Week 4: 3 Kinds of Material Generators That I Have Used or Would Use

As I was reading the assigned portion in Roblyer and Doering's book, Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, I noticed many material generators that I have used in my classroom and will use in the future.  I have only selected three to describe.

(1)  One of the examples in the text that I currently use in the classroom is a computer-based testing system or a test generator software.  I use a program that is called Exam View Pro.  Exam View Pro allows me to input any kind of test question (multiple-choice, matching, short answer, completion, and essay) and it formats automatically to the paper.  All I have to do is input the question, input the answers, and the software formats the questions and answers so that it looks in sync on the page.  Using Exam View Pro, I also have the opportunity to import questions from the textbook in all three of the courses that I teach.  This is often times called a test bank.  Exam View Pro also allows for spell check, and it also scrambles the questions.  You can also develop several different versions of the test that you are giving.  Teaching is really demanding, and the more help that you can receive in generating test is very beneficial.  I love using this program!

(2)  Another type of material generator that I use in the classroom is web-design software.  I have been using  this type of software for the past 5 years.  Our school system subscribes to the website development program known as Teachersites.  Everyone in our system has the ability to create their own website.  I try my very best to keep mine updated.  The software is extremely easy to navigate.  I am allowed to edit, import pictures, blog, and upload files.  A lot of the times when a student misses numerous days, I will put PowerPoint notes up on the website, and the student can go to it and print them out.  It is also user friendly for the student as well.  It is very important for the student to be accustomed to using a teacher website because the chances are very high that they will enroll in an online class at high school or college.

(3)  One type of material generator software that I would love to use more in class is worksheet and puzzle generators.  Students, no matter how old they are, seem to love completing puzzles.  Students love working word finds and crossword puzzles.  A lot of the times I give just vocabulary words for the students to define and write.  If I could have a good puzzle generator, then they would probably become more interested in the content.  After reading the text, I did a quick Google search of online vocabulary puzzle generators, and I am going to try to use them in the near future.