Chapter 2

        

Chapter 2 in the book Using Technology in the Classroom by Bitter and Legacy is entitled Productivity Tool and Application Software. This chapter starts out describing different programs that can be found on the computer and some common tools or elements that go with it. For example the first thing Bitter and Legacy write about is about word and works documents. On page 39 table 2.1 they show some available tools that can be used when using these programs. I really like how Bitter and Legacy put in little tables that show how this technology can be used in the classroom. They lay out what it might look like if you were observing these types of technology being put to use. This helps me, as an educator, bring this technology into the classroom. They write about the importance of spreadsheets, and how spreadsheets can be used to compile data and analyze data while doing research projects. They also explain how I, as a teacher, could use spreadsheets in the classroom. Right now, I use a spreadsheet for grades and also to help me organize my own lesson plans. My favorite thing out of this chapter is the discussion about Inspiration and Kidspiration. It is very important to me that my students know how to use graphic organizers, especially how to apply them to the TAKS test, and this website gives you a ton of graphic organizers that I can put into my SmartBoard and the students can use them in an interactive way.