Chapter Outline

LECTURE OUTLINE: DESKTOP PUBLISHING

I. Historical Background

1. Johann Gutenberg revolutionized communication in 1450 with the invention of moveable type. His printing innovation gave more people the opportunity to read by making books more available, and his basic concept stayed unchanged for 400 years.
2. Ottmar Mergenthaler invented Linotype in the late 1880s. Linotype was the first successful automated typecasting machine, allowing the operator to cast an entire line of type at once with a keyboard.
3. Tolbert Lanston invented the Monotype machine in the later 1880s. This machine produced three characters of set type a second and was widely used for books.
4. The first phototypesetting machine was introduced by Intertype in 1950. Phototypesetting was faster, less costly, and more flexible than cast type.
5. Digital typesetting was developed in the mid-1960s. Today, it coexists with phototypesetting as the standards for setting type and uses computer typesetting equipment to describe letter forms as nearly invisible dots. This invention led the way for desktop publishing.
6. The term desktop publishing (DTP) was coined by Paul Brainward of Aldus Software in the 1980s.

II. What is Desktop Publishing?

1. Desktop publishing (DTP) is the second most popular use of computers in the school after word processing. Desktop publishing uses the personal computer, in conjunction with specialized software, to combine text and graphics to produce high quality output either on a laser printer or a typesetting machine.
2. The multistep process of DTP involves different types of software and equipment:
3. Desktop publishing can produce many kinds of documents, including newsletters, flyers, and banners.
4. Desktop publishing allows one individual to create on-screen layouts, use different typeface or fonts, right-justify texts and lay out multiple columns, insert and print art/text on the same page, and print camera-ready copy.
5. DTP is a more versatile, faster, and less expensive way to produce publications than traditional methods, because it involves fewer people and fewer revisions. Several quality DTP programs exist for all kinds of computers.

III. Basic Desktop Publishing Features

1. Some of the features included in DTP are a spelling checker, thesaurus, fully integrated word processor, text rotation, and various graphics tools.
2. All DTP programs offer page layout, word processing, style sheets and templates, graphics, and page view.

IV. Integrating Desktop Publishing into the Classroom

1. Teachers and students can use DTP to produce a multitude of projects. Teachers can create projects such as worksheets, flyers, signs, posters, and other graphical material. Students can produce mini-books, book reports, yearbooks, advertisements, newsletters, posters, and flyers.
2. Classroom projects might include awards or certificates, science experiment sheets, resumes, brochures, letterheads, and booklets.

V. How to Choose a Good Desktop Publishing Program

1. Many DTP packages are on the market today, and some are especially suited for classroom use. See p. 100 and Transparency 5.1 for a desktop publishing checklist.
2. To choose a DTP program for the classroom, the user should consider students’ needs and five criteria:
1. Hardware compatibility, memory, speed, and storage availability must be considered.
2. General features such as column creation, enlargement and shrinkage of graphics, font styles, and other important capabilities must be considered.
3. Instructional design in DTP means the program design should be straightforward, easy to use, fast, and flexible, with accessible program functions.
4. Consumer value is a major consideration in choosing a program for the classroom. Program costs range from about $50 to several hundred dollars. Templates, graphic arts, on-site licenses, lab packs, and networked versions should be considered.
5. Support is a key aspect to DTP program selection. The program documentation should be helpful, and accessible customer support should be available.

VI. Learning to Use a Desktop Publishing Program

1. Although DTP seems like a straightforward process, there are always compatibility problems between different programs with different features and capabilities. Some are easier to use and import graphics more easily, while others offer more flexibility in painting and drawing tools but are more difficult to use.
2. See Appendix A for an annotated list of highly rated desktop publishing programs. Programs must be examined in terms of their age-level suitability. They vary in flexibility, features, ease of use, and cost.
3. Guidelines for desktop publishing in the classroom include planning ahead, considering the audience, choosing the right approach, and being flexible. Six activities for motivating students to write with a DTP program are discussed on pp. 105-110.