Technology At Ashford School

---

Software Considerations and Recommendations

• Software Applications Used at Ashford School

• Transferring Files from Home

Software Applications Used at Ashford School:
(Return to Top)

Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
This suite is availaable in the lab and on all Grade 5-8 computers. It is also the productivity software used at EOSmith.

AppleWorks 6
This is our main productivity software including word processing, spreadsheet, drawing, painting and database modules. It has been chosen over Microsoft Office because it is simpler to use and more appropriate for students in a K-8 school. Additionally it requires less space and computer processing power than MSOffice so it will operate on all of our Macintoshes, even the original ones purchased in 1992. ClarisWorks has been upgraded to AppleWorks and is available for both the Macintosh and PC platform.

Kid Pix Studio
This is a major illustration tool for students in Grades K-4. It allows for creation of computer graphics and has a slide show tool which allows for early introduction of multimedia presentations. It's stamping tool is used extensively for curriculum integrated projects like place value, creating venn diagrams, and classification.

Inspiration/Kidspiration
A program for developing ideas and organizing thinking. Inspiration's integrated diagraming and outlining environments work together to help students comprehend concepts and information.

EDMARK CD series
The preschool and primary classes use Millie's Math House, Bailey's Book House, and Sammy's Science House for exploration activities in various subject areas.

Internet Explorer/ Safari/ FireFox
We use all browsers depending on computer and website. As websites have become more complicated a variety of browsers are needed to get the best results from different sites.

Type To Learn 3
In spring of 2007 we swtiched to a network version of Type To Learn to help with keyboard instruction.  Keyboarding requires much prractice and students will only achieve good skills if they also practice at home.  type To Learn3 is available for home purchase through many different online ordering sites.  Just do a Google serach.

Transferring Files From Home:(Return to Top)

Transferring files from home to school can often be frustrating. Here are some considerations to help make it more successful.

• Always experiment with a short sample before trying to transfer a major project. Know that the process works before counting on it!

• Have the same program at home as in school. ClarisWorks - AppleWorks is available for both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. In grades 6-8 Microsoft Office programs are used and files transfer between platforms.

• Have the same version of the program.

• If you do not have the same version of the program, save the file in a matching version. For example, if you create a document on AppleWorks 5.0 at home, go to the File Menu and down to Save As command. In the dialog box that appears, select ClarisWorks 4 from the format or Save As list.

• The Macs at school can read both Mac and PC formatted disks.

• E-mail the information to school. If your teacher has an e-mail account paste your word processing into an e-mail and e-mail it to the classroom computer. This will not transfer formatting but will transfer text and might save you from having to re-type an entry.

• Students in grade 7-8 have meail with file transfer services. Use the file trransfer area to move files back and forth to school.
• Flash or Thumb Drives - For larger files load them on to a flash drive. If you do not have access to one, the school has several for students to sign out.
  
• A large completed project (like a PowerPoint presentation) can be burned to a CD. All computers at school have CD-rom drives.