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yr 11 trio been told we need Word on pc for coursework!

41 replies

triplets · 24/01/2014 23:29

Hi, I am not very savvy about these things, they have been told to use Microsoft Word to access their work. We have Office which the kids say is no good. Have looked on Amazon etc but no sure what I am supposed to be buying, also looks very expensive. Can anyone help please?

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 25/01/2014 09:28

DD has to use Powerpoint a lot as well.

Her school also uses MyMaths to set maths homework.

JeanSeberg · 25/01/2014 09:24

I'm surprised they've got to Y11 without needing Word and PowerPoint.

Are you near to your local library? They can prepare the work at home, type it up and print it there. Or put it on a stick to print at school.

lljkk · 25/01/2014 09:20

I think you can only use the trial service once and only for so long.
The OO text editor is fine, will do the job. But DC keep having to produce stuff in powerpoint; this is a pain because the OO version is pants (Empress). Pisses me off, although luckily right now I have a work laptop with MSOffice they can borrow. Grrrrrrrr...

Chopstheduck · 25/01/2014 07:44

Or, there is even a free trial available for Office. Which includes word.

clicky

Chopstheduck · 25/01/2014 07:43

Word should be part of your Microsoft Office bundle. Office contains Word, Outlook and Excel.

Secondly, if you don't have Word for whatever reason, use Open office as has been suggested. Default it will save to .rtf which can only be read by open office. You need to save as or export the file so it is compatible with Word again so that the teacher will be able to read it.

Picturesinthefirelight · 25/01/2014 07:38

I do have a dd at secondary.

She has very very little homework that HAS to be completed on a computer as computer access is limited for most of her school friends

triplets · 25/01/2014 00:17

thank you, will have a look at Open Office in the morning. x

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 25/01/2014 00:09

"Whatever happened to old fashioned pen & paper."

You don't have children at high school then? A lot of homework is done on computers these days. Although DD still handwrites a lot in her exercise books.

You can open Microsoft Word documents in Open Office, although I have found that it sometimes changes the formatting and layout. The other option is to buy the student version of Microsoft Office. It will ask you the name of the school to check whether they are registered, but it will save you ££££.

triplets · 24/01/2014 23:52

what the dc are saying is there work is already on it, but it now all has to be completed at home, so they need to access it. It sounds as though is the student one you have Bluesky, does it come as a disc?

OP posts:
BlueSkySunnyDay · 24/01/2014 23:39

You just find openoffice online and download it free.

BlueSkySunnyDay · 24/01/2014 23:38

I couldn't remember the name of it but pictures is right - give open office a try as it's free

Bloody cheek of the school!

If you wanted to go for Microsoft you need office home and student - then you need to decide if you want it for 1 or more computers. I stupidly bought the professional version last time that I will not be able to transfer to a new computer if my current one dies (expensive mistake)

scaryg · 24/01/2014 23:34

Try Open Office it's free and just save the doc as an .rtf file.

Or pop into currys pc world tomorrow and have a chat with someone about a student version of MS office.

outtolunchagain · 24/01/2014 23:33

I thought word was part of office, otherwise you can get a student version which is cheaper .

Slh122 · 24/01/2014 23:33

Open Office is just as good. Just save documents as 'word documents' when you save them.

VivaLeBeaver · 24/01/2014 23:32

Can't you use libre office? Its free and opens word documents and any documents you create can be opened by word.

Picturesinthefirelight · 24/01/2014 23:31

If the school are insisting on that then they should provide the software or computer use at school

OpenOffice is free & you can access most word documents on it

Whatever happened to old fashioned pen & paper.