Technology Tools

General-purpose applications such as word processors and spreadsheets can provide students with supports for performing the academic tasks of writing, editing, analyzing data, and locating information resources. In addition to word processors and spreadsheets, technology tools for schools may include database management programs; graphing software; desktop publishing systems; Internet browsers; and video recording, digitizing, and editing equipment. When technology is used as a tool, the curricular content resides not in the software but in the instructional activity for which the tool is used. The technology itself does not convey the content (except in the limited cases where the instructional goal is to learn to use the technology tool).