Online Exercise 12

Think of the productivity tools discussed in class and ways you have used them(Word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, concept mapping tools, free productivity tools)
1. How have productivity tools helped you be more creative? More organized? More productive?

I had no idea that some of these tools even existed. Now that I do, I will definitely use them more often and discuss with colleagues as well. I will use garage band for my poscasts...now that I know how.
I have been using word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software already.
I did not know about the free tools available to me as an educator. I will be using Thinkfinity and showing it to others at a faculty meeting.

2. How can you incorporate the learner-centered principles into your approaches for using these tools?

I will have students create power point slideshows, do computer-based research, and complete concept maps either as groups or independently. It never occurred to me to have them create their own concept maps for discussion and peer teaching with reading strategies.