PROFESSIONAL
TTP Spotlight
The Suite Life: Getting the Most Out of Your Application Suites
Chances are you have more software applications installed on your school network than you know what to do with. You understand the routine—when money becomes available for a technology upgrade, you want to maximize your investment. Software vendors do their best by offering competitive pricing. That is how many computer education teachers end up with the latest versions of bundled software such as Microsoft® Office® 2007 or the Adobe® CS4 suites.
Application suites can save schools and districts thousands of dollars, but they also have several other benefits. The question is how to maximize the productivity of a software suite in the classroom. Better yet, how can you get your students to embrace the multiple functions suites offer? You can help move your students past familiarity into proficiency by showing them how to use every application within a suite in an integrated way.
Getting Students Excited about the Suite Life
The beauty of a software suite—besides its price tag—is the potential it provides to students. Because software that is bundled together generally has the same interface and similar functions, you do not necessarily have to follow the tried-and-true method of teaching students how to use one application at a time. Instead, you can get students excited about the "big picture" by explaining how they can to use several programs together to create a project.
Showing students how applications work together can improve their productivity while reinforcing basic skills. It also helps them to see just how limitless software is in terms of functionality. With the right plan in place, and the right software suite, students can achieve just about any academic or career goal.
Maximizing the Suite Instructional Experience
One way to maximize your instructional approach with a suite is to use the foundation of many academic classes—the classic research report. If you ask students to create each individual piece of the report using the best application, and then have them bring all the pieces together at the end, you can help them break down the project into manageable sections.
For example, a report created in Word can feature a graph created using Excel. The outline from the report can be imported into PowerPoint, along with the Excel chart to create an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. In a desktop publishing or Web design course, a logo created in Photoshop or Flash can be used in a Dreamweaver Web site or an InDesign publication—or both. Few assignments can give students more tangible results. Besides, assignments like this give students excellent career preparation, academic integration, and multitasking skills.
Project-based assignments that use multiple applications allow students with varying interests and learning levels to shine. For example, a student who is more comfortable with PowerPoint than with math can work to improve his or her math skills by learning how to insert a graph or pie chart into a presentation. A student who has a stronger grasp of math than of design will be able to insert professional tables, charts, and graphs into spreadsheets and Word documents. You can even pair together students with complementary skills.
There are various resources you can use to find great cross-application projects and ideas. Glencoe supports application integration in programs such as the iCheck™ series and Computer Concepts in Action. The iCheck™ series covers both Office® 2007 and Office® 2003. Step-by-step instructions, coupled with a focus on academic integration and 21st Century Skills, gives students an excellent background in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Computer Concepts in Action includes projects that allow students to explore the Office suite and use the applications together. All of these projects will help you support student success at school, at home, and at work.
