Week 5 - Question 1

Week 5 – Chapters 5 & 6
Question 1: What is productivity software? How can it be adapted to benefit and learning? What are the advantages and features of electronic spreadsheet? How do you see them as a benefit in an educational environment?

Productivity software is a type of administrative software. This type of software can be used by educators for administrative and professional purposes. Examples of productivity software include word processing, spreadsheets, and data base management. Word-processing software is the most commonly used computer based application and has all but replaced the typewriter. The word-processor is cable of creating, editing, and printing document which the most advanced electronic typewriter is limited to creating and editing. Word-processing data is stored in electronic format which makes it easier to edit at any given time. Once the electronic information has been edited to the user’s standard, it can be printed at the push of the mouse. There is no need for the manual lining up of the paper as with the electronic typewriter. Most word-processing packages share common features which makes it easier for the user to use when editing, desktop publishing, archiving and printing.

Electronics spreadsheets are the numeric version of word-processing. Electronic spreadsheets offer the convinence of organizing, inputting, editing, charting data, producing accurate professional reports for any administrative tasks that deal with extensively with numbers. You can create a template where you only have to input numbers and await answers because the necessary formulas have already been created within the spreadsheet. You can create charts and graphs from the numeric data inputted into a spreadsheet.

These spreadsheets can be utilized in the classroom for class role, grading charts, classroom budget, assignment log, and other administrative or classroom purposes. A teacher can give a parent an overall view as to how a student is doing compared to the rest of the class by taking the information inputted into the grading spreadsheet and creating a comparative graph. Spreadsheets can be utilized to show the individual student what grade needs to made on any given assignment in order to obtain a certain grade. The teacher can create graphs to compare the class against class and student against student with the input from the spreadsheet. Spreadsheets can be used to formulate any numeric outcome possible while having the ability to transform this data into various charts and graphs.

School administrators can use spreadsheets to track teachers’ leave and sick days. Administrators can use spreadsheets to track school budgets, bus schedules, and other school activities. Spreadsheets can be used all throughout just about every aspect of the school system.