Macs for Teachers (3rd ed)

Rating:
Summary: De-Mystifying Macs
Review: As the author of several excellent computer technology books, Michelle Robinette offers some timely and pertinent classroom help for instructors in her book, Macs for Teachers. Written in the same humorous, yet succinct, style as the other instructional books in the Dummies series, Macs for Teachers de-mystifies the many possible classroom computer applications that, in the past, have been only confusing. Interspersed with cartoons and personal observations, Ms. Robinette, uses a witty, understandable style of writing to clarify and simplify many difficult procedures that should aid in: Organizing and simplifying classroom records, through word processing, databases, and spreadsheets, using ClarisWorks (now AppleWorks); expanding students' expressive artistic and writing outlets using Kid Pix, The Writing Center, The Student Center, and The Print Shop Deluxe; providing easy accessibility to the Internet as a research, telecommunications, and educational tool; organizing the technological classroom to fit a variety of situations. Also available are a good glossary of key terms, a troubleshooting section (which I too often have to use), phone numbers for advice and help, and a huge section of annotated lists of educational software. With the added bonus of an attached, supportive CD, which includes demos and free software, this book package is well worth the price. Since this book is three years old now, published in 1997, my only reservation about the modern applicability of this edition is questioning if it is actually up-to-date, considering how quickly computer technology changes. I hope that this book will be updated with the inclusion of a broader spectrum of technology and terminology. However, all aspects of the book are presently still very usable and helpful for today's teacher and an excellent way to put technology to good use in the classroom.