ICT and the Roles of the Educator - Activity 4: The word processor as a learning resource

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Activity 4: The word processor as a learning resource

Reading and Reflection: 1 hr
Group Activities: 2 hrs
Classroom Activity & preparation: 3 hrs
Reflection: 30 mins

6 hrs 30 mins

The purpose of this activity is to encourage you to think about innovative ways in which the word processor can be used as a resource by learners during the learning process. This may not have been the focus of your brainstorming in activity 1. Learners enjoy working with computers, and often tackle quite routine tasks with more enthusiasm if the task is performed using a word processor. Computer literacy is not just about learning what you can do on the word processor. Computer literacy is most effective when the computer is used as a resource for learning.

Let us look at a few examples of the kind of activity that we are referring to in this activity. You may even like to try them out, so they are written as optional activities.

Click here to see an activity on collaborative writing

Click here to see an activity on ordering information

In the above examples you worked with curriculum-centred class exercises that made use of the word processor. You should think of similar uses of the word processor in this activity.

Group Activity 4A - Gathering ideas

Think of ways in which the word processor could be used as a tool for learning (being used by the learners).
Discuss your list of ideas with some of your colleagues at school. Ask them to suggest additional ideas. Add these to your list.
Using the brainstorm tool that your tutor has set up for you, brainstorm your list of ideas collaboratively with your group. Read and think about their ideas and discuss these with them.
When you have collected all the ideas (your own, together with the ideas from the learners, your colleagues, and the group), make a list of these ideas in a word processor document.

These lessons are exampels of how you could conduct a lesson where learners integrate the word processor in their learning.

Group Activity 4 B - Integrating the word processor

Design a lesson integrating the use of the word processor by learners. Use this template to design and record the lesson. First save it, then open it in a word processor before completing the template.
Consult your tutor regarding the appropriateness of this lesson before continuing.
Make changes based on comments from your tutor. After this, implement the lesson with a class in a venue with computers.
Complete the lesson template by reflecting on the lesson and noting areas of concern and success in the lesson.
Think about the successes and problems of this lesson. Write down your thoughts and experiences in a message to your group (using the subject heading "Word processor lesson").
Read the messages from your group about their experience and discuss a few of these with the group. Attempt to solve problems collaboratively.
Write concluding and reflective comments in your e-diary.

Click here to go to Activity 5 - Spreadsheets for administrative purposes.

ICT and the Roles of the Educator

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