Using Technology to Produce and Publish Writing

"These new computers are so nice!" "They really are! [unsure] But we need to figure out how to produce AND publish our work on them!" "Oh, work! Sure." Let's join Jane and Ernie as they learn all about using technology to produce and publish writing. Using technology such as computers, laptops, or tablets can make writing and producing work quicker and easier. For example, you can easily make edits without having to erase and rewrite everything. There are also many tools that can help you check your spelling and grammar. Plus, technology makes it easy to share your work with others, and collaborate with classmates, even when you're not in the same room! Before we go into more detail, it's important to understand that some programs run on your computer, laptop, and tablet directly, and some programs work entirely on the Internet. So, what are two types of programs you will most likely use? One type is a word processing document, and the other type is a presentation document. Word processing documents are often used for writing longer pieces, such as essays and stories, and you can sometimes add images if you need them. Presentation documents are often used for creating slideshows with important information summarized and often include illustrations. Once you have produced a piece of work, it is important to format it so it looks tidy, and is easy to follow. Some things you might format are the font, which is the text style, font size, paragraph indents, and paragraph breaks. It is important to choose a font that is easy to read, and a font size that is visible. You might use bigger font sizes for presentations since people might be viewing them from a distance. Paragraph breaks make it easier to know when a new paragraph begins. You also often need to indent any paragraphs. Sometimes this can be found in the formatting bar, but usually, you do this on the keyboard using the tab key. After producing and formatting your work, it's important to make sure you give it a title, and save it! It can be a good idea to also save your work along the way too. A good, clear title makes the document easier to find when you need it! Finally, when you're ready to share your work, you can print it out or upload it to a website, like a class blog, or upload it to a shared folder. This way, you can share your writing with others, get feedback, and be proud of what you've created! While Jane and Ernie produce some work, let's review. Remember, you can use programs on computers, laptops, and tablets to produce and publish writing. It is important to format your writing, making sure it is presentable and easy to read. You should always save your work with an easy-to-remember title. Finally, share or publish your writing by printing it or uploading it online. "I'm so proud of my work. I must upload it now!" "What did you produce, Ernie?" "Erm, an owl?"