We discuss many types of educational software in class this week from broad categories to specific titles (see PowerPoint files before doing this blog). We talked about drill and practice, tutorial, problem solving, educationl games, etc. We looked at specific kinds of application software from word processors to spreadsheets to presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint). Many educators feel that students should be taught the software applications they will have to know to succeed in their lives beyond school (e.g., work or college). Please make a list of five specific applications you think every student should learn, from more important to less important (you can name the application or just give the title — e.g., Word or word processors).
Explain your ranking in your blog entry. At what level in school do you think each application should be taught? Why?
I think the 5 most important software applications a student can learn are as follows. Word processors, Presentation software, Spreadsheets, Image software, and Databases.
I ranked them by how relevant they would be to a student’s life beyond school, thinking mostly how they would apply to their future job or career.
I chose Word processors as the most important because nearly every job position a person might have would require them to prepare a Word document at some point. Whether it be an application or submitting a resume, or even typing a letter to someone’s boss, knowing how to use a Word processor would benefit nearly everyone. I believe it should be taught to students as early as 1st or 2nd grade. A student at this age would not need to know all the in’s and out’s of the program, but at least develop familiarity and some basic skills. As a student’s capabilities mature and their typing skills develop, a complete lesson should be taught to students in late elementary school, or even early middle school.
Next, I chose Presentation software. A program such as PowerPoint has so many capabilities, that a person could personalize a presentation that would work perfectly for their needs. Many people are visual learner’s and by developing something that is easy to understand, they would really help people understand the thing they are trying to teach. Although I was not taught how to use PowerPoint until 6th grade, I feel as if I could have learned how to use it at a much earlier level. Therefore I believe it should be taught to students around 3rd grade. Once students are taught a few of the basic things, it is quite easy to experiment on your own and teach yourself many of the capabilities of PowerPoint.
The next software application listed was spreadsheets. Spreadsheets can be used for an infinite amount of things, from keeping track of your budget to compiling sports statistics. As an adult, MS Excel could be so helpful to a person who had a real understanding of it. I believe it should be taught to students any time before high school, preferable early middle school. I didn’t know anything about Excel until about 10th grade, and once I did learn about it, I was amazed at how much it could have helped me in earlier years. One of the most important things I think students should know about Excel, or any spreadsheet software for that matter, is how to create graphs and tables. These things are used so much throughout a student’s education, and having knowledge of a program that helps you create them would be indispensible.
The software application I believed was 4rd most important was Image software. Digital camera’s are just as common as regular cameras nowadays, and being able to edit and alter your photograph’s is something people should know how to do if they are the owner of a digital camera. If someone were to have a digital camera and not know how to edit their pictures, they would not be fully taking advantage of the technology. I believe Image software should be taught early in high school, in 9th grade. Some students take an interest in editing and by starting at the beginning of high school, instead of at the end as so many students do, they could have a chance to fully utilize the technology and programs the school may have access to.
The final software application I believe should be taught in school is Databases. Databases are excellent ways of organizing information, and could be used not only in school, but throughout a person’s career. Since Databases tend to be a little more difficult to understand, I think it is fully appropriate to teach students about them late in high school, perhaps 11th grade. This way, a student should have many years of experience with the other programs and be ready to learn a completely new software application at the end of high school.