Topic 5 (Administrative Software: Word Processing & Desktop Publishing.)

In every school, everyone has an important job that contributes to support of the students who attend the school and to the effective operation of the school itself. Administrators, like teachers, often struggle to find the time and help that enable them to manage their critical role in school operations. Just as they can in the classroom, computers and software can lend a helping hand in the school office.

In my role as a lecturer, I used Microsoft word to do Quizzes, exam paper and reports. Some of the functions of word processing software include:

• Creating, editing, saving and printing documents
• Copying, pasting, moving and deleting text within a document
• Formatting text, such as font type, bold, underlined and italicized
• Creating and editing tables
• Inserting elements from other software, such as illustrations and photographs
• Correcting spelling and grammar

Desktop Publishing (DTP) is a combination of word processing and graphic design. DTP Used to develop elegant documents. In olden times, DTP was used for designing magazines, newspapers and other professional-looking items. These days, because of the technology rapid changing, it is used for less- demanding and only does a task ordinary.

Computer software can be divided into two major categories. The first category is administrative software, that is, software that assists an educator in accomplishing the administrative, professional, and management tasks associated with the profession. The second category is academic software, or software that assists both educators and learners in the teaching and learning process itself. Both types of software are important tools for educators in helping them work efficiently and effectively as classroom managers, educational professionals, and, ultimately, architects of the learning environment.

The critical role of software in education is consistent with the role of software in many other aspects of contemporary life. Few businesses could do without the use of software. Word processing has become as critical a skill as typing once was. Spreadsheets are essential for accounting, budgeting, and other financial tasks. The use of the Internet and its support software for information, sales, and communication is as commonplace as the use of a library or telephone. For teachers, the role of software is no less important for their administrative and academic tasks.

Productivity software remains the most widely used software in education, with word processing software at the top of the list. This is not a surprise because word processors can be used in so many different subject areas.

Other productivity software includes spreadsheet software, presentation software, and database software. Many of these software categories are found with regularity in our classrooms. Productivity software spans a vast array of business related applications, and its main function is to help people be more productive.

Some educational software is designed for teachers (e.g., grade book software, attendance software), while others (academic software) are designed to be used by students.

When choosing software for your classroom, you should always consider the many needs and learning styles of your students. There is no software package that can replace you and there is no software solution that will work effectively with every student. A good teacher is still very much the key to good instruction and classroom management.