Chapter 4 response

This chapter was easier for me to understand because it dealt with information I am more familiar with using: wordprocessing, spreadsheets, and databases. In fact I have used all three of these software tools in the last week. The software tool that I use most and in the chapter it made reference to it was the most used software in education is word processing. I recently went through the National Board process and I can not even imagine what writing all of those papers would have been like without Microsoft Word. The option years ago would have been to do this with pen or pencil. I used this software tool to make corrections, to insert text, check spelling...this list could go on and on. I know even in our lower grades we have a word processing software tool called MaxWrite which is just like Microsoft word but more user friendly for young kids. As I think about this I realize that the range of people and the uses vary so much but is accessible for everyone.
I do think that it is important for young children to use pen and pencil so I do not think wordprocessing should take the place of handwriting. I thought the chart on page 124 about the review of word processing in education was very good. I thought it was very interesting that according to the studies done the quality and quanity of writing improved with the use of word processing.
One of the things that is difficult with word processing is teaching the students all the "shortcuts" or components of this software tool. I know I have relied on students to show other students how to insert pictures, cut and paste, change font size, check spelling and so on. I know they do not have to learn it all at once but all the components of wordprocessing are so important that there is no way to decide which one should be taught first.
I think one sentence in this section that helps an educator understand the importance of word processing is "A teacher can use it (word processing) to support any kind of directed instruction or constructivist activity." To me this means in every learning activity you could use word processing.