Topic 10: Tech Skills Outcome

When I began this class I had a very limited knowledge of technology software applications. I was familiar with Microsoft Office applications like Word and Excel but only in a superficial way. I was most familiar with Microsoft Word. I used it on a daily basis in the classroom for numerous tasks. I was less familiar with Excel. This was not due to me having an aversion to the program for some reason but just due to the lack of experience with it. I would actually create a table in Word to organize data instead of using Excel (still do!). I also had a basic knowledge of the internet and websites to use in the classroom. I have recently created a blog with my students and hoped to learn more on applying this to the classroom in various ways.

Since completing the Tech Skills assignments I have found several uses of those programs that I never knew existed. I was not aware of the Table of Contents function in Word. I can see how it would be very useful in research papers and other long documents. Also, I vaguely knew that you could mail merge but I never actually experienced how to do it. Last I learned how to insert comment bubbles and editing marks for others to see. This will become very useful for peer editing in the upcoming classes in the M. ED. Program.

I have the opportunity to be the first teacher to teach my students how to use programs on the computer. I usually start by teaching them the basics. Some of the skills that I start with are:
· How to format fonts
· How to insert a graphic
· How to format graphics
· How to save files
Since my students are just starting out and learning there programs, I do not see the possibility of them learning some of the advanced skills that I have learned in this class.