Entry #6 & #7 Microsoft Word As A Valuable Educational Tool

MS Word can enhance a student’s productivity and make the learning environment more accessible. The specific features within Word, can be used as strategies to support writing skills. MS Word can help all students, especially those, with specific learning disabilities, such as Dysgraphia or written language disorders. The use of a word processor can improve writing skills, once they have learned keyboarding skills. They can edit their own work. It facilitates or reinforces skills and strategies learned. It can strengthen basic skills in decoding, comprehension and spelling. In reading, it takes the burden off decoding text, focuses on making connections and activating background knowledge, which aids with comprehension. In writing, it eliminates barriers that are language based, attention based, and executive function based. For spelling, it offers spelling and grammatical help and time efficiency. It supports the student’s strengths by facilitating time management, completion of assignments, note taking, studying for test, and writing research papers. MS Word, can be viewed as a multi-sensory tool. As always keeping in mind the individual needs of the student, are critical in its efficacy.