d.
Developing Your Own Knowledge of the Resources
Having
made decisions about using some of the resources and opportunities
in tandem, it is important for the teacher in the case study to
get to know the resources well enough to feel confident about
using them in the classroom. It is also important that the pupils
will feel comfortable about using the resources.
The
following examples look at how word processed worksheets and a
spreadsheet may be used to improve students' ability to interpret
information. Select the hyperlink below and examine the worksheet:
How
do I download files from the Web?
Examine
the effect of changing the scale on the y-axis. Presenting students
with a range of charts to interpret is easy using M/S Excel and
M/S Word. Select the five countries and the forecasted figures
for 2000 and using the Chart Wizard, create a pie chart to display
the results.
Answer the following questions:
- When
you created the original chart were you able to select the data
for Germany and the data for the United Kingdom?
- Were
you able to select the year as your x-axis?
- Were
you able to change the maximum and minimum values of the y-axis?
- Were
you able to save each chart as different files?
- How
could these charts be best used to improve the students ability
to interpret results?
- Do
you know how to protect your files against accidental deletion
or alteration?
- Do
you know how to insert these files into your own worksheets
or other resources?
When
you have looked at the chart facility in a spreadsheet in the
light of these questions, and perhaps written some worksheets
of your own, you should discuss with your mentor what to do with
the resource in the classroom. This can be done in a mentor visit,
over the telephone or by email, and should serve merely to satisfy
you that you are on the right track with your use of materials.
 e.
Planning the Work of Learners
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