TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO OTHER - Materials generators include desktop

SOFTWARE SUPPORT TOOLS publishing software, web page editors,

whiteboard activity software, test
Depending on the tool and the needs of
generators and rubric generators,
the situation, a software support tool can
worksheet and puzzle generators, IEP
offer the following benefits:
generators, graphic document makers,
» Improved efficiency and productivity and PDF and forms makers.
1. Desktop Publishing Software - It is
» Improved appearance of product perhaps ironic that one of the most
» Better accuracy and timeliness of useful and widely used of the technology
information tools is one that communicates
information in a traditional medium: the
» More support for interaction and sharing printed page.
- This control over the form and
 6 General Categories of Software appearance of the printed page is the
Support Tools defining quality of desktop publishing , a
1. Materials generators - Help teachers term coined in 1984 by Paul Brainerd,
and students produce instructional founder of the Aldus Corporation, to
materials on paper and online. mean using a combination of software,
2. Data collection and analysis tools – Help microcomputers, and printers to allow
teachers collect and organize individuals to be their own publishers.
information that indicates student a. Desktop publishing versus word
progress. processing software
3. Graphics tools - Allow manipulation of - Though desktop publishing software and
images to illustrate documents and web word processing software are different
pages. tools, it is possible to do some kinds of
4. Planning and organizing tools - Help desktop publishing with word processing
teachers and students conceptualize, software. Just as with desktop
organize, and communicate their ideas. publishing software, word processing
5. Research and reference tools - Let programs allow users to mix text and
students look up information in graphics on each page.
electronic versions of encyclopedias, - The primary difference between word
atlases, and dictionaries. processing software and desktop
6. Content-area tools - Support teaching publishing software is that the latter is
and learning activities in various content designed to create documents as
areas. separate pages that are then linked
 Recent Developments in Software together; the user clicks on an icon
Support Tools representing each page, and only one
1. Cell phones and other handheld page or facing pages display. On the
technologies - more portable format has other hand, word processing “flows”
made software tools even more popular pages in a continuous stream through a
2. Web and cloud availability – cloud document; the user scrolls down to view
computing, which is storage outside pages in the document. Because
ones’ own computer on servers that are desktop publishing software allows
accessed through the Internet. pages to be viewed as separate units, it
3. Software suites —Just as word provides more flexibility with the
processing, spread- sheets, and placement and formats of both text and
presentation software are packaged graphics on individual pages.
together as “software suites” in order to b. Example classroom applications
combine their capabilities and make - Desktop publishing is the strategy of
them easier to use together, other choice, however, to produce elaborate,
software tools are also available in graphic-oriented documents (e.g., fly-ers
packages matched to various needs. and posters, brochures, newsletters and
magazines, and books and booklets),
 USING MATERIALS GENERATORS
 and teachers can structure some highly be difficult to read (e.g., orange on green or
motivating classroom projects around red on blue).
these products. » Use visual cues —Attract reader attention
- List of common classroom applications to important information on the page by
and ideas for implementing them: using frames or boxes around text; bullets
» Practice in grammar, spelling, and or arrows to designate important points;
communication - The activity of creating a shading of the part of the page behind the
flyer or brochure can become an opportunity important text; different text styles (e.g.,
to learn about designing attractive and boldface or italic type); and captions for
interesting communications and to apply pictures and diagrams.
language usage skills. » Use white space well —There is a saying
» Methods of reporting research findings - in advertising that “white space sells.” Don’t
include creating travel brochuresthat report be afraid to leave areas in a document with
on student exploration during field trips, nothing in them at all to help focus attention
descriptions of the local region, and creative on areas that do contain information.
descriptions of organizations or activities. » Create and use graphics carefully —Use
Sometimes this type of activity represents pictures and designs to focus attention and
the culmination of a large project, such as a convey information, but remember that too
series of science experiments or a social many elaborate pictures or graphic designs
studies research unit; sometimes it simply is can be distracting.
a way for every student to contribute writing » Avoid common text format errors —
for a class project. Common desktop design pitfalls include
» Opportunities for creative works - Even using irregularly shaped text blocks and
very young students are thrilled to produce angled type, both of which are difficult to
and display their own personal books, which read.
sometimes represent work produced over » Avoid common text break errors —Use
the course of a school year. desktop publishing software features to
c. Criteria for effective desktop control for widows and orphans (leftover
publishing single words and phrases at the tops or
» Use a limited number of typefaces (fonts) bottoms of pages) and excessive
- Unusual typefaces or fonts can help direct hyphenation.
the eye toward text, but too many different 2. Web Design Software - Although
fonts on a page can be distracting, and educators and others can create web
some fancy fonts are difficult to read. pages and websites using a high-level
» Use different fonts for title and text —To programming language called HTML
aid the reader, use a serif typeface (a font (which stands for hypertext markup
with small curves or “hands and feet” that language), it is easier and faster to use a
extend from the ends of the letters) for text tool called web design software.
in the main body of the document. Use a - Also known as web page editors , these
sans serif type face , a font without tools are authoring programs that allow
extensions, for titles and headlines. people to create web pages in the same
» Use appropriate sizes for type —Make the way they would use word processing to
type large enough to assist the reader (e.g., create documents. They insert text,
younger readers usually need large point graphics, and hypermedia links to create
sizes), but not too large to dominate the the pages, and the editor software
page. automatically creates the HTML that
» Avoid overuse of type styles —Breaking allows the pages to be linked together
up text with too many style changes and placed on the Internet.
interferes with reading. Avoid excessive - Teachers and students can use web
underlining, boldfacing, and italics. design software to create web pages for
» Match text and background colors —Use both instructional and productivity
white or yellow type on a black block to add applications. Some common uses
drama. Avoid color combinations that can include:
 » Classroom news, activities, and - Each brand of interactive whiteboards
resources —Many teachers use HTML comes with its own programs, called
editors to create their own classroom interactive whiteboard activity software ,
websites. These are multi-purpose sites that allows teachers to author and
with items ranging from announcements display lessons for use with the systems.
and information about current curriculum - The interactive whiteboard activity
to locations from which students and/or software used with a SMART Board® is
parents may download handouts or called Notebook (see Figure 1 ), and the
homework. programs used with the Promethean
» Web-based lessons —Teachers can ActivBoard® interactive whiteboard are
use HTML editors to create their own called ActivStudio and ActivInspire. The
instructional activities students can do programs come with a resource bank of
on the web. For example, a popular type images, graphics tools, and text tools
of web-based lesson is the webquest . that teachers can use to author
According to the Webquest.org website, programs in much the same way as they
a webquest is “an inquiry-oriented would use PowerPoint ’s program and
lesson format in which most or all the resources to create slides.
information that learners work with - Whiteboard activity software is required
comes from the web. The model was to give whiteboard lessons their
developed by Bernie Dodge at San interactive qualities.
Diego State University in February, 4. Test Generators and Rubric
1995.” Generators
» Student-produced work —Teachers a. Test generators.
may choose to have students create - Teachers use test generators to create
web pages instead of documents to and enter questions, and then they have
show off their creative work or research the program prepare the test. The
results. Students find it very motivating teacher may print the required number
when they realize that their work will be of copies on the printer or print only one
“on the web” and can be seen by copy and make the required number of
anyone who is on the Internet. copies on a copy machine. The features
3. Interactive Whiteboard Activity of test generators vary, but the following
Software - electronic version of a capabilities are common and offer
regular whiteboard, a white, glossy several advantages, even over word
surface that uses erasable markers and processing programs:
can play the same role as a chalkboard. » Test creation and revision procedures —
- Interactive whiteboards are screens that The software produces tests in a standard
are connected to a computer and digital layout; the teacher need not worry about
projector and allow information arranging the spacing and format of the
projected on the screen to be page.
manipulated with special pens or one’s » Random generation of questions —Test
hands. items are selected randomly from an item
- Some systems also allow drawings or pool to create different versions of a test.
notes from a given session to be saved This is especially helpful when a teacher
and brought back later. The most wants to prevent “wandering eye syndrome”
popular interactive whiteboards are as students take a test.
Prometheus’ Promethean ActivBoard® » Selection of questions based on criteria —
and SMART Technology’s SMART Programs usually allow teachers to specify
Board®. criteria for generating a test. For example,
- A related device also developed by items can be requested in a specific content
Prometheus is the SMART Table area, matched to certain objectives, or set
Interactive Learning Center®, which is up in a certain format, such as short-answer
an electronic table with a touch-screen items only.
surface that several students can give » Answer keys —Most programs
input to at the same time. automatically provide
an answer key at the time the test is that such a plan is on file and that it
generated. This is helpful with grading, governs classroom activities.
especially if different versions of the test are - IEP generator software assists teachers
used. in preparing IEPs (Wilson, Michaels, &
» Test item banks —Many test generators Margolis, 2005). Like test and worksheet
allow use of existing question pools, or test generators, IEP generators provide on-
item banks , and some offer these banks for screen prompts that remind users of the
purchase in various content areas. Some required components in the plan. When
programs also import question banks a teacher finishes entering all the
prepared on word processors. necessary information, the program
b. Online rubric generators. prints out the IEP in a standard format.
- The popularity of rubrics has grown to Some IEP generation programs also
such an extent that several Internet sites accept data updates on each student’s
offer free rubric generators. The teacher progress.
follows a set of prompts, and the system 7. Graphic Document Makers - software
creates a rubric that can be printed out tools that simplify the activity of making
or referred to online. highly graphic materials, such as awards
5. Worksheet and Puzzle Generators - certificates and greeting cards. They
Worksheet generators help teachers offer sets of clip art and predesigned
produce exercises for practice rather templates to which teachers and
than test items. students can add their own content.
- Puzzle generators automatically format 8. PDF and Forms Makers - Portable
and create crosswords, word search Document Format (PDF) file software,
puzzles, and similar game-like activities. created by Adobe, permits the viewing
The teacher enters the content, and the and sending of documents as images.
software formats the puzzle. Since they are viewed as images, the
- Common uses of worksheet and puzzle PDF document displays all of the
generators include: formatting and design elements (e.g.,
» Practice for lower level skills, such as margins, graphics) of the original
math facts document without requiring access to
» Cloze exercises (comprehension the software used to create it. Adobe
exercises with certain words removed Acrobat Pro or a similar program is used
and students fill in the blanks) to create these files, but Adobe also
» Exercises to review words and provides free software to read
definitions documents saved in PDF format (Adobe
6. Individualized Education Program Reader ).
(IEP) Generators - The increased - PDF software is often used in
emphasis on school and teacher conjunction with forms makers such as
accountability means more paperwork PDF Maker Pilot , a software tool that
on student progress, and teachers of creates documents and web pages with
students with special needs seem to forms that can be filled in on-screen.
have the most paperwork requirements Teachers find forms makers useful
of all. because they make it easier to create
- Federal legislation, such as the forms to collect information from
Individuals with Disabilities Education students, parents, or faculty or to
Act (IDEA) and the Americans with implement surveys as part of research
Disabilities Act (ADA), requires that projects.
schools prepare an individualized
educational program, or IEP, for each  USING DATA COLLECTION AND
special needs student. These IEPs ANALYSIS TOOLS
serve as blueprints for each special - Data collection and analysis tools
student’s instructional activities, and include database software, electronic
teachers must provide documentation gradebooks, statistical packages, online
survey sites, student information
 systems, online and computer-based understand the persuasive power of
testing systems, and student response information organized into databases.
systems, or clickers. » Posing and testing hypotheses —Many
1. Database Software - Databases are problem-solving activities involve asking
computer programs that allow users to questions and locating information to
store organize, and manipulate answer them.
information, including both text and 2. Electronic Gradebooks - allows a
numerical data. Database software can teacher to enter student names,
perform some calculations, but its real test/assignment names, data from tests, and
power lies in allowing people to locate weighting information for specific test
information through keyword searches. scores.
- A database program is most often 3. Statistical Software Packages - allow
compared to a file cabinet or a Rolodex users to enter data and perform calculations
card file. Like these pre-computer needed to accomplish descriptive and
devices, the purpose of a database is to inferential analysis procedures. In addition
store important information in a way that to its use in analyzing data from research
makes it easy to locate later. and testing, teachers may also find
- People often use the term database to statistical software useful when they have to
refer both to the teach statistical procedures to their students
computer program and to the product it in
creates; 4. Online Survey Tools - A number of
- database products are also called files. online sites, such as SurveyMonkey and
- a spreadsheet stores an item of data in Zoomerang, are available to allow teachers
a cell, a database stores one item of and students to design and implement their
data in a location usually called a field . own surveys and questionnaires.
- more important unit of information is a - This way of collecting data has become
record which stores all items of increasingly popular, since it eliminates the
information related to a particular need for postal mailings or for respondents
database entry. being in any particular location to complete
a. A shift in database uses and a survey.
instruction a. Features of online survey tools
- Teachers were encouraged to teach - » Variety of item formats —Items can be in
database concepts to students as early as formats that include multiple choice,
second grade. true/false, short answer, essay, and Likert
- GENIQUEST, a database of fictional scale (e.g., strongly disagree to strongly
information about dragons that helps teach agree). Various item formats can appear in
genetic concepts in biology. the same survey.
b. Current database integration » Instant tracking and visual summaries of
strategies results — After the survey is implemented
» Teaching research and study skills — and people begin completing it, one can get
Skills in locating and organizing information immediate updates on how many people
to answer questions and learn new have participated and what the data look
concepts have always been as fundamental like in bar or graph form.
as reading and writing skills. Much of the » Data downloads —Systems also permit
world’s information is stored in databases, users to get a file of data resulting from
and these “information banks” are becoming surveys in spreadsheet-ready formats.
more available to students and other b. Integration strategies for online
nontechnical people for everyday use. survey tools.
» Understanding the power of information - Both productivity and instructional uses
“pictures” — have been reported for online survey tools.
Students need to be able to do their own » Student polling —Either the teacher or
data mining , or looking for hidden patterns students design items that poll students on
in a group of data. To do that, they need to their opinions.
» Generating data for graphic illustrations — performance, a capability known as
Either the teacher or students design a computer adaptive testing (CAT)
survey and place it online for the purpose of 7. Student Response Systems (Clickers)
gathering data to create a graphic such as a - combination of handheld hardware and
pie chart or bar graph. Students get practice software that permits each student in a
in reading and interpreting the graphic classroom to answer a question
displays. simultaneously and permits the teacher to
» Teaching survey design —Students see and display a summary of results
create and implement online surveys in immediately. The software ranges from that
order to learn how to create well-designed sold with a textbook to new technologies
items and develop a survey instrument that where cellular phones can be used to
communicates well and obtains the desired respond to questions posed by the
data. instructor.
» Teaching data analysis —Either the a. Research on student response
teacher or students design a survey to systems.
gather data for the purpose of illustrating - Though studies of these tools are usually
and allowing practice in how to do anal- in large-section courses in higher education,
yses such as means (averages), medians, they usually report improved student
modes, and percentages. engagement, more active learning, and
» Teaching math concepts —The teacher greater achievement (Blood & Neel, 2008;
implements an online survey that will Gauci, Dantas, Williams, & Kemm, 2009;
provide data to illustrate math concepts Shaffer & Collura, 2009).
such as probability. - Stowell, Oldham, and Bennett (2010) also
5. Student Information Systems - are found that students were less likely to
software tools that help educators keep conform to the group’s opinion and felt more
track of student, class, and school data comfortable responding with this tool than
(e.g., attendance, test scores) to maintain raising their hands when questions being
records and support decision making. discussed were controversial.
Schools purchase various operations they b. Integration strategies for student
want the system to keep track of. response systems
» Track and report on attendance - Uses for this tool range from vocabulary
» Maintain records on student demographic games to comprehension checks during a
data (e.g.,birth date, address) classroom presentation and offer an easy
» Develop class scheduling way to engage all students at once.
» Track and report on test scores and Successful uses have been reported in
achievement by objective science (Moss & Crowley, 2011; Walgren,
» Allow parents to have online access to 2011), mathematics (Popelka, 2010), and
student grades and attendance information English (Miller,2009).
» Notify parents about problems with grades
or attendance  USING GRAPHICS TOOLS
- In the 1970s, these systems were known - Graphics tools include draw/paint
by the general term computer-managed programs; image editing tools;
instruction (CMI) systems. charting/graphing tools; and clip art, photo,
6. Computer-Based Testing Systems - animation, sound, video, and font
Also known as computer-assisted testing, collections.
computer-based testing systems allow 1. Draw/Paint Programs - help teachers
students to take tests on-screen or to put and students create their own graphics to
test answers on optically scanned “bubble insert into documents or web pages.
sheets,” and provide reports on - Cause and Chen (2010) say that for young
performance data afterward. children, drawing is a representational form
- The software continuously analyzes of communication that is a precursor to
performance and presents more or less writing, and recommend drawing
difficult questions based on the student’s software on a tablet computer for its
versatility.
- Walker- Dalhouse and Risko (2008) agree, - Outlining tools, sometimes called
finding that “children can use drawing electronic outliners, are programs designed
software to illustrate text content and rep- to prompt writers as they develop outlines.
resent their interpretations of concepts appropriate number or letter for each line in
learned” the outline. Outlining tools are offered either
- Lach, Little, and Nazzaro (2003) say the within word processing packages or as
tools make possible a multiple-intelligences separate software packages for use before
approach to science and art instruction, and word processing.
Hakes and Eisenwine (2003) describe how - Other writing aids include software
to use these and other tools to enhance designed to get students started on writing
social studies instruction. reports or stories: a story starter.This kind of
2. Image Editing Tools - To modify program provides a first line and invites
photographic images, image editing students to supply subsequent lines.
programs are the technology software tool - Concept mapping software tools are
of choice. These tools usually are used to designed to help people think through and
enhance and format photos that are then explore ideas or topics by developing
imported into desktop publishing systems or concept maps. Concept maps are visual
web page products. Image editing programs outlines of ideas that can offer useful
are known for their sophistication and wide- alternatives to the strictly verbal
ranging capabilities. representations provided by content
3. Charting/Graphing Tools - outlines.
Charting/graphing tools automatically draw 2. Lesson Planning Software - Tools that
and print desired charts or graphs from data help teachers develop and document their
entered by users. The skills involved in descriptions of lessons are sometimes
reading, interpreting, and producing graphs called lesson makers or lesson planners.
and charts are useful both to students in Most of these programs simply provide on
school and adults in the workplace. screen prompts for specific lesson
- Graphing activities in science, social components, such as objectives, materials,
studies, and geography also profit from and activity descriptions. They also print out
applications of these kinds of software tools. lessons in standard formats, similar to the
Moersch (1995) lists and gives example way test generators format printouts of
instructional applications for nine kinds of tests.
software-produced graphs: bar, pie, stacked 3. Scheduling, Calendar, and Time
bar, X/Y, scatter, box, stem and leaf, best Management Tools - Schedule makers
fit, and normal curve. Ruthven, Deaney, and help formulate plans for daily, weekly, or
Hennessy (2009) view graphing as an monthly sequences of appointments and
essential tool to enhance algebra events. Calendar makers are similar
instruction. planning tools that actually print graphic
4. Clip Art, Photo, Animation, Sound, calendars of chosen months or years with
Video, and Font Collections the planned events printed under each day.
- Clip art packages were originally Other time management tools are available
collections of still pictures drawn by artists to help remind users of events and
and graphics designers and placed in a responsibilities.
book or on a disc for use by others.
 USING RESEARCH AND REFERENCE
 USING PLANNING AND ORGANIZING TOOLS
TOOLS - Research and reference tools include
- Planning and organizing tools include electronic versions of encyclopedias,
outlining and concept mapping software, atlases and mapping tools, and dictionaries
lesson planning software, and and thesauruses.
scheduling/time management tools. 1. Electronic Encyclopedias - Young
1. Outlining Tools and Concept Mapping people used these books for research on
Software school projects, and parents used them to
take advantage of “teachable moments”
when their children required more than electronic music industry for controlling
quick answers. devices that play music
2. Electronic Atlases and Mapping Tools - Music sequencers are software packages
- educational reference tools for families as that support the creation of music scores
well as schools. They summarize with several parts. Music editors offer
geographic and demographic information powerful assistance in the processes of
ranging from population statistics to national precomposing, composing, revising, and
products. even performing.
3. Electronic Dictionaries (Word Atlases) - These tools play a prominent part in the
- Sometimes called word atlases , electronic music classroom, but Mishra and Koehler
dictionaries and thesauruses give (2009) remind us that they can also be used
pronunciations, definitions, and example to teach concepts in other areas, such as
uses for each word entry. They also offer using a music editor to analyze music clips
many search and multimedia features and relate math concepts such as ratios and
similar to those of encyclopedias and percentages to rhythm, music, and tempo.
atlases. 3. Reading Tools
- Readability analysis software automates
 USING TOOLS TO SUPPORT calculations of word count, average word
SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS length, number of sentences, or other
- Examples of content-area tools are CAD measures of reading difficulty.
systems; music tools such as music editors, - Cloze software, provides passages with
sequencers, and MIDI tools; reading tools; words missing in a given pattern; for
microcomputer-based labs; graphing example, every fifth word or every tenth
calculators and calculator-based labs; and word. Students read the sentences and try
Geographic Information Systems and to fill in the words. Cloze passages have
Global Positioning Systems. been found to be good measures of reading
1. CAD and 3-D Modeling/ Animation comprehension.
Systems - A computer-assisted design - electronic storybooks , which can be read
(CAD) system is a special kind of graphics from a computer screen, on mobile devices,
production tool that allows users to prepare or as print books with interactive buttons.
sophisticated, precise drawings of objects Some of these allow children to hear
such as houses and cars. Like presentation narrations in English or Spanish. Others let
tools, CAD systems began to appear in children explore the screen, activating
classrooms after they had been introduced animations and sounds when they click in
in business and industry. This kind of various locations. These books are
software is usually employed in vocational- designed to provide an interesting,
technical classrooms to teach architecture interactive way to read and to increase
and engineering skills. reading fluency.
- More advanced graphics students may - Accelerated Reader or AR designed to
use 3-D modeling and animation software track students’ reading skills, has seen
systems to do fancy visual effects such as popular use. Its purpose is to motivate
morphing (short for metamorphos ing, an students to increase the amount of reading
animation technique in which one image they do for enjoyment.
gradually turns into another). 4. Microcomputer-Based Labs
2. Music Editors, Sequencers, and MIDI (Probeware)
Tools - Music editor software provides - microcomputer-based lab (MBL) ,
blank musical staffs on which the user sometimes referred to as probeware . MBL
enters the musical key, time, and notes that packages consist of software accompanied
constitute a piece of sheet music. This by special hardware sensors designed to
software is designed to help people develop measure light, temperature, voltage, and/ or
musical compositions on-screen, usually in speed. The probes are connected to the
conjunction with hardware microcomputer, and the software processes
- a Musical Instrument Digital Interface the collected data.
(MIDI) device, a standard adopted by the
- Computer- based probeware actually can they plant and harvest their crops. These
replace several traditional items of lab small devices can be useful in a car,
equipment, such as oscilloscopes and agricultural equipment, the home, or even a
voltmeters. Brunsell and Horejsi (2010) say portable laptop.
that probeware devices are standard 7. Online Foreign Language Dictionaries
equipment for the modern science and Language Translators (Machine
classroom and have software interfaces Translation) - Two online tools that can
with other cutting-edge equipment like support students as they learn additional
digital microscopes, GPSs, and robots. languages are foreign language dictionaries
Blanchard, Sharp, and Grable (2009) point and language translators, with the latter
out that probeware can also be useful to usually referred to in foreign language
integrate science and mathematics in education as “ machine translation .”
authentic and motivating projects. - Online foreign language dictionaries
5. Graphing Calculators and Calculator- function like other dictionaries in that they
Based Labs allow people to look up definitions for words
- Graphing calculators , which are software- and phrases in common usage. However,
programmed devices that have small foreign language dictionaries allow users to
screens and can illustrate equations in look up a word or phrase in one language
graphs, have emerged and have become (e.g., French or German) and get the
indispensable tools in both mathematics definition and synonyms for it in another
and higher level science curricula language (e.g., English). These online tools
- When probes or sensors are connected to are used like any quick reference to help
a graphing calculator rather than to a students learn and use a language new to
computer (as described in the previous them.
section on MBLs), they are called - Language translators work as the name
calculator-based labs (CBLs) implies: they allow users to input sentences
6. Geographic Information Systems and and paragraphs of text in one language and
Global Positioning Systems get a translation into another language.
- Geographic Information System (GIS) is a In foreign language education, the practice
computer system that is able to store in a of using these“machine translation” tools is
database a variety of information about viewed as highly problematic. Williams
geographic locations. After it has stored all (2006) points out that such translators often
the data that describe a given location, the provide literal translations that are not
GIS can then display the data in map form. accurate representations of meaning, and
- According to Parmenter and Burns (2001), students who are new to the language are
the three primary uses of GISs are not able to make judgments about grammar
(1) to record and maintain large amounts of and usage that allow them to judge
geographic information; correctness of translations. Both Williams
(2) to produce up-to-date, customized (2006) and Steding (2009) offer strategies
maps; and for using these tools in the classroom in
(3) to allow analysis and comparison of ways that best support students’ burgeoning
information on different locations. skills.
- A Global Positioning System (GPS) is a
worldwide radio-navigation system made
possible by a bank of 24 satellites and their
ground stations.
- Using satellites as reference points, a GPS
unit can calculate positions of anything on
earth accurate to a matter of feet or inches.
A GPS receiver connected to mapping
software is what most people think of as a
GPS; however, the use of these systems is
growing, from finding your way in an
unfamiliar community to guiding farmers as