“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” - Stephen Hawking
Computers in schools as helpful resources for teaching and learning have become the norm in the past few decades.
A very high percentage of South African households have computers and this allows children access to helpful online academic resources to complete homework, revise and create projects.
Generally, primary school students are introduced to computers as one of their academic resources from a young age. Often these are through free research databases or other programs. Computers have become common online academic resources for High school learners studying IT or computer science.
On the whole, learners will use computers more at home than during school. Often, they’ll be assigned projects or homework that can only be done through the use of research databases found on the internet.
There’s no doubt that the digital era in which we are living has dramatically impacted the field of education. In fact, the programs and tools that have been designed for the purpose of online academic resources are almost limitless! Of course, they are not all easy to use, but most times a homework tutor can prove to be a useful guide in showing the way!
So, regardless of whether you are using Apple Macintosh, Linux or Windows, these are some of the tools you should use:
Office Application Suites
Remember that teachers require that learners and students of every age submit work that is legible and well presented with the least amount of spelling and grammatical errors as possible.
Whether it’s an assignment, presentation, or essay computers and online academic resources allow us to create work that is of a high standard.
Microsoft Office
At some point, everyone in an academic or work setting is required to use Microsoft Office which is the most common document creator for a variety of formats including PDF.
The suite of programs is quite easy to use and includes the following:
- Microsoft Word: For creating or editing text.
- Microsoft Excel: For spreadsheets, creating formulae, and calculations.
- Microsoft PowerPoint: For presentations including images, headlines, text, sound, and video.
- Microsoft Outlook: For managing, sending, and receiving emails.
- Microsoft OneNote: For note-taking
Remember that it is possible to enjoy a free trial before you pay.
Resources for Teaching and Learning: Free Alternatives
Fortunately, there are many free resources like LibreOffice or OpenOffice for teaching and learning.
Google Docs is also a very useful and popular resource to store work safely online. It is also one of those excellent online academic resources for collaborating with others especially if you want to edit documents in real-time.
One of the best ways for learners to figure out which research databases and resources for teaching and learning is best suited to them is through the guidance of a private homework tutor.
Also, if something doesn’t work, it is good to remember that it is easy to switch systems without wasting money too.
For instance, you could change products within the Microsoft Office suite of programs or start with free resources and then move on to paid ones later.
Research Databases You Can Take Everywhere
Encyclopedias and dictionaries can be the best friends of a student, but fortunately, gone are the days when carrying a heavy load of books was required. Today, you could probably find all the research databases you need on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
As crazy as it sounds, you carry a whole library wherever you go.
Check out how to avoid plagiarism in your homework and assignments.
English Dictionaries
When it comes to digital dictionaries for definitions, antonyms and synonyms here are a few that won’t let you down.
Popular online dictionaries include:
- Collins
- Wiktionary
- The Oxford Dictionary
- Macmillan Online Dictionary
- Dictionary.com
- The Free Dictionary
- Cambridge Online Dictionary
- Merriam-Webster Online
Foreign Language Dictionaries
In addition to the English dictionary, you can also find many other English to foreign language dictionaries online.
Online dictionaries in other languages are one of the tools that have made learning a foreign language so much more accessible in recent years. Not only are there dictionaries, but also many other online resources like the Babbel, Duolingo, and Rosetta Stone apps to support language acquisition. If you don’t yet have a favourite, this is something where your homework tutor can provide guidance.
Spellcheckers
For those who struggle to spell and even those of us who don’t, a spellchecker is essential. Everyone should be spellchecking their work before hitting the send or print button.
Fortunately, most online programs include built-in spellcheckers, however, there are also other tools that are helpful for grammar checking too.
Desktop-Publishing for Professional Layouts
To present your work in the best possible light, using a desktop publishing program could be the answer. Whether you are creating a cover page for an assignment or essay or looking for creative ways to break up a project or add visuals, there are many useful tools available.
Scribus
Scribus is an example of an open-source desktop publishing product. It is comprehensive and perfect for maneuvering text and visuals.
Adobe InDesign
The Adobe suite of programs is popular and well known, however, InDesign is a particularly brilliant tool for creating magnificent visuals. It also provides templates that can be accessed via Creative Cloud to either use or inspire!
Ask your homework tutor about these programs too.
- PagePlus
- Ragtime
- LyX
- Google Slides
- QuarkXPress
- Word
- PowerPoint
- Publisher
- Impress
Maths Programs
For a variety of reasons that often have nothing to do with intelligence or aptitude, many learners are afraid of maths and science.
Having said that, these are subjects that most learners are stuck with throughout their school years which is why these online resources can be most helpful.
GeoGebra
This is a dynamic mathematics program that can be helpful for challenges in geometry, algebra, and statistics. It can turn complex maths problems into engaging and interactive lessons.
Popular with both students and teachers, GeoGebra is easily downloadable and loved for its visual concept depictions.
ChemMaths
ChemMaths, which boasts over 100 equations, is helpful for scientific calculation functions, graph generation, and unit conversions.
Google Earth
Geography is one of those subjects that requires you to remember facts and figures but also includes excellent online resources, like Google Earth.
Textbooks can be quite boring, but with interesting visuals and interactive elements, software programs can make homework much more enjoyable
Google Earth which provides satellite imagery and aerial photography of just about every corner of the earth can show you the world in 3D.
Interactive maps of the globe can help you to discover more about the planet and make studying geography really fun.
So, what is the landscape in Mongolia like, or what do they grow in China?
All of this information is accessible in seconds.
Of course, these are not the only apps that are available to help you with your homework. You will need to get the advice of a homework tutor about specific apps for specific subjects and levels of ability. For example, certain apps will not be suited to primary school level children and vice versa.
In the same way, remember that homework and study apps are not a shortcut to success. In addition to the perseverance and dedication that is required, they should be used alongside active listening in class, textbooks, and other educational resources like podcasts, games, videos, and websites.
Also, the content on your apps should line up and agree with what is being taught in the classroom. If not, when the time comes for examinations and tests, their use will be rendered useless!
Of course, supplementary information to what is included in your curriculum is never wasted, however, you want to make sure that you maximise your results at exam time too.
There is no doubt that the answer to making the most of the plethora of homework programs and resources for teaching and learning is to be found in investing in the services of a private homework tutor.
So, if you or your child are looking for extra homework support or ideas to create systems for homeschooling, then consider making use of the many qualified and experienced tutors to be found on Superprof.
You can use the website’s location tool to find out if there is a tutor in your area, or you can decide to opt for online lessons with a teacher from multiple locations in South Africa, or even the world. While you are searching, you will notice that there are tutors from a wide range of backgrounds and who have varying qualifications and experience. For your peace of mind, all of them have had their credentials pre-verified by the Superprof team and in many cases, will offer their first lesson for free.
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