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Mr. Zain Labib

Graphic Designer

FELCRA

Malaysia

1. Introduction

3. Effective Use of DTP in Developing Literacy Materials

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The degree of achievement and programs in grant-

ing adequate education to children in Primary schools

needs improve-ment from time to time. Neverthe-

less until today development in education and level

of achievement in education for some countries inAsia is still beyond the expected level. Many fac-

tors influence the level of education achievement of

children from primary schools to highest stage. Con-

tinuous efforts should be carried out for the success

of education amongst the children of Asian coun-

tries as compared to the developed countries where

childrens of lower education is being emphasized.

Education development for children needs full com-

mitment from all and adequate education sources

should beutilised in assisting childrens educational from lower

level regardless of race and sex. Examples are edu-

cation book in schools, magazine, library, newspa-

per and the like. Nevertheless not all children ob-

tained full education by using complete educational

tools.

In certain Asian countries the level of education for

female children is still at its lowest compared to the

male. This is related to geography, traditional val-

ues, countries commitment and the population eco-nomic rate. The level of childrens education is in-

fluenced geographically because the source of edu-

cation is very limited in remote areas. The economic

situation of a segregate population also influ-ence

the level of education gained. In urban areas, chil-

dren aremore advanced because there is abundant

knowledge gathered and the total achievement in

education is better.

A country which gives priority in education for chil-

dren at lower level has become the basic model forthe coun-triesdevelopment. In this technological era,

country who yearns to be successful and competi-

tive against other developed countries needs to in-

crease the popu-lationknowledge. The existing tech-

nology, for example computer technology, has been

successfully utilised to assist in developing their

countries. With computer technology, developedcountry have invented more so-phisticated equip-

ment to be marketed to other countries and bring in

income for the country. Utilised in all as-pects as in

Government body, private sector, individual and also

in Defence and Army. A country with advance tech-

nology is much respected and favoured by other

countries. There is no denial that education plays an

important role for a countrys population in achiev-

ing further progress, income and the dignity of a

country. Here I would like to relate advancement in

computer technology which has expanded in mycountry MA-LAYSIA. The development started

early 1980s and computer technology has replaced

half of daily work routine in government office, pri-

vate and individuals. With the Malaysians Prime

Minister Dato Sri Mahathir Mohamads encourage-

ment and support, the computer technology has de-

veloped at a fast pace. Incentives were given to com-

puter producers to produce comput-ers in large quan-

tity and at affordable price. This allowed Govern-

ment, private sector and individuals to purchase com-

puters in assisting them in their daily work. In addi-tion to that, Internet facilities with addi-tional infor-

mation can be computed in a quick and easier man-

ner.

School in Malaysia were supplied with computer as

educational support. In respect to realisation, chil-

dren are expected to benefit the most through the

usage of computers. Schools have applied computer

programmes arranged by the Ministry of Education

for ultimate usage. Some are connected to Internet

facilities where scholars and school students gainedthe latest information in assisting them in education.

B. On Material Development

* Presented at LRC Training Workshop in Patan, Nepal (22 - 31 August 1996)

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I believe computer advancement is able to assist us in

our daily assignments, expediting tasks in work manage-

ment, assisting teachers in educating, and smoothening

business management. The question is, what is com-

its facilities and functions.

2. Summary of Requirements for Desktop

Publishing

(1) Hardware:

a) Microcomputer with compatible keyboard

and enough storage for hard disk, memoryand processor.

b) High resolution monitor.

c) Mouse - enablesuser to move the cursor

around the screen more quickly than cursor

control keys.

d) Scanner for conversion of images into

electronic for display on screen.

e) Laser printer for high quality printed

output of documents and graphs, etc.

f) Dot matrix printer - for lower quality

printed output.

g) Modem for communication with theInternet.

(2) Software:

a) Word Processing for compiling and editing

text files.

b) Graphic package, spreadsheet package, or

integrated package for more powerful

graphic functions.

c) Scanning/digitising drivers for capturing

halftones and other images.

3. What is a Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing is becoming widely used due to its

relative simplicity compared to the skill and experience

required for traditional publishing. It increases the pro-

ductivity of businesses because they are able to quickly

produce documents internally while also reducing print-

ing costs. Special DTP software allows a Personal

Computer to be used as a publishing and design tool,

facilitating the production of quality publications. The

main feature of DTP is an ability to compose pages con-

sisting of a mixture of text and graphics to produce

camera-ready artwork without typesetting. Graphic

blocks can be inserted into a text bock and the text willautomatically flow around the graphics block whatever

its shape. Text can be entered by keyboard or be im-

ported from a text file produced by a word processing

puter advancement and how it helps.

I will now give a brief on what a computer is and its

various uses. Even though some of you might already

have an in-depth knowledge on what a computer is, and

Resource Papers

package or may obtained from electronic scanning. DTP

packages have built-in word processing and graphics

function with text editing facilities for deleting, cutting,

pasting, inserting or creating new text. DTP packages

differ from word processing packages in that they canintegrate graphics and text. The graphic may be gener-

ated by the DTP package itself or imported from a

graphic package or spreadsheet package with graphics

facilities. The graphic of the DTP package incorporates

aids for drawing lines, boxes and circles but is not as

powerful as stand-alone graphics packages. Graphic im-

ported from stand-alone packages can be moved in

blocks to different locations and scaled, cropped or

trimmed so that they can be positioned in the most suit-

able location on the composed page.

Pages can also be viewed in actual or reduced size or be

enlarged to obtain an overview before printing. Some

packages have facilities for aligning details on a page

by means of a grid consisting of vertical and horizontal

guidelines allows spacing and position to be changed.

Blocks of text can also be linked, a necessary require-

ment when text continues from the bottom of the

column to the top of another and then on the different

page. This facility allows text to flow from one column to

the other automatically, in the specified sequence, when

text is deleted or added. Pages larger than the physical

capabilities of the printer can be obtained by overlap-

ping normal size printed pages by a process know as

tiling, which generates the larger size document or dia-

gram required. Other facilities include spelling checks,

automatic hyphenation, kerning which closes up

spaces between characters to improve the appearance

of the text - line spacing options, and the ability to print

white characters on a background, which is ideal for

highlighting a heading. DTP provides on-screen near

What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) display of

founts, type sizes and layout so that it is possible to

know what the final product will look like before it is

printed.

Development of desktop publishing became possible

because of the development of high quality, inexpen-

sive printers; the increasing power and reduced cost of

PCs together with higher capacity internal memory and

backing storage; the development of interfaces allowing

the import of graphics and text from other packages, and

adoption of page description languages.

4. How DTP Can Help Us

Introduction through pictures is the best method forchildren to learn at an early age. Through computers,

graphic pictures can be printed to be introduced to chil-

dren. With adequate facilities such as graphic software

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and scanner, pictures can be splashed to children so

they can learn from them. Educational data can be in-

stalled in the computer and can be extracted anytime.

By using attractive texts, children would be encouraged

to read. Freedom to create and select texts with existing

graphic gives teachers and educators various selec-

tions to convey information. Additional options like

scanner, is able to extract picture form or texts to be

installed in the computer for future use.

Normally, teachers convey information to children

through reading materials and references. Nevertheless

reading materials are not easy to get and information can

be limited. The main problem is parents can not afford to

buy them. As an alternative, light reading materials are

created and printed through computer and distributedto the children.

Transferring information DTP, from books into comput-

ers, is the best alternative to expensive textbooks. The

materials can be extracted, added and edited at any time

and used as reading material whenever needed.

Presently there is an abundance of education software

used in multimedia. This is helpful because children are

sometimes not interested in reading books. Displays

through multimedia, where information can be transmit-

ted with sound, proves more interesting. This

technology lightens the burden of educators and allowsthem to concentrate on other matters.

5. Problems Encountered Through The Usage

of DTP

A complete DTP package needs sufficient allocations

and would incur high expenses. It relates to a countries

accessibility and costs of obtaining the DTP packages.

In my country Malaysia, computer producers are given

an incentive scheme where prices are quoted at an af-

fordable rate. Prices of computers reduce year by year

due to price competition and abundant supplies in themarket. I hope the same goes for other countries, where

DTP packages could be purchased at an affordable

price.

Expertise in DTP utilisation is important in ensuring

target output. Adequate training and support after

training is important to ensure the DTP user is able to

use it at its maximum. DTP user should also know how

to maintain the DTP packages for long term use. A sur-

vey should be conducted from time to time to judge the

level of expertise and users capabilities.

In obtaining effective DTP output, computer users must

be creative and innovative. Computer is simply a tool

that receives orders from the user to produce some-

thing. Individual commitment is important for the

success of any obligation. With the existence of a com-

puter but without one who is able and capable of

utilising it, the maximum results could not be obtained.

After some computer application training, moral supportshould be given to develop courage and confidence so

DTP users can make these project successful. DTP

packages needs continuous electricity supply to obtain

continuous output. In remote areas without an electrical

supply, DTP usage would be restricted to solar powered

batteries.

6. Today and Future Achievements

There is no denial that computers are able to smooth the

management of daily assignments. They are not only

able to have a positive impact in terms of producingquality articles and reading materials but can also light-

ens ones tasks. Computers play an important role in

managing daily life. With the computer technology be-

ing upgraded. The possibility of increased production

on a daily basis is possible.

I believe that one day computers will be able to handle

more complicated tasks. In the future, children will be

able to learn through computers without going to

school. Access of information from books today might

be able to be extracted from computers one day.

For a country to advance in the development of in-depth

knowledge of computer technology is a necessity.

Overall usage by the population would benefit the

country and nationality in every aspect.

For a developed country, information is an important

factor in overcoming problems. With abundant infor-

mation stored in the computer the easier a country has in

making decisions about their problem.

I believe in the use of computers as an educational tool.

I am confident there will be a reduction in percentage forthose who are left behind in terms of overall economic

and social development.