores they may receive. Teachers and parents
advocate that the cost is too high for many of these students to buy
one, and that the students become dependent on the machine. They
argue
that there is no hands on raw knowledge of the material. They
are
trying to change the requirement and not get lost in the technology.
3. Rudolph, Barbara. Cutting into Apple's core. Fortune: 1998.
This article reviews the parents push to install Windows PCs in schools
and Macintosh's fight to keep up with the competition. It discusses
the
recent shifts in the use of technology to PCs and Microsoft.
Mac's
argument is that it's easier to use, cheaper, and easier to maintain.
4. Thomas, Susan Gregory. Software that turns kids on. U.S. News Online:
1996.
Parents in the technological age think that computer programs will
motivate kids to want to learn. Developers say that works only
if the
program fits the child's needs. This article reviews several
math and
science programs that can be used in the home as wee as in schools.
It
also includes educational learning web sites.
Elliot, Ian, (1995). Taking the fast lane on the information
superhighway, Oct, 34-39. Distance learning through fiber optics--a
new
way for students in Iowa to learn from their 99 neighboring counties.
By simply pushing a touchscreen or a microphone button, students are
able to connect with students in Marshalltown who are learning Russian
nearly 200 miles away. In addition, a sixth grade social studies class
gets a living Native Americans lesson when they connect with Native
American students. This article gives a wonderful overview and ideas
about how technology has enhanced our children¹s learning.
Milone, Michael N., (1995). Global education begins at home. Technology
& Learning; Nov/Dec, 16 (3), 44-52.
This article focuses on how student¹s are learning about their
own
cultures while mastering the art of technology through the use of the
Internet, E-Mail, and CD-Rom. Some students in the United States have
pen pals in Australia through E-mail. Others are publishing web sites
such as this one from Juneau, Alaska:
http://jsd.k12.akus;70/www/AKonline/AK.home.html.
Milone, Michael, N., (1995). Electronic portfolios: who¹s
doing them
and how? Technology & Learning Oct, 16 (2), 28-36.
This article discusses the positive affects of student¹s creating
electronic portfolios of examples of their ³best² classwork.
Students
include mediums such as scanned images, word processed documents, video
clips, and audio. Every subject area is included in this portfolio
and
many schools are using this are as a means for their assessment. This
project has increased student participation and motivation as well
as
their learning capabilities.
This article focuses on future trends in computers. It describes
the next step for computer companies to try to manufacture computers for
less than $1,000. It was
a brief article describing current computer technology.
Magazine: The Computing Teacher, Journal of the International Society
for Technology in
Education, "Thinking Land, Helping Students Construct Knowledge with
Multimedia".
Volume 22, April 1995, #7
Author: Skillen, Peter
Thinking Land is a new software program which helps students to think more deeply as they work with multimedial. Multimedia reports are a means by which students can report their project findings on a subject topic (e.g. rainforests). This article focuses on the software Thinking Land, showing it's strengths and weaknesses.
Magazine: The Computing Teacher, Journal of the International
Society for Technology in
Education, "Multimedia Detectives, Exploring the World Wide Web at
High Speed
using cable t.v.
Volume 22, April 1995, # 7
"Mutimedia Detectives", is an ongoing program which enables teachers to explore the ways that multimedia and telecommunications technology can help their students engage in "authentic" publishing. It also describes how students can see the WWW pages on their classroom 2-way cable link up.
Magazine: The Computing Teacher, Journal of the International
Society for Technology in
Education, "Cool Moves, Teaching Geography and History with Hypercard".
Volume 22, April 1995, #7
Author: Adams, Richard C.
Devised for a Social Studies class, the author writes how with the hypercard's animation capabilities, successive versions of European maps can be produced in which students can see groups of people moving around. A history teacher describes his success in using hypercard in his classroom.
This article describes and reviews software programs in writing,math,science,etc.
for children age 3 and up.It can be helpful to educators who are choosing
programs to use in their classrooms, or simply to familiarize teachers
with the programs available to supplement their teaching.
Ganio,J.(Nov./Dec.1995). ³A word for the holidays.² Microsoft Magazine,2,pp.30-34.
This article explains step by step instructions for creating a
greeting card using either Word 6x for Windows, or Word for Windows 95.
This program could be used in an English class where students could create
thank you cards; integrating computer usage, etiquette ,and grammar.
Klitzner,H.(1984). ³Help your child succeed with a computer.² New York: Simon and Schuster.
Although this book was written primarily for parents it has some
useful information for teachers as well. Included in this text are: how
computers help children, what children can do with a computer, and grade
appropriate activites using a computer.