I agree with a lot of what has been said about textbooks here. I think they are generally a waste of money. We don't use a "textbook" for the class, but what I use is "Projects" book. Its a reproducible binder and I photocopy what I need from it. The students to directed project, then the create something on their own in "challenges" that are similar. Here's a link to what I currently have: <a href="http://www.course.com/catalog/product.cfm?isbn=0-619-27329-1">http://www.course.com/catalog/product.cfm?isbn=0-619-27329-1</a> Thanks to all who have responded. I'll look into those links. Mel <div>On 9/21/06, Huck <<a href="mailto:dhuckaby@paasda.org">dhuckaby@paasda.org</a>> wrote:<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Mel, I used those Southwestern books and I agree they were very good to teach MS-OFFICE from...and for the most part when learning an application you MUST DO in order to learn. But the concepts of word processing and spread sheet creation require no books what-so-ever. You have menus, you have toolbars, you have F1 for searchable help ;) Explaining the purpose of those three most 10yr olds can teach themselves almost any application given a few set of rules of what the OUTCOME is to look like, and what 'pieces' of the applications puzzle they should be required to use in order to complete the given task. I know it doesn't help us when the NAD requires us to demonstrate what curriculum we utilized ;) The books mentioned at <a href="http://getopenoffice.org">http://getopenoffice.org</a> can be found here: <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/getopenoffice/1040958">http://www.cafepress.com/getopenoffice/1040958 </a> I have Core Office Suite, Comprehensive Writer, Comprehensive Impress & Draw...and they are similar to the Southwestern books...although the versions I have aren't nearly as glossy eye-candyish. --Huck Mel Wade wrote: > I listened to the interview about Open Office. I gave it consideration > but so far have not moved that direction due to the lack of good > teaching materials. I am using materails from Southwestern that is > project based. I really like it, because I believe that people learn by > doing, not by hearing... But I haven't seen anything like this for Open > Office. > > Am I missing something? > > -- > Mel Wade > "The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do." - > BF Skinner > <a href="http://www.melwade.com">www.melwade.com</a> <<a href="http://www.melwade.com"> http://www.melwade.com</a>> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > K12OSN mailing list > <a href="mailto:K12OSN@redhat.com">K12OSN@redhat.com</a> > <a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn">https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn</a> > For more info see <<a href="http://www.k12os.org"> http://www.k12os.org</a>> _______________________________________________ K12OSN mailing list <a href="mailto:K12OSN@redhat.com">K12OSN@redhat.com</a> <a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn"> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn</a> For more info see <<a href="http://www.k12os.org">http://www.k12os.org</a>> </blockquote></div> -- Mel Wade "The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do." - BF Skinner <a href="http://www.melwade.com">www.melwade.com</a>