Week 2 - Microsoft Publisher and other assorted assortments

Now, right. Microsoft Publisher seems to be the program of the day. I don't think I've used Publisher since, maybe, 1995, to be honest. So, let's see if Publisher today is anything like the program I left behind. I remember Publisher being slightly annoying and irritating all those years ago - or maybe that was just me and my general attitude towards computers and all things. We shall see.

I kind of think that the things you would use Publisher for back then, and now can, these days, be done by newer, better, more advanced programs - obviously Adobe Photoshop or whatever it is springs immediately to mind. Yet, I am completely unable to master Adobe Photoshop so there's no way I would expect a class of students/kids to. Publisher is probably the right tool to use in the classroom. However I feel that these days, Publisher is limited to the classroom and well-meaning amateurs.

We're creating little brochures in Publisher now. Here's an example of what we've all come up with. Visit Laos!

There we are. That's a lovely little example of what you can do on Publisher these days. It's largely what I remember being able to do on Publisher in the past. That's not a criticism - just a statement. It's is, however, easy to use and therefore appropriate for the classroom - middle and upper primary. Once again, I'm really hoping to find ICT resources for lower primary classes - where are you!?

Yes, so Publisher is easy to use, nicely streamlined. Look at all the brochure templates nicely lined up, ready for you to choose them, take them home.

So, yes, Publisher has really not changed. I guess it's found it's niche and is comfortable with it? But, yes, all-in-all, a useful little tool for the classroom.

At this point we move onto e-portfolios. That is, CV-type-thing presented in an electronic format. It turns out that we'll have to submit one of these in this subject. I remember speaking to my sister, who last year - or was it the year before? - completed a DipEd., primary and secondary at LaTrobe's Albury/Wodonga campus. She had to do one of these e-portfolio-thingies. She printed it off, blew it up (in size) and was able to take it to interviews and it proved to be a useful little tool.

I suppose these e-portfolios can't replace the traditional CV, they are, however, a nice little addition to the job selection process. Demonstrating your ease with ICT, while presenting yourself. I can see e-portfolios being of great use to me in the future.

That's all for this week! Bye....