Using Office for Administration - Word Processor

The Microsoft Office - and other shareware Office packages - are "lifesavers" for teachers to use. They give you an opportunity not only to make your Admin  work neat, but also to re-use them in other terms and years. The best part, is that you can make changes on a regular basis.

 

Here is a list of some of the things you can use WORD for

Creating worksheets

• Setting test and exam papers
• Developing assessment rubrics
• Writing good news or disciplinary notes
• Weekly lesson plan
• Creating certificates
• Designing concert programme
• Publishing sport team lists
• Writing letters to parents or sponsors
• Drawing diagrams using lines and shapes
• Creating newsletters
• Writing and editing essays / reports
• Completing learner support templates
• Writing CVs

 

We will look at a few of these applications in this course.

Worksheets

Use text boxes, tables and call outs to make the worksheet interesting.

Make sure that the text is large enough to read.

A clear, clean font makes the worksheet easier to read – even for senior grades



 

Tests and Exams

Remember when you are testing learners, the test should be on the content they have learnt and the skills they use in applying the content NOT their ability to read a poorly designed test with untidy and difficult to read writing and confusing questions.

 Make sure the SPACING between lines is at least 1.5 - this makes scanning and close reading easier.

 Use a reasonable font size - a minimum of 12, and up to 16 for younger learners.  I generally use Calibri 14 as this is easy to read.

 The Layout of the test can help learners follow instructions.

 Tick boxes are useful for True/False questions

 Use Google Forms (find them on Google Drive) OR make your own tick boxes using INSERT - SHAPES

  

 Numbers for multiple choice questions can be inserted from the HOME menu

 

Lines for writing extended answers are important if learners are to work on the question paper - don't just leave a space

 

Tables with blocks to fill in are really useful if only a small amount of text is wanted. 

 

Assessment Rubrics

 

Tables

These make it really easy to see what is going on. You can insert a table from  the INSERT menu - select how many columns and rows you need.

 

 

 

Merge Cells

This allows you to make clear headings for sections of the rubric, or it allows you to make a clear line between sections

Highlight the cells you want to merge and MERGE CELLS

You can also SPLIT a cell into more lines or columns

Borders and Shading

This makes assessment sheets clear and easy to follow.

Use the Borders and Shading tool to make clear divisions between types of information in the rubric

 

Smiley Faces or other graphics

In the Foundation Phase you may want to use "smiley faces" to help the learners understand what you are looking for.

One place you can find a smiley face icon is in the BASIC SHAPES menu in the INSERT toolbar.

You can even change the shape of the mouth by "pulling" on the diamond on the mouth