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Technical Considerations…
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<td class="techAspect"> Word processing software </td>
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<p class="stepText">
If your students will be writing at home and at school, you may be faced with an
array of software and printing challenges. Ensure that you and the students understand
the issues of program compatibility. If your students have files in older formats,
use the <a href="http://www.zamzar.com/" class="product" target="_blank">Zamzar</a>
website to convert files.
</p>
<h4>Word processing software options and help:</h4>
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<ul class="stepText">
<li>
Don't forget to the use the Help options in your word processor.
</li>
<a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/default.aspx" class="product" target="_blank">Microsofts Office Word</a>
website provides help and "how to" for all current formats. As Office 2007 is
introduced, your school or the home computer may be running an earlier version. Office
2007 files must be "saved as" to function on Office 2003. Effects available only in
Office 2007 will be lost. Microsoft has published a
<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en" class="product" target="_blank">compatibility pack</a>.
</li>
<li>
Find help with Microsoft Office for the Macintosh at Article and Tips,
<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/office2004/using.aspx?pid=usingoffice2004" class="product" target="_blank">Mac:Office</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.openoffice.org/" class="product" target="_blank">Open Office</a> is an
open-source application (including a powerful word processor) that can be freely downloaded.
Extensive help for Open Office can be found at the <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/" class="product" target="_blank">documentation site.</a>
</li>
<li>
Web-based word processors such as <a href="http://docs.google.com" class="product" target="_blank">Google Docs</a>
and <a href="http://notebook.zoho.com" class="product" target="_blank">Zoho</a> are becoming more
powerful. Students can sign up for an account and login from both school and home
(if they have reliable Internet connections.)
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/home" class="product" target="_blank">Atomic Learning</a> provides instruction
in short video clips, if your district subscribes.
</li>
<li>
Google any concept with the name of your word processor and you will find someone has created instructions.
For example, enter "set margins Word 2007".
</li>
<li>
Ensure that students understand that things can go wrong with new technologies. Remind them to
complete their final drafts before the due date to allow extra time to solve any technical issues.
</li>
</ul>
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<td class="techAspect">Printers</td>
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<p class="stepText">
If students are printing at home computers, you may be presented with numerous cyber excuses
for late or missing assignments. Ask your students to test their printers early in the process.
If they can't print at their regular computer, ensure that they have a plan to move the
document to school computers for printing.
</p>
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<td class="techAspect">Storage media</td>
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<p class="stepText">
At school, ensure that students understand how to save files to their network drives.
If students use floppy disks or CDs to move files from home to school, ensure that they
keep the disks in a case or sturdy envelope. Recommend that they have two disks and save
the files twice. Flash or USB drives may be available in the library media center. Do home
and school computers have USB ports? If students have Internet access at home, attaching
their final essay to an email may be a quick and easy solution.
</p>
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<td class="techAspect">Transferring documents (Handing in)</td>
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<p class="stepText">
Some schools are working in paperless environments. Check with your library media specialist or
technical support department about options for setting up shared folders. Online learning
tools such as <a href="http://moodle.org/" class="product" target="_blank">Moodle</a>
allow options for uploading files. <a href="http://www.think.com" class="product" target="_blank">Think.com</a>
is a free online site that offers file sharing in a secure educational environment.
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<td class="techAspect">Tech skills</td>
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<p class="stepText">
Students must have these basic technology skills in order to write with a word processor.
</p>
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<ul class="stepText">
<li> File Management: Create, name and save a file in an appropriate directory. </li>
<li> Locate and open software application.</li>
<li> Insert and resize text. </li>
<li> Insert and resize graphics from clip art or a file. </li>
<li> Keyboarding skills (Some research suggests that students who lack keyboarding skills write more effectively using pencil and paper.) </li>
</ul>
<p class="stepText">
Our digital natives are very clever, knowledgeable and learn new skills easily. Encourage
experts in the group to share their skills with others. The challenge with technology is
to keep them focused on communicating the message, not the technical tricks or problems.
</p>
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