Computer+Softwares+or+Programs+I+Use+in+My+Classroom

There are so many computer softwares and programs for sale. It would be great if you could share: (a) which software or program do you use (b) why do you use that particular software or program and (c) how did the students react to the software or program. It would be great as well if you could do a screenshot of the said software or program.

==== I use MS Power Point a lot. I use it simply because it is the easiest to use, not to mention it is also useful for so many things. Within a Power Point slideshow, a teacher can put graphics, animations, sounds and even include some interactive quizzes. It comes with the MS Office Software, it is installed in almost every computer, it is compatible with a lot of other programs and a user can easily link a Power Point slide to other files from Words or other slide shows or even to a particular website on the Internet. One does not need to have a super-power computer or high-speed Internet in order to use MS Power Point. Best of all, my students can use it without a lot of problem. I could teach my students to create their own slide shows, because Power Point is very easy to use. Honestly, I feel that I could achieve similar (or perhaps better) things in my classroom that other expensive teaching courseware could achieve, without having to spend a lot of money. All I need is just an understanding of what my students need, and a little bit of creativity. ====

==== How did my students react to Power Point? With a lot of enthusi asm, I must say. Well, it really depends on the slideshow, of course. If it is interesting, related to their interests, and includes a lot of graphics, animations and sounds - my class would immediately turn into a mini-concert of some sort. And I do believe that interactivity would always provide an extra blast, students love it when they are involved as much as possible. ====

Or this slide when they answer wrongly:


==It is very simple indeed and it does not involve any special skills in computer. Yet it has done its job, the students were excited, and I have achieved my objectives that day. For me personally, Power Point is a simple tool that has a great power to make a point. And a great tool for teaching and learning, too, for that matter.==

==There is another software that I would like to share that I think is very interesting and useful as a tool for teaching and learning. It is called 'Scratch', and it can be downloaded for free from this site: Scratch Home Page==

==Scratch is a software that enables users to use simple programming language to create interactive stories, games, music and art. It is simple because one does not need to have in-depth knowledge in programming in order to create a project. All it needs is a basic understanding of programming flowchart, which can be learned quickly through a few readings and some experiments.==

Below is a screenshot of the Scratch interface:


==To create a project, users may drag the programming 'block' on the left tab and drop it on the blank space in the centre. Users may preview the project by clicking on the green flag icon on the upper-right corner tab. 'Scratch' comes with a lot of graphics to be used as the characters or animated icons for a project, which is known as 'Sprites', as well as the background for a particular scene, which is called 'Stages'. Users may also import external graphics to be used as 'Sprites' and 'Stages'. Users may also add sounds to a project by adding the sound files included, importing external sound files or by recording it directly on 'Scratch'.==

=='Scratch' is a software that is included in the KBSR syllabus for ICT Literacy Year 5. Under the ICT Literacy program, 'Scratch' is the recommended software to be used to teach Year 5 students the basic of computer programming. 'Scratch' is selected because of its simplicity in concept - programming is done via the 'drag and drop' method - and one does not need to have advance knowledge of computer programming language in order to use and create projects using 'Scratch'.==

==I use 'Scratch' to teach Children's Contemporary Literature to my Year 5, and the students loved it. This project is created together with a few other teachers during a course on ICT Literacy for Year 5 at Beringgis Resort last year. You need Java to watch the project below, but if you do not have Java installed in your computer, you may try viewing the project from the 'Scratch' website here:== ==[] (click on the link on the right-hand side where it says 'Try the new player' - it will allow you to watch the project using a Flash-based player on the site).==

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=In my current situation, sadly to say that I never bought any kind of software that I can use to in my teaching. The only software that I bought and use until now is converter software that I can use to convert video and sound format. I found it really helpful in order to help me convert video as to put inside my Power Point Presentation and use it as my BBM.= =Simply put, it was good and easy as the software helps in converting the video and sound in an instant. I even promote it to my colleagues and from their reaction they are very with it. Whenever I said The King Converter than they know that it is the software that I use the most in my lesson.= =Well, as for the reaction of the pupils for the first time use it in my presentation only the word //"Wow"// came out from their mouth. They laugh when they saw the moving characters, video and most importantly sang the song together. I usually do the singing part with the video and lyrics underneath it so that they can enjoy both singing and watching. I never fail to make them laugh or sing. For me, until now //(after the school got electricity in 2009)// teaching for me is fun and enjoyable. I thing that I can never forget is //"Sir, bila lagi kita mau masuk di Bilik Akses?"// They are so happy when I said once a week and they will wait for that one particular day anxiously.=

Since I am teaching year 6, I think I only had brought my students once into the computer lab..and it was very long time ago and I don't even can remember when was it. I did brought my laptop into the class and showed my students some graphics, most of them were very excited and some of them who have seen it before only showed their expression with "I've seen this before." It was a very sad situation when a school which nearby the city doesn't has the facilities that it has to have. Most building where the classes are don't have enough electricity power, it can only support the power for the light and fans, most sockets are malfunction. The waste of putting up the projectors and LCDs' makes it look worst. I only use the programme such as Microsoft Office Words and Power Point to copy any downloaded materials, typing records and designing teaching materials. Even when I used picture cards using the graphics that I downloaded from the net, my students were very excited. But still the year six teacher look and find wys to expose the students about the net. Last year, we introduce the students with a portal where they can do excercises and evaluations freely by introducing a free learning portal to them. They were really interested, not only by the advance learners but all of them. We can see that students really had the interest, highly interested in different ways of learning, especially when we use media. Sad to say, even when the PPSMI were there..it can't be done because of the same old problems. I hope, and can only hope, one day things are going to change, teachers have more to show rather than talk. _ __I usually used words for typing any documents and, use power point for any presentation.Sometimes I tried to use the publisher to create any brochures or pamplets. I interested to movie maker and pictures' editor but, still I don't have the self-confident to do it by my own. I've learnt the scratch software before but, I couldn't apply it to my school because of lack facilities. Only few times I've tried to use power point during my lesson. And, there's once I used the pdf to show the notes given from PPDa's programme to the children at school. Me myself, enjoyed teaching pupils by using the multimedia resources if only there's no problem with the facilities at school. Because, with these it will be more easier for me to show any examples or pictures needed. It also able to attract pupils' attention.__

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**(b) why do you use that particular software or program and, **
====To create interactive ESL activities such as multiple-choice, short-answer, crossword puzzles and etc….not to mention it is easy to operate and I enjoy with the programs or software..its fun … ====

**(c) how did the students react to the software or program. **
====Have yet to use it with my students. I am still in the process of exploring the software :P (for hot Potatoes)…as for Power Point and Movie Makers…my students enjoy it very much…My students always asked me to replay it again…he..he…he…though I think what I did was not nice and creative enough (just a simple one) but my students think it was marvelous and they enjoy it very much… ====

tadaaa!


COMPUTER SOFTWARES OR PROGRAMES I USE IN MY CLASSROOM

I longed to use more creative and interactive software in teaching, however, given the limited resources I resort to the basic Microsoft Office software, Ms Word and PowerPoint. Not to make an excuse, but I am myself a novice when it comes to IT applications so I had been making maximum use of the basic resources available and my present state of IT expertise.

My observation took me to a decision to approach and expose programs to students according to their present state of computer knowledge.

There are 2 general groups of students I have encountered:

a) Those who have access to computer and internet and are able to use basic programs with ease.

b) Those who do not have computer / internet access and are very shy or not confident using basic applications.

My effort are basically focused on familiarizing group (b) to computer and word / power point so the lesson intended could be enjoyed and delivered effectively. Group (a), which unfortunately, is a small group are given tasks to guide the other group.

The methods are fairly simple. Ensuring that the computer language setting is in English, I would instruct students to use the computer by turns and create simple objects in Ms Word. This task could be creating a simple table, typing texts or drawing objects. Each task will have a finished product, a document they can save for later viewing or printing. Similarly, they explore Power Point functions by taking up tasks of creating a presentation of a given theme. The end result is a presentation they can deliver as a group effort.

By, Wiwean Sangau  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I use Microsoft PowerPoint to make my lesson plan goes well and help me to reduce the time I need to write in front of the whiteboard. PowerPoint is a complete presentation graphics package and gives me everything I need to produce a professional-looking presentation especially in explaining the Paper 2 questions to my students because I am teaching level 2 students. It really helps me a lot. PowerPoint offers word processing, outlining, drawing, graphing, and presentation management tools- all designed to be easy to use and learn. Besides that, I also can teach my students to create a presentation using PowerPoint and it is easy to do because all computers have it. **

===<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">My students really like it because the presentation of PowerPoint is made up of a series of slides. It can be presented as overhead transparencies or 35mm slides. Besides that, they can import any kind of pictures, graphics, animations or sounds to make their PowerPoint more interesting like watching a movie. They also can move objects around, add art, add headings or labels, change colors and font at their own PowerPoint. It makes them feel enjoy when they do their own presentation. ===

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Below is a slide that I used to introduce my students on how to answer the questions in UPSR, Paper 2.
UPSR 2012 Paper 2.pptx

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">By: Rozila Binti Antuni (CT10210663)
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