[K12OSN] OpenOffice Curriculum

[Doug Simpson]

Curriculum being:

Word Processing (learning word processing, not learning M$ Word)
OpenOffice does that.

Spreadsheet (learning how to use a spreadsheet, not M$ Excel)
OpenOffice does that, too.

Presentation (learning how to create a presentation, not M$ PowerPoint)
OpenOffice does that, once again.

Database (learning how to set up a database, not learning M$ Access)
Not again. . .

OpenOffice 2.x does this stuff well. . . Curriculum wouldn't have to be 
changed much, just modified slightly for the differences in the programs. 

Teaching kids how to use one vendor's product handicaps them anyway. Learn 
M$ Word and you are lost in something else that you may find out in the 
real world. Learn the basics of "word processing" and you can figure it 
out on just about any word processing program. Same with the other 
programs.

It is actually pretty easy (yet takes a bit of time) to use the same books 
you taught "M$ Word" from and generalize the information to work with just 
about anything else to teach "word processing".

Some do some tasks easier or better than others, but the point is, learn 
the concepts, not one vendor's way of doing things. The kids will be 
better off if they learn "word processing" not how to make a document with 
one certain program.

What happens when M$ changed their software with the next version? Guess 
what? Everything is different.  Curriculum changes anyway. Teach general 
concepts and it won't matter what tool you use you can still get the job 
done.

A ratchet wrench will tighten a bolt and so will a box-end wrench. The 
thing you need to remember is "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey". No matter the 
tool, that is how you tighten a bolt.

Word, Wordpad, Corel WordPerfect, Abiword, OpenOffice Writer, Lotus, and a 
host of other programs are "tools" to do word processing.  The thing to 
remember is "this is how a Business letter looks" or "this is how a 
personal letter looks", or "this is why a document is formatted just so", 
and etc.

JMHO, YMMV

Have a great day!

Doug Simpson
Technology Specialist
DeQueen Public Schools
DeQueen, AR 71832
simpsond at leopards.k12.ar.us
Tux for President!

On Tue, 28 Mar 2006, Paul VanGundy wrote:

> All,
>  
> As I walked in to work today I was approached by the computer teacher
> talking about curriculum and changing it. I asked what he was talking about
> and he had said since we have all moved to OpenOffice in our district there
> was talk of him needing to change his curriculum. He isn't very happy about
> that so I am emailing to see if anyone on this list would be willing to
> share lesson plans, curriculum or anything educational to help our computer
> teacher's out in our district. I can understand the frustration and am
> trying to help them as much as possible. Do any of you teach OpenOffice in
> your computer classes/district? Any and all information would be greatly
> appreciated. Thanks in advance.
>  
> -Paul
>  
> --
> Paul VanGundy
> Information Technology Director
> Epping High School
> Epping Middle School
> P: 603.679.5472
> F: 603.679.2966
> vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us
> Registered Linux User #398783
>  
>