Chapter 9- Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies

Focus Question- How can teachers create PowerPoint presentations for maximum teaching potential and learning impact?

I’ve never second guessed myself in creating a PowerPoint presentation until recently when I was asked to create a Pecha Kucha PowerPoint presentation. It was supposed to be a simple presentation, but it required quite a bit of photo research and Flickr was said to be the place to get those. I ensured that all my selections were creative commons licensed. but that I know that I did not present to the best of my ability. What then was the trouble? Was it that I had become complacent in my old ways and found it difficult to adapt to this new version of PowerPoint technology?

We know a PowerPoint presentation to be a computerized presentation using slides for visual information displays. Mostly, we try to use colorful graphics and print, sometimes even pop-ups, videos, and other attention grabbing tools to attract our audiences. Why? A PowerPoint gives visual dimension to our class presentations; it allows for text to be combined with pictures, charts, and images in entertaining ways and it is easy to use.  Are we using it effectively? In order to get the maximum teaching potential and learning impact from this multimedia presentation software package, teachers need to aim at successfully weaving interactive, engaging approaches into the fabric of their presentations. While PowerPoint presentations should be equipped with substantive academic content that  is appropriate to the needs of the students, effective teachers need to ensure that their presentations are engaging and involves the audience as best as possible. Edward R. Tufte makes a good point in his argument that PowerPoint is “presenter-oriented” and “not content-oriented, not audience-oriented because we are sometimes guilty.

I was recently reminded that if PowerPoint is too wordy, it is not effective; I have been guilty of presenting a few “wordy” PowerPoints in my time. Lets not seek to read PowerPoints to the audience, they more often than not, able to read for themselves. Require reading only when it is required of the audience, your students, for a subject area such as Reading or Language Arts. You always want to reap maximum results from this technology, otherwise, it is ineffective and boring.

 

4 Scientific Reasons Why Your PowerPoint Presentation Sucks…

 

Tech Tool link: PBS Learning Media 

The beauty of using a PowerPoint is that you are able to add links to videos and music. These enhance the learning process. Take for instance, PBS Learning Media; We are well familiar with PBS programs. They offer learning material in visually engaging ways and, they provide websites where resources such as lesson plans, interactive activities and other features can be accessed in order to aid in enhancing video viewing in the classroom. These videos can be embedded into any PowerPoint and add additional variety to the presentation experience.

PBSLearningMedia Testimonial - Make An Impact

Summary & Connection

The use of PowerPoints can be an engaging and productive experience for both teacher and students; however, to be effective, teachers should plan and use images that will stimulate thought in students, thereby promoting visual analysis and discussion. The key is to develop PowerPoints that involve learning games, display questions or brief comments and are “student-oriented”. Finally, when preparing a PowerPoint, remember that a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

 

 

Resources :
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010).Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon. 

Tufte, E. R. (2006). The Cognitive style of PowerPoint: Pitching out corrupts within (2^nd ed.). Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding Excitment to how we Communicate and Collaborate in the Classroom

Chapter 8- Communicating and Collaborating with Social Media

Social Media

 

Focus Question: How will your teacher communication systems create positive learning experiences for you and your students?

Electronic Communication between teachers and students include but are not limited to: email, text messaging, teacher or classroom websites, blogs, online discussions, and wikis. These tools are contemporary instruments through which teachers and students interact while sharing ideas and information with each other, as well as with various audiences for educational purposes.

The choice as to what communication system to use, lies with the teacher. The interest levels of students, as well as the availability of the technology is necessary for consideration. I particularly like the tool of a class website where I have a 24/7 communication flow with students and parents. I never issue my telephone number to my students or their parents so this would be an avenue for constant connection. My ideal is a site pertinent to my classroom environment. One where I am able to post material related to the various topics which we cover; Material in forms such as links to interactive sites, videos, journals, and so on. It is a tool that keeps students and parents aware of upcoming events or reminders of assignments and their due dates.  It facilitates student communication so that students can collaborate and share ideas and perspectives on certain topics. The key is to make this site a place where my students are engaged and excited to visit. I usually like to post “Early work” - First Stop, as I like to call them, so that as students enter the classroom in the mornings, they settle down and get straight to working on this assignment displayed on the smart board. It is always important to keep students on task, so posting different activities for them to choose from in the event that they complete their assignments early is also helpful on a site. I would post these on the class’ site instead. This, I believe, would be convenient to any teacher. However, it demands intense planning, ordering and monitoring. Teachers are usually good at that anyway.

Tech Tool Link:

Website and Blog-Building Resources for Teachers – Commercially available template

Creating a Classroom Website

 

You may follow the instructions above and create a classroom website using your google account. However, there are commercially available websites or blog builders such as TaskStream (www.taskstream.com) or eBlogger (http://eblogger.com). You will not find the variety or quality of graphics you desire, but these allow for password protection, and offer a ready-made publication portal for your site on the internet so both teacher and students can rest assured that their work is not accessed by just about anyone.

Summary and Connection

The choice as to the types of digital communication systems is up to the teacher. The variety is constantly diversified and so there is no need for any student in the modern classroom to complain of boredom. The digital communication systems can be used for teaching, for sharing information, for the publishing of students’ work, for getting parents involved and so much more. The key is to use what appeals to the students. They are always on the internet; they are constantly on their ‘cell phones’; everyone has a need to be heard and if opening more avenues for these voices and energies to be channeled in a productive manner is wrong, then “I don’t wanna be right”.

Resources:
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.