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"PowerPoint is another technology tool that's exceptionally easy to use in the classroom," noted Jamye Swinford. "All kinds of research projects can be adapted to this application.

"Excel is another easily adaptable application," Swinford said. "Charts and graphs are a natural with Excel. This application can be used to tally results for any kind of question. Elementary students can enter results, create graphs, and compare and contrast their results.

"I use a SMART Board and a projector to project PowerPoint presentations for my class," John Tiffany told Education World. "It's so convenient to stand up at the board and be able to click through a presentation by tapping on the screen. I also use SMART Board for brainstorming sessions with students. I allow them to come to the board and write their own ideas. If we're doing math problems, I allow students to come to the front and work out the assignments on the SMART Board. They enjoy doing that. I then can save their brainstorming ideas or work for future reference, rather than having to copy it or risk losing it, as would have been the case if I'd used a chalkboard. I also allow students to experiment with the SMART Board during down time.

"Word processing is a standard application available in almost every school," Jamye Swinford agreed. "A word processing program can be used for desktop publishing; students can create newsletters and magazines, advertisements and flyers, even business cards.

"The drawing tools included in most word processing programs allow students to create pictures and logos, puzzles and more," Swinford said. "Stories can be illustrated. Cookbooks can be created with imported graphics or custom illustrations. Using the HTML conversion utilities, students can create Web pages from word processing documents. Interactive documents can be made with the use of hyperlinks.

Many times, I worked with a science teacher to help students use the Internet to learn about planets, hurricanes, earthquakes, and so on," said retired K-8 computer teacher/coordinator Betty Kistler. "We would locate appropriate sites and then I would create a Web page for students to use.

Students sometimes worked in pairs to answer questions. I found that most teachers felt more secure using the Internet in the lab with me or in their classroom if I was there.

Puzzlemaker can be used by teachers and students alike to develop crossword puzzles, word searches, mazes, cryptograms, and more based on curriculum vocabulary and concepts.

ePals allows students to contact class or individual partners, work on writing skills, exchange weather information, compare communities, and make new friends around the world via e-mail.

Using PowerPoint and a projector instead of an overhead and lecture notes is another use of technology that allows me to spice up my lectures,"