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UNIT 3: Productivity Software Application Tools for

Teaching and learning

1.0 Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
a) Identify uses of open-ended tools (productivity tools – whether freeware
or Microsoft Office) in the teaching-learning of TLE.
b) Create student outputs using computer application programs as
evidence of learning.

1.1 Introduction

“Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I

understand.” —Chinese proverb
Hello again, learners! How were your
experiences from the previous unit? Do you
have takeaways from the lessons given? This
time, brace yourselves on learning
Productivity Software Application/Tools for
teaching and learning! Welcome to Unit 3!

Education software can work wonders

for students of all ages; and especially for
young children. How? Technology is giving
a new meaning to education. Education
software can help children get the best possible learning- with the presence of
technology in every household, it’s not a mission impossible. Children as young
as kindergarten goers are so fluent with iPads and other tools. So, why not make
the most of this fluency with providing them educational software that’ll help
to learn in the most comfortable way. Let’s delve further into how education
software is going to do good to the learners.

In this unit, you will be going to identify the uses of open-ended tools
(productivity tools – whether freeware or Microsoft Office) in the
teachinglearning of TLE. And, you will create outputs using computer
application programs as evidence of learning.

1.2 Productivity Software Application for Teaching and Learning

Before you start with our topic, let’s try to have warm-up first! Define
the following terms according to your understanding. (Do not copy from the
text material.) Write your answer on the space provided. Take note that all
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activities are being recorded and graded. Make sure to answer them all and
don't leave any blanks.

ACTIVITY (Before-Reading Questions)

1. Software
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Classroom technology
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. Cloud application
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. Video conferencing
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. Entrepreneurial mind
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Traditional teaching model
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7. Innovative thinking
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
8. Paradigm shift
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Application Software
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. Operating System
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________
Good job! I appreciate you were able to answer this task completely. I
believe you are now ready for our lesson.

1.2.1 Productivity Tools for Education

Education used to be as simple as a book, a chalkboard, and a
pencil but the current notion of education is evolving alongside
technology. Is a person’s education defined by the piece of paper
hanging on the wall or is it more about the hands-on experience of
problem solving and lesson feedback?

Technology has made education more accessible than ever before.

The internet revolution changed many things — entertainment, news,
communication — but it took a good decade to trickle down to
education. However, today’s students can get qualified degrees online
from major universities and technical academies; in addition to that,
everything from textbooks to course notes and lecture videos can be
found on the web.

For those in the Education Technology industry, recent

achievements demonstrate the power of innovative thinking in a
traditional field. But most observers see a much bigger — and more
accessible — picture. In fact, many feel that education is on the cusp of a
major paradigm shift. Cloud applications, e-books, video conferencing
and other such tools represent the dawn of a new era, all powered by the
emerging Education Technology industry.

Classroom technology has evolved greatly in the past two

decades. In the 1990s, computers were used for highly specified
purposes and basic communication. In the 2000s, online distribution of
course materials and supplementary training materials emerged. Today,
Education Technology leaders project a movement away from the old
textbook/lecture model and a greater focus on dynamic learning. “What
we are beginning to see is a huge shift in attitudes to education
technology, which includes the openness of teachers and school
administrators to embrace technology as well as the investment world
seeing the value and profitability of EdTech,” says Liam Don, co-founder
of ClassDojo.

Today, new methods for teaching and learning are being created
by the hungry entrepreneurial minds behind Education Technology
start-ups. As teachers and administrators open up to the idea of new
teaching methods and lessons through technology, bureaucratic
roadblocks are being streamlined — sometimes because budget cuts
demand creative solutions, sometimes because technology allows new
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ideas into the traditional teaching model, The good news is that new
models are being developed to address and work around these issues.,”
says Don. “Additionally, as organizations like Khan Academy have
made clear, there is a demand for independent learning outside the
traditional classroom setting. Technology is the driver behind this, and
this ‘individualized’ approach to education will only continue to expand
and grow in the coming years.”

1.2.2 Productivity Software

What is Productivity Software?
Productivity software (also called personal productivity software
or office productivity software is application software used for
producing information (such as documents, presentations, worksheets,
databases, charts, graphs, digital paintings, electronic music and digital
video). Its names arose from the fact that it increases productivity,
especially of individual office workers, from typists to knowledge
workers, although its scope is now wider than that. Office suites, which
brought word processing, spreadsheet, and relational database
programs to the desktop in the 1980s, are the core example of
productivity software. They revolutionized the office with the
magnitude of the productivity increase they brought as compared with
the pre-1980s office environments of typewriters, paper filing, and
handwritten lists and ledgers. In the United States, some 78% of
"middleskill" occupations (those that call for more than a high school
diploma but less than a bachelor's degree) now require the use of
productivity software. In the 2010s, productivity software has become
even more consumerized than it already was, as computing becomes
ever more integrated into daily personal life.

Productivity software makes people more efficient and effective

in their daily activities. This software is becoming more popular and
more in demand to learn for employment. The three popular
applications are word processing, spreadsheet, and database. All three
programs are very useful programs

 Word processing is widely used to create or edit a typed document.

In this program you can change the format of your work like color,
text size etc… This program also allows you to add clip art, change
margins, spell check, header and footer et.

 A spreadsheet is used to organize data in rows and columns in a

worksheet. Data is stored in cells that are divided in columns and
rows. More then 15 million cells can hold data. Cells can hold
numbers, formula or functions. When data in one cell is changed
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all of them that are affected will change automatically. Most
spreadsheets allow you to create macros, which hold a series of
keystrokes and instructions. Most programs have the ability to
create charts, which is a huge advantage

 A Database is a system that collects data and allows access, retrieval

and use of the data. Data is stored in tables, which consists of rows
and columns. Data could contain text, numbers, dates or
hyperlinks. When data is entered the program can validate it by
comparing a set value or it may have established rules. Once the
data is stored, you can sort it, query it, and generate reports from
it. This is sometimes referred to as a database management system.
It is far easier to use instead of writing all the information down.

1.2.3 Productivity Software Examples

Productivity software is a tool such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word,
Kid Pix, publisher, and many more. These programs enhance a teacher’s
lesson plan and allow the teacher to take their students beyond
textbooks and boring lectures. For example, Excel is a productivity tool
that can be very helpful in teaching situation dealing with math and
science. Excel possesses the ability to change numerical data and put it
in the form of a graph in a matter of seconds. This technique allows the
teacher to show the difference in the results of an experiment or survey
using a graph or chart. This visual picture is just as important as the
numerical data. Some children are visual learners and they may not be
able to comprehend the difference of the data without seeing it in a chart
or graph.

Now, it is true that a teacher does not need a computer program

to make a graph, but drawing the graph would be very time consuming
and would take away from class time that could be better spent learning
other important lessons. The time issue in the situation is a perfect
example of why productivity tools are so important. They allow us to
increase the amount of information that teachers teach their students in
less time than ever before. PowerPoint is another great example of
productivity software. A teacher could stand up in front of the classroom
and lecture to a group of tenth graders and hope that they pick out the
important details from her lecture, but this is highly unlikely. Specifying
verbatim what they want the student to write down is tedious and also
very time consuming.

On the other hand, PowerPoint enables teachers to make slides of

their notes and project them onto a screen so that everyone can copy
word for word what the teacher wants them to learn. So what is the
difference between using a regular projector with individual
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transparencies and PowerPoint? The answer is time and efficiency. The
teacher no longer has to spend ample time moving the transparency
down so that the children in the back can see what is at the bottom of the
page, or take time to put down away, get out another, and readjust the
projector so that it isn’t blurry. All of those time taking frustrations
vanish when using PowerPoint. A teacher is able to go through her slides
quickly with ease. She could even add pictures or links to show and
support the data that she is teaching to the class.

The PowerPoint system is also a lot easier to read because it can

be made in large fonts without the worry of wasting transparences,
which also allows everyone to view and read the teacher important facts.
Inspiration and Kidspiration are another great example of how children
can us technology to interact and learn a curriculum. These two
programs allow teachers to design their own activity for their students
to finish. By performing the activity themselves they are not only
learning the information required, but they are interacting with the
information which will make a much longer lasting impression on the
students.

Students can site and memorize material until their head turns
blue, but until they minds are stimulated and have a desire to learn these
facts or tools for life, they will not completely understand the
information. Productivity tools stimulate a students mind using color,
pictures, graphs, activities and so much more. It is not what a child
learns in a lesson, but what he or she takes out of it and is able to apply
to everyday life, and Productivity software enhances the impression of
the lesson on the student.

Productivity Software List

1. Google Apps for Business. Google’s office suite includes a selection

of office productivity tools including enhanced-for-business versions
of Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites,
and Google Video. Several pricing options are available, based on the
size of your business, and limited-time free trial is also available.
2. LibreOffice Productivity Suite. This free office productivity suite
comes from the not-for-profit organization, The Document
Foundation. Applications include Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base,
and Math. Because it’s free, support comes primarily from the
community of users and the developers. The license for this suite is
LGPL, meaning it can be customized as needed.
3. OpenOffice. Another free office productivity suite. The following are
included in this suite: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math.
Oracle is the primary contributor of code to OpenOffice, but other
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major companies also contribute. For technical support, they offer a
forum and a FAQ site as well as a user guide.
4. Microsoft Office. The Microsoft Office Suite has a variety of
configurations from home use to student use to use by various size
businesses. Depending on the configuration, the applications
included in the suite can change, but it usually includes at least
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. The suite is not
free (although some versions may have a free trial), but there are a
huge number of free templates available on the Microsoft site.
5. WordPerfect Office X5. Another office productivity suite that offers
multiple configurations based on the customer need. The home and
student version includes software for word processing,
spreadsheets, slideshows and presentations, and a digital notebook.
Free trials are available although the productivity suite is not free.
Some templates are also available. Support plans are available and
there is also knowledgebase of frequently asked questions.
6. Zoho. Zoho offers a large number of productivity software tools, but
as far as I could tell they are not packaged together in a suite. As of
the time of publication, Zoho products were free for personal use,
although the site stated that business and corporate users may be
charged. Some Zoho tools that may be of particular interest include:
Writer, Sheet, Show, and Calendar. Support is available.
7. Quickoffice & OfficeSuite Pro5. While these are technically not office
suites themselves, these apps give the capability to access your
Microsoft Office files from your mobile device. For the freelancer on
the go this means mobility. OfficeSuite Pro5 is specifically for the
Android Market. Quickoffice can work with a variety of mobile
devices.
8. PlusOffice Free 3.0. A freeware package is based on OpenOffice. Use
this on Windows 7/Vista (I did not see a Mac version). The suite
includes a text editor, spreadsheet, presentation package, and more.
Compare with commercial packages.
9. IBM (r) Lotus (r) SmartSuite (r). This suite will cost money, but the
product also has the support of IBM. It includes Word Pro (r),
Freelance Graphics (r), and Approach (r). Additional software
options are available for an added cost.
10. ThinkFree. This office productivity prides itself on being compatible
with MS Office. Use it for word processing, creating spreadsheets,
and presentations. There are many versions of this suite available,
including one for the Windows, the Mac, Linux, and even Android
operating systems. Even though this suite costs money, you can
download a trial version.
11. KOffice. This is another free office productivity suite alternative. It
includes KWord (a word processor), KCells (a spreadsheet) and
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Showcase (presentation software). Because it’s free, it largely
depends on volunteers and users to maintain and update it. There is
a Userbase and forum.
12. NEOOffice. This is an office suite specifically for MAC OS X. They’ve
even included a mobile version that can be accessed remotely. It is
distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). It is
funded entirely by user donations.
13. Softmaker. This office productivity suite includes TextMaker (word
processing), PlanMaker (spreadsheet), and Presentations. There are
multiple versions available including a mobile version. This package
does cost money.

1.2.4 Software: How it has Positively Influenced the Classroom

Today’s modern classroom is much different than the traditional
classrooms of times gone by. With new technology that is now being
implemented, students and teachers have better resources than ever
before to help them learn to their fullest potential. Online websites full
of information as well as interactive lesson plans that can be done online
have truly added a new layer to the educational process. With new
software, reference applications, and e-classroom learning techniques,
modern multimedia has become an important tool for teachers at all
grade levels. Online learning has even made college education possible
without having to be on campus or attend real lectures. The E-classroom
is slowly becoming a staple in the education world, with more classes
and resources going strictly online.

There are several different applications that are now being

implemented in classrooms across the country. One of these is called
student monitoring. This application allows teachers and professors to
see their students’ progress both in real time and in future reporting.
Student monitoring keeps a virtual eye on students and how they are
doing. It allows teachers to better gauge their student’s individual
success based on test scores and other results. Multimedia applications
have become an absolute must in most modern day classrooms. These
applications utilize video, audio, and photographs or graphics to help
supplement traditional curriculum. Through the use of multimedia
applications, the classroom can become a much more exciting place that
also enlists more student involvement. It helps to keep students engaged
and better remember the material they are studying.

Teleconferencing is quickly becoming an integral way to speak to

groups of people all at once without having to travel or be at the same
place. Through teleconferencing, teachers can give lectures or speak to
students via telephone or webcam. For the reverse, students can call into
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a teleconferencing line and sit in on a class without actually being there,
helping them to be able to learn and study from home. Virtual
classrooms are similar to teleconferencing however they also use other
forms of technology. Web chats, online forums, and pre-recorded class
lessons are all part of a virtual classroom. The student simply signs into
their classroom when they are able, and they can catch up on their own
computer. This form of learning has made online degrees and remote
learning possible to millions of people.

All students have had to use reference material at some point in

their educational career. While encyclopedias and dictionaries were
widely used in the past, today reference applications and websites are
visited and utilized much more frequently. Here, students can do
searches for exactly what they need and browse through hundreds of
resources on one topic at any given time. It makes the studying process
much quicker and much easier for them, and helps them to find what
they need easily. Teachers can also use modern applications such as
assessment software to help see how well their students are doing, and
in what areas they might need to improve. This type of software is a good
way to analyze each student on an individual basis, and find out their
strong and weak points. It is also a good way to get a snapshot of the
class as a whole so teachers can determine what areas of the curriculum
they need to focus more strongly on, and what areas they can change.

New technology and the Internet are making education more

interesting and more accessible to more people. Through the use of a
wide array of software and multimedia applications, students and
teachers alike can learn more and explore more. E-classrooms are
becoming more prevalent, and remote education has opened horizons
for millions of people. Today, anyone can get their GED or college degree
through the virtual classroom, saving them valuable time and money. It
is because of new education technology that educators can expand their
horizons and teach more people with better resources. Online learning
makes education fun, exciting, and easier to use for just about anyone.

The benefits of using education software are as follows:

The primary benefit of using the educational software in the
classroom is that it offers students, a wide variety of options for learning,
solve academic problems, connect with classmates, have complete
control of their experience.

1. Education software is more beneficial to students with

disabilities. Particularly those who have visual, hearing and
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motor disabilities and they require own space and time to learn
things.

2. Children, nowadays, spend much of their day’s time in front of

the computer. They are fascinated with technologies and
software. Their interest and involvement in education software
can help them learn faster and effectively.
3. When students are encouraged to learn through educational
software, they are actually motivated to gain confidence and
improve self-esteem. They are sure of themselves to learn on their
own without much help from parents or teachers.

4. When students are exposed to technology and education software

at a very young age, they develop a good attitude towards it.
The benefits of education software might vary from student to
student and also depends on the kind of educational software chosen.
Technology and computer are here to stay. It’s on the parents and
teachers to provide students with the right amount of exposure to
educational software to optimize learning.

How was it? It is simple and

understandable. Agree? Okay, since you did
well, try the exercise below.

That ends lesson in Unit 3! You did a very

good job! Please don’t forget to apply all the
concepts and approaches you have learned in our
lesson. Take note that, some students need to learn
them in an educational setting instead of a social
setting. For them, it’s another skill to add to their
lives. That is why understanding the need to invest
in very young children is so important, so as to maximize their future
wellbeing. Good luck! Now, please answer the assessment because I know that
you can do this and more!
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Requirement
For your task, you will create a COMIC STRIP.

What is a comic strip?

A comic strip is a sequence of

images with a small amount of
text in each box. This text is
normally inside balloons or
written as captions. Comic
strips
(or comic books) are a form of story-telling, which uses drawings or cartoon
characters to tell a story. Most comic strips are created for humour, while some
can be serious.

Comic strips are most likely to be seen in newspapers or magazines. While

entire comic books or graphic novels can be found at your local library or
bookstore. Superman is one of the best-selling comic books of all time. You
might know of other examples of comic strips or books that you’ve seen or read.

TOPIC: (Choose only one topic)

Your comic is about a concept you learned in ONE of our topics discussed such
as :
a. 21st Century Skills/ICT in the 21st Century Skills;
b. Project-Based Learning
c. Problem-Based Learning.

Note:

Do not forget to put some elements on your story. You may use all your
resources in creating your Comic Strip. You can also use MS PowerPoint,
MSWord, MS Publisher, or any digital platform.

Upload your output in your e-Portfolio.

You may checkout this link on how to make a Comic Strip:

https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/how-to-create-a-comic-strip/
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Reflection Figure

Directions: Below is a reflection figure that looks like a human figure.

Determine what you have learned (the knowledge that serves as your foundation to
stand and keep); the things you have realized and appreciated (attitude towards
learning) and the things that you discovered (skills that you will cherish in life).
Fill in each part the reflection figure.

Things I have learned

(Knowledge)

Things I have realized

and appreciated
(attitudes)

Things I have
discovered (skills)
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Performance Rubric for Essay
Your essay will be graded based on this rubric. Consequently, use this rubric
as a guide when working on your essay and check it again before you submit it.
Criteria VGE GE SE LE N
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

1. The introduction is inviting and it gets the reader’s

attention. Opinion statement is clear.

2. There is one clear, well-focused topic. Main ideas

are clear and are well supported by detailed and
accurate information.

3. The purpose of writing is very clear, and there is

strong evidence of attention to audience.

4. The author uses vivid words and phrases. The

choice and placement of words seems accurate,
natural, and not forced.

5. All sentences are well constructed and have varied

structure and length. The author makes no errors
in grammar, mechanics, and/or spelling.
Legend:
VGE – To a very great extent; GE – To a great extent; SE – To some extent; LE –
To a little extent; N – Not at all

Performance Rubric for Comic Strip

Your comic strip will be graded based on this rubric. Consequently, use this
rubric as a guide when working on your comic strip and check it again before you
submit it.
Criteria VGE GE SE LE N
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

1. Creativity. The pictures and captions reflect an

exceptional degree of student creativity. There is
great attention to detail.

2. Organization/Theme. Original illustrations are

detailed, attractive, creative and relate to the text
on the page.

3. Characters and Dialogue. The main characters are

clearly identified, and their actions and dialogue
are well matched to each other.

4. Landscape and Props. Landscape and props are

directly related to the theme or purpose of the
comic and enhance understanding of the scene.

5. Spelling Punctuation and Grammar. There are no

spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors.
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Legend:
VGE – To a very great extent; GE – To a great extent; SE – To some extent; LE – To a little
extent; N – Not at all
1.3 References
• Burgess, Dave. Teach Like a Pirate. San Diego, Dave Burgess, 2012.
• Cooper, Ross, and Erin Murphy. Hacking Project Based Learning.
Cleveland, Times 10 Publications, 2016.
• Retrieved from
https://www.applicationperformancemanagement.org/software/prod
uctivity-software/
• Retrieved from https://www.technology4teacher.com/productivitytools-
for-education.html
• Retrieved from https://fedena.com/blog/2015/10/benefits-ofeducation-
software-to-
littlelearners.html#:~:text=The%20primary%20benefit%20of%20using,ben
efi cial%20to%20students%20with%20disabilities.
• Retrieved from https://slideplayer.com/slide/5845856/
• Retrieved form https://www.quickbase.com/articles/software-how-
ithas-positively-influenced-the-classroom
• Retrieved from https://www.encyclopedia.com/computing/newswires-
white-papers-and-books/educational-software
• Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_software
1.4 Acknowledgement

This notice is to inform all readers that this learning module does not
claim as the originator of these content. The images, tables, figures and
information contained in this module were taken from the references cited
above. The sole goal of the distribution of this module is to increase students'
learning opportunities and flexibility.