Week 4
This week I have explored 3 tools that can be used in the classroom for presentation purposes. PowerPoint, Prezi and Glogster all support the collection and collation of multimedia resources and can promote student interactivity and collaboration. I have elaborated on the technical aspects, and illustrated how they can be used in a teaching context below, and illustrated how these examples might fit in the with SAMR model.
You can view the SAMR model here: http://bit.ly/1J3zNnd
PowerPoint
“The slideshow is probably created with the best intentions, to bring life and creativity into a boring aspect of the world. However, the “exciting” innovation gets overused and abused, turning the very milieu it aimed to enliven into a stultifying morass of homogeneity(Schuman. Rebecca, 2015)”
You can view her article here: http://slate.me/1cHAyDJ
I tend to agree with this comment, from my experience with PowerPoint at university. It is almost always used in the same boring way as students present their assessments, by reading off a non-engaging PowerPoint, often filled with too much text, that is too small, or is accompanied with terrible graphics. Whilst I am a visual learner I really struggle to retain information when ideas are presented in this way. I admit to doing it myself as it is often a requirement to record all the content into a PowerPoint. I believe in order to create an engaging presentation we need to limit the content and words and use great images, to enhance instead of compete with what we are saying orally.
Aaron Weyenberg Ted talk blogger and master presenter shares some interesting point for creating a good presentation, he agrees with my view,stating that 4. With text, less is almost always more and 5.Use photos that enhance meaning
His blog can be viewed here:http://blog.ted.com/10-tips-for-better-slide-decks/
Since investigating further on how PowerPoint can be used effectively to facilitate learning I have changed my opinion somewhat as I become more informed on ways that can indeed engage and enhance learning in the classroom, I have elaborated on these further on in my blog. for now though I need to make sure I get the marks.
Now for the mundane:
Tech Aspects
PowerPoint is a slide show presentation programme. Some of the tech features are mentioned below:
- Easily accessible toolbar tools
- Correct mistakes easily
- Templates provided or you can customize to suit your needs.
- Easy to use Word-processing, outlining, drawing, graphing tools
- Slides can be printed as handouts and notes
- Embed multimedia –video, audio, images/links to blogs or other files
- Allows for slide transitions /fading in and out to make the presentation more interesting
- Copy and paste an image directly into a slide
- Animation effects
- Can be used for viewing on tablets, phones, monitors and projection screens
- Interactive tools, to create quizzes etc for the students.
PowerPoint is used quite extensively today in the classroom. I have observed teachers using it as a way to present a lesson or information an also students are encouraged to use it as a tool to present their own learning. From my experience however it is not being used to its full advantage and it often used as a simple linear slideshow presentation (that is each slide is designed to follow on one after the other). For example my daughter in year 3 is currently doing an investigation on Japan, whereby her research ( textual information) will be presented in a PowerPoint. This type of lesson would align with the Substitution/Augmentation stages on the SAMR model, as it uses tech to substitute and apply new knowledge in a way that would not normally involve technology. Whilst it is a fun and age appropriate way of introducing tech into the classroom I don’t know that it enhances learning. However, if it captures the students attention and keeps them engaged in their task then one would think their learning is enhanced.
Before the introduction of Blooms and the SAMR model, I would accept the above lesson as a good learning experience as it had my daughter interested in using technology. Now however, I’m more mindful of integrating tech as a way to enhance, facilitate and transform learning. I would be planning where possible to facilitate higher order thinking according to Blooms(You can view Blooms Taxonomy here http://bit.ly/1La9vnb). For example the students may instead be encouraged to use the collated information to create a PowerPoint that depicted a visual interpretation of a specific aspect of Japan of their choice. Possible topics may be ‘how is schooling different in Japan?’, or ‘the Important cultural aspects’. The PowerPoint could be used as a way of enhancing an oral presentation rather than just presenting regurgitated facts as text in a slideshow.
This lesson would align with the SAMR model in the area of Redefinition and Blooms create/evaluate as it transforms the learning experience and allows fro a more students centred approach, promoting creativity and higher order thinking.
Some examples for the different ways of implementing PowerPoint are given below:
Redefinition: Students collaborate to create a learning experience for their peers / Visual interpretation of a poem.
Modification: Students participate or create an interactive History- Geography Jeopardy game – for learning and presenting facts.
Augmentation: A Spelling Practice – game for learning Site words.
Substitution: A daily timetable, or Rubric , or list of morning tasks for students to complete.
I have created 2 PowerPoints below.
Geometry Shape Resource Kit presentation-3
The first is a presentation on teaching students how to teach students Geometry that was part of an assignment this year. This is included to show the functions used such as fading in, Images and embedding a website link.
The second is a basic PowerPoint lesson for students to both edit and improve to a more engaging presentation (allowing them to practice their tech skills). The role is reversed here and the teacher could learn from and be guided by the students, in order to design more meaningful tasks as they learn what ways to best engage their students.
The Endangered Species Powerpoint was also created with the intention of providing more student centred approaches to learning that cater for a diversity in learning styles. It integrates technology to promote, collaboration and creativity as students to work together on IPad to Investigate an endangered species and then present their findings in a PowerPoint or Prezi (an example of which is embedded into the PowerPoint).
Students are to work in small groups to access the PowerPoint on iPads or computers in class and follow the steps to achieve the required learning outcomes. Suggestions for how to present this are included within the Powerpoint and range from a Prezi to IMovie or in Class PowerPoint. This lesson assumes the students would have basic knowledge of theses presenting tool. However if they had had limited experience a tutorial such as the one below would be necessary
This week I came across a kid friendly, easy to follow tutorial that will be useful for instructing students in my classroom PowerPoint Tutorials by Chris Clementi
Prezi
It was the first time I have created and explored Prezi this week.
I followed the great visual YouTube tutorial and found Prezi to be quite a fun substitute for PowerPoint.http://prezi.com/vq8dae9wf7wl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
The fact that it is free and allows you to present the big picture but also allows yo to add small details (unlike PowerPoint) and then use the panning and zooming tools to reveal content are all appealing to me. Like PowerPoint to can view it by iPads, iPhone or iPod and computers.I found it easy to create with the click and drag options, especially enjoying the circle)other options available) frame as a way of presenting information. Ideas for using Prezi in the classroom would be similar to those recommended for PowerPoint and I think the same rules for presenting would apply, such as ‘ less info more images or embedded video’ to link ideas should be modelled in the classroom. Prezi does provide opportunities for collaboration as It has a an option for allowing others, meaning students opportunity to work in groups and work on their group assignment from home.
When publishing a Prezi, students would need guidelines in safe practice, such as only allowing their classmates to view their site by setting the Privacy settings accordingly. Like any online digital tool rules and safety practices should be modelled and adhered to to ensure student, safety and at times.
I have included a Prezi link below that shows a great idea for using Prezi to teach history.
I think this kind of lesson would definitely captivate and engage the students
http://prezi.com/f0wj4e8e6hqf/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Glogster
Glogster is an online scrapbooking tool which could be useful in the classroom as a creative way for students to practice their ICT skills and to enhance their visual literacy skills.
According to the WEB 2.0 Teaching tools website
“Creativity, effective communication skills and student collaborationduring group projects are all used when students use Glogster”
online posters can definitely spark students’ creativity while turning potentially dull assignments into individually creative and engaging ones.
An interactive glog is interesting and fun way for students to share their knowledge and can be used across the curriculum. “Glogs can be used for book reports, math, science, social studies, language arts, poetry, and public service announcements – almost anything you can think of”
Students can upload podcasts that they create to their glogs. The site also handles video uploads.
Glogster
Again there are safety concerns that should be addressed to ensure students safety.
Teachers should remind students not to identify themselves with their full first and last names, home address or phone number when posting their work online.
Also with teacher-created student accounts, nicknames and passwords can be assigned for logging in to accounts. The teacher-created accounts also do not require students to provide an email address.
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