Powerpoint

Powerpoint is the only tool so far in this course that I have had prior experience using. It is a very easy tool to use however I think people need to be aware of how to use it in the right way to engage students. For instance many powerpoints I sit through have coloured backgrounds and writing which usually do not engage me. After looking into powerpoint further there is so much more to it which can be used in the classroom. Powerpoint does not just have to be a presentation that teachers have created for students to sit through. The Online technology learning centre (2005) sugguested other ways powerpoint can be used.

• Excursion slide show: This allows students to review and apply the knowledge they learnt on the excusrion and put it into their own powerpoint rather than writing about it.
• Autobiographical stories: Students can create their own autobiographical story and scan their own photos on too. These could be used and then shown to an audience on a parent night.
• Poetry redings: Students can create slides displaying their personal poetry with a voice recording.
• Interactive book report: Students can create a powerpoint based on the books that they have read and then share with the class.

Obviously there are different ways to use powerpoint in the classroom rather than having students always sit through a presentation that there teacher has created. Animated effects, slide and bullet transtions with sounds, graphics and cartoons can also be used with powerpoint. Variety is the key to keeping the attention of students. Overall there is much more to powerpoint than people realise and can be very effective in classroom learning when used in the right way.