Week Three

Module three covered the use of Word Processing and Desktop Publishing in the classroom. Teachers and students alike use these programs to enhance the learning experience. Word processors are used for creating documents with text, and teachers can use word processors to create material for classroom instruction. Desktop publishing programs can be used to create flyers, greeting cards, brochures, and many other items for publication. Desktop publishing programs can also enhance student learning and engagement.

This past week I handed out many different documents in my classroom, not only for instructional use, but also for information and news. I gave my students a calendar for the unit we are beginning so they can keep up with due dates and assignments that they must be working on. This also lets them know when they have exams and quizzes so they can prepare themselves in advance. Moreover, I often create an outline for my students to take notes. At first, I made the outlines by hand and made a copy for each student. I eventually realized they were bored with this note-taking method, so I spruced it up for them by creating it on the computer, complete with pictures, different fonts and sizes, and borders for better organization of material. This was much more visually appealing to my students as they seemed re-interested in taking notes.

I have also used desktop publishing for personal projects. For example, I took two different mission trips, one to Malaysia and one to Turkey. For each trip, I created a prayer card to send out with a letter to each person who supported me financially on the trips. I used desktop publishing to create the prayer card, which was the size of a postcard. The background was a picture of Turkey’s flag, and the foreground had a picture of me with text around it. The prayer card that I created is featured below:

Word processing and desktop publishing programs can be effectively used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Not only do they make teaching less complicated, but they also make learning more entertaining for the students. Students are drawn to creative-looking documents that are appealing to the senses. There are a diversity of learning styles that teachers must take into consideration when preparing a lesson, and desktop publishing makes the task of appealing to all senses a much less daunting task. By incorporating graphics, sounds, different fonts and sizes students are more likely to be interested in the subject matter that is being taught.