I’ve made some lists of the tools I use, but today I want to talk about some of the ubiquitous tools that almost all teachers either have or have access to. As with any job, it is always worthwhile to take care of the tools you have. In the computer world, the tools we use change faster than many are comfortable adapting to…sorry…that’s the way our new online world works (i.e. faster than you…get used to it!).
Most teachers that I am aware of have a PC in their room with a copy of Microsoft Office. Some are comfortable with PowerPoint, other with Word, and a few with Excel. I think that all three programs are quite nice (if bloated and very expensive!). I have a copy of office on my laptop only because this is the ubiquitous tool of teaching, otherwise I would have been perfectly happy with Open Office (a free office suite…).
I made a short list of some of the tools that most middle school and high school teachers should be aware of: The aforementioned Microsoft Office ($$), Diigo (free), Prezi (mostly free…), EverNote (free), Google Docs (free) and some general knowledge about Wikis and Blogs. There are certainly many more tools that teachers use and have access to in the classroom, but this is merely a beginning. I have made some link lists of some help, support, and lesson links for these tools. I would suggest checking them out even if you consider yourself to be a master of any of these tools (actually, if you consider yourself a master of any of these tools, you would probably be more than aware of all of these sites…).
This post actually gets to the core of one of the main reasons I have this blog…I see so many people, teachers, students, and seniors who seem to muddle along with less than efficient tool computer tool usage…most of the time this is because of some of the biggest problems which affect people adapting to computers… fear and laziness…
I often see teachers react to these sorts of professional ‘impositions’ in a less than helpful manner. I can empathize with someone who has whole categories of technology thrust upon them with little or no real support of help. This doesn’t even start to get into the more problematic areas of some teachers already having some antipathy towards technology on a personal level. I said I empathize, but to actually be supportive of this selfish notion would be to suggest that we go back to drowning witches and other ‘luddite’ sort of devolution. It certainly doesn’t sound like a point of view that could be supported by a professional teacher…
So, here are the links to check (especially for you luddites with computer access!)
2007 word http://linkli.st/riehler/3l5wt
2007 Excel http://linkli.st/riehler/7O2fl
2007 PowerPoint http://linkli.st/riehler/8rMeE
Diigo http://linkli.st/riehler/5Ksms
Prezi http://linkli.st/riehler/8FuwF
EverNote http://linkli.st/riehler/1eNIk
Wiki http://linkli.st/riehler/4toCn
Google Docs http://linkli.st/riehler/9nak4
