Chapter 5 - Teaching with Software Tools: Beyond the Basic Programs

Chapter 5 talks about various software tools that will be helpful for teachers and students in the classroom. One of the tools that the chapter discussed is data collection and analysis tools. These are really helpful for teachers to collect and organize data. One of these tools is an electronic grade book. I think that electronic grade books are wonderful tools because they allow much more to be done with the collected information than a paper and pencil grade book would. With an electronic grade book it is not necessary to average student grades by hand. With this tool teachers can easily compare student scores, calculate averages, and increase parent communication. Some common online grade books allow students and parents access to their grades so that they constantly know where they stand academically. If a paper and pencil grade book were being used the student would have to wait for their progress report to be sent home.

Another tool the text talks about is material generating software. These are great tools for teachers so that hey can easily create worksheets, rubrics, lesson plans, and IEPs. I think that an IEP generator would be a very helpful tool to have for a new teacher. Although many students have IEPs, teachers do no have to write IEPs everyday. Software such as an IEP generator would help teachers through a process they may not be as familiar with as they are lesson planning. Even for lesson planning which teachers do everyday a generator could prove helpful. The generator would keep all of the lesson plans in a uniform design.