Productivity software (also called personal productivity software or office productivity software) is application software used for producing information (such as documents, presentations, worksheets, databases, charts, graphs, digital paintings, electronic music and digital video).
Following are several applications that can be used for free or with a cost. Features vary. For example, many functions available available in a stand-alone software program like Microsoft Office 365 are not available in Google Docs, which is only available as a Web 2.0 tool using a web browser.
Word: Word is a powerful word processing application. This application is useful in creating letters, memos, posters, and newsletters. It is powerful enough to allow you to write a whole book. By using Word's graphics libraries and Word art capabilities, you can use Word as a desktop publishing system. In the classroom, Word can be used as a tool to support writing and to further understanding (if used as a cognitive tool).
PowerPoint: PowerPoint is presentation software. It enables you to create and deliver powerful educational presentations. Unlike its predecessor, the overhead transparency, PowerPoint allows you to incorporate multimedia elements (such as animations, sound effects, movies, and slide transitions) to deliver information in an interesting, clear, and attention-keeping way.
Excel: Excel is a spreadsheet application. A spreadsheet is divided into cells, into which numeric information or text can be placed. The application contains many formulas that enable it to easily and quickly perform powerful numerical calculations. You can also quickly format information into a graph or pie chart to more clearly display your data. In a spreadsheet, you could maintain a checkbook, a gradebook, payments on a loan, or chart the financial success of a company.
Access: Access is a database application. A database is a collection of records of information, with the same types of information stored within each record. Using database software, you can quickly sort, edit, filter, query, and print information contained in the records of data. Access is suitable for storing personal information on students. In the classroom it can be used to analyze and understand information such as demographic data collected in a survey.
This powerful software program offers all of the productivity software available for Microsoft Office. But because it is OPEN SOURCE, there is no charge to download and use the software.
Google was the first to truly develop a series of software programs for "the Cloud". In addition to their basic software packages, there are multiple applications available through the Chrome store that enhance documents created in Google Docs. They've taken the most frequently used functions and made simplified software programs that anybody can learn.
OneDrive is Microsoft's web browser response to Google Docs. The advantage is they offer all of the features, including advanced functions, that are found in Microsoft Office programs. Misericordia University offers some very thorough tutorials for learning the basics of the Microsoft Office Suites.
To view their tutorials, visit the following links:
1Adapted from the technology learning modules, Introduction to Educational Technology.