class basics home | apple works | unit topic | drop box | class assignment files server Computing Tools for Educators is designed for teacher certificate candidates and emphasizes the use of computer technology in education. It is a time consuming course, which requires a lot of computer lab work. So, if you are having difficulties, it is important that you remain in contact with the instructor and TA's. This course has a "hands-on" rather than lecture emphasis where you will learn software programs TeachNet, Netscape, Graphic Converter, HyperStudio, VistaScan and AppleWorks. The majority of your work will be completed in Apple Works. To that end, each student is to choose a topic for developing a unit. Each unit of learning is referred to as a module. They are first divided into three parts: (1) Guided Practice, (2) Independent Practice, and (3) Extensions. Guided practices are generally completed during class time with the aid of textbook direction. Independent Practices are typically completed outside of class and are based on the knowledge that you should have gleaned from the Guided Practice. Each Independent Practice activity must be based on the unit topic chosen by you. Evaluation: You will turn in your modules electronically by uploading them to the drop box each week before which you should always turn in your criteria sheet in the black plastic shelf in 536 Sanchez- the fifth floor computer lab. home | course calendar | how to | lab hours | contact information | glossary

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What is Apple Works? Top

AppleWorks 6.0 is an integrated software product available for both the Mac and PC. This means that it is six software products in one word processing, drawing, painting, spreadsheet, database, and presentation . Each of these products is powerful enough to meet most of your day-to-day needs of any education environment.

Note: AppleWorks 6.0 is available on the computers in the UGL.

Computers have errors and they freeze (a slang expression for just stopping). When this happens you have lost any work not previously saved and to continue working you must restart the computer. Therefore, save often.

To restart: If you are on a Mac, switch to the Finder (desktop) and use the Restart command on the SPECIAL menu if at all possible. OR Depress the small left-hand button about two-thirds of the way down the case of the G3 (Mac) If you are using the PC (Windows 95/98), depress the Control, Alt (Option), and the DEL (below the Help/ins.) keys. When all three keys are depressed then let go.

Developing Your Unit Top

Courses and textbooks are often organized into manageable parts that span an instructional period of up to several weeks. Units are usually centered around a broad concept or cluster of related concepts. Units provide a framework for the design of a course or interdisciplinary program. The plan for a series of units helps define a course of study. There are three essential aspects to a unit design:

Scope: Choices made to determine the breadth and depth of the material to be covered.

These choices will rest on two considerations: the relative importance of facts, concepts, and generalizations that might be taught in terms of the continuum of the overall curriculum the relative importance of the content to be taught in respect to the needs of society and the age, interest, and abilities of the learners.

It is important to note that learners will retain more of what they understand and become involved with than they will retain of items they merely memorize. It is less important for students to remember all the facts than it is for them to understand the main ideas and the concepts.

Focus: Determine a topic that will form the basis for or serve as the major part of the unit. Put the components of the unit into a framework that accommodates the general and specific content.

The organization of the main concepts into a structure may take many forms, but the organization is essential if learners are to understand how the parts of the unit relate to each other and what the focus of their study is at any given time. Within any subject there are many interesting possibilities for study but it is impossible to include everything. It is the teacher's job to plan the unit to filter the subject, needs, facts, concepts, generalizations, ideas, etc. through the chosen focus for a good unit design. Top

Sequence: Subjects may be ordered chronologically or thematically. Although in many basic skills it would be logical to order things chronologically, it is sometimes more appropriate to sequence according to interest and variety. It should be obvious that new learning should be based on previous learning but it is still important to provide the connection that helps the learner identify how this new learning fits in the logical order of the unit.

Lesson plans are the component parts of unit design. Just as a course is divided into units, units are divided into well planned lessons. The following guidelines may assist you:

1. Limit content and concepts to be covered to allow time for students to review, practice, and get feedback.
2. Be sure new material is connected to what has been previously learned and that the connection is clear.
3. Check frequently to ensure that the students are acquiring the intended knowledge, attitudes, and skills and be prepared to alter your plans.

Never accept students' failure to learn as inevitable or unavoidable.

Deciding on Your Unit
Before determining the topic that you wish to explore for your unit, read Module 12 - Microteaching. In that module you will teach a small portion of your unit to the members of your group using the technological expertise you have developed throughout this course. Below are some unit suggestions: Top

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The Drop Box Top

The Drop Box is used in this class to submit projects electronically. It can be found on the Multimedia Server. To access the Multimedia Server, click on the Apple menu in the upper left-hand corner of the menu bar and slide the pointer down to the Chooser.

When the Chooser dialog box (see Figure 1) opens, select AppleShare, AppleTalk Zone = EDB South West, and Select file server = AAL DIST. Click OK. This will open a connect dialog box. Top

Choose the Radio button next to Guest and click OK (see Figure 2).

The next dialog box that opens will allow you to select the portion of the server.that you wish to access. Scroll until you can select Drop Box and then click OK. The Drop Box icon shown below will appear on your desktop.

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Class Assignments File Top

By using the network, the user may access a common hard drive from the servers for the purpose of sharing files. In SZB (this building), students of EDC 371 have access to two servers - Mac Lab Server and the Multimedia Server. To access the Mac Lab Server, click on the Apple menu in the upper left-hand corner of the menu bar and slide the pointer down to the Chooser.

When the Chooser dialog box opens, select AppleShare, AppleTalk Zone = LTC Computer Laboratories, and Select file server = MAC SERVER. Click OK.

This will open a connect dialog box. Choose the Radio button next to Guest and click OK (see Figure 2).

When the Chooser dialog box (see Figure 1) opens for the Mac Server, select Class Assignments File and click OK. Top

The CLASS ASSIGNMENT FILES SERVER icon shown below will appear on your desktop.