Office for Administration - Word

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 smily 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

Certificates

Templates are useful here

Use Office on line - the best ones are definitely on line

Make your own and save it as a template so you can use it again

 

Newsletters

Columns make newsletters easier to read - find these in the PAGE LAYOUT menu

Use text boxes to emphasise points

Insert graphics - remember to use the TEXT WRAP - THROUGH tool so your pictures don't move your text around

 

CVs

Use the Templates Menu or make your own

It is called RESUME in the American programmes

Choose the type and style you need

Don’t put pictures, fancy fonts, etc onto them

A cover page is not essential but can make it look tidy

Notes and letters

A useful tool is a MAIL MERGE

Put people’s names on the top of each letter

Find this in MAILINGS

Start Mail Merge

Select Recipients

Make your own data base of names

Merge and Finish to print individualised letters