Unit 4

Reflecting on what I know

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As Always I will try to answer the questions before I read the chapter. I have often wondered myself if word processing makes the witting process easier, 10 years ago maybe not, but now with all the auto correct features I have wondered if it will create bad spellers or or grammatically incorrect students. I will admit that I have found even myself not knowing how to spell a work, instead of having to look it up in a dictionary or thesaurus I just type it in knowing it is wrong, and knowing the program will tell me and offer a list of correct spellings.

1. Doesn't word processing make the writing process too easy?
In my pre-reading answer I was thinking about in terms of when I was in elementary school, when computers were staring to become more readily available and a little less of a commodity. as soon as I started reading the chapter in put it into different terms for me. Word processing for students in this day in age (man, that makes me feel old) is a part of their daily routine since most students communicate through texts. In this aspect I can see how word processing would be beneficial to help them stop using "text language". And I did not even think about the fact that having to write a draft over, and over might make student dislike the writing process. Another good point to think about was the fact that while using word processing a student can focus more on their writing and not their hand writing.
2. How can word processing be used to engage students in higher level thinking?
Word processing can enhance learning by:
1. entering and editing text
2. organizing information with tables and graphic organizers
3. inserting objects and hyperlinks

4 of the 6 NETS for students are met through word processing
1. creativity and innovation
3. research and information fluency
4. critical thinking, problem solving and decision making
6. technology operations and concepts


3. In what ways are the individual needs of students met when their work is completed with word processor.
Word processing gives each student a clean slate in a way when it comes to their writing. as I had mentioned in question 1, the text mentions that students can focus on writing instead of their hand writing. It also allows students to use graphics, charts and or graphic organizers which in turn allows them to analyze problems on a deeper level.

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1. Can you identify two types of data your students could collect as part of a lesson?
For Language arts students could identify abbreviations or sayings from around the world to create a data base so they can see where sayings differ.
For social studies students can enter data on a spreadsheet for square miles and population every 10 years to create a line graph.
2. how could your students manipulate the data to discover relationships or trends?
If you extended the social studies lesson you could manipulate the data to find out what the population would be if it kept growing at the same rate, slowed or sped up.
3. Can you identify three graphs or chart our students could make that would help them develop a better understanding of the content?
A line graph, a bar graph or a pie chart. This would give three different types so each student could relate their learning style.
4. Is it possible to create an interactive simulation or model with a spreadsheet?
Yes, you can create a spreadsheet to make different calculations and manipulate data to make it interactive. You could do using a specific lesson, or when you first introduce spreadsheets to your students to show them the different tools that are available.