PowerPoint

PowerPoints are great digital tools and can help engage students with different learning styles. When I began school, projectors were used and the only time we would have a chance to even consider creating a PowerPoint was in our one hour lesson in the school’s only computer lab (high school students had preference over the primary students). Although I personally had little chance as a primary school student to study the uses of PowerPoint, students now are using PowerPoints for many different subjects: from a story for English to a History presentation. I wonder if today’s students know more about PowerPoints than most learning managers.

When learning managers are creating and using PowerPoints to ensure a greater success rate within the students learning. Although PowerPoints have many positives, there is a negative that most people over look. Maryellen Weimer (2012) believes ‘there’s the potential of PowerPoint to oversimplify the material’. So, the concern is: is there enough learning material provided on a PowerPoint, but then we must consider some learning managers will overuse by copying and pasting information. 

Here is a link to a PowerPoint to show some of the features available (note these are not all that are possible).

Overall the PowerPoint is a useful digital tool. It is simple to use and create and with many websites to teach you how to exactly use a PowerPoint for the most effective lesson. Learning managers will be able to find the best way for their students to learn from the PowerPoint.

Prezi

Below is a Prezi explaining Prezis!

Glogster

Before this week, I had only ever heard about Glogster. However, after exploring through Glogster, the possibilities seem endless. By signing up as an educator, we have access to many templates for what we need. From history to assignments to technology; subjects are covered and can be redesigned to suit for the classroom it will be implemented in. 

The Glogster template I chose was a timeline. I simply created my life timeline to show just one use of this digital tool. 

Glogster is effective for not just teaching but for students to create their own Glogster. The digital tool is difficult to navigate when trying to add an image or video. However, after learning how to it became slightly easier. Through research I found I am not the only one who had trouble navigating; a review stated (commonsensemeida, 2014) ‘some might find the editing modules a little tricky since there’s no rollover text that explains the icons’. Overall, I did enjoy Glogster quite a lot; even if it was a little painful at times. I can see many, many possibilities with using Glogster!

ICT Tools

Below are several ICT tools learning managers will find very useful to use in a classroom and ‘behind the scenes’. They include:

·         Interactive Learning Objects

·         Adobe Flash

·         Google Earth

·         Google Maps

·         Google Docx

·         Online concept mapping

·         Online timelines

·         Zooburst

·         Museumbox

Google Earth

Google Earth has classroom resources, the ability to showcase student work and has specific projects for each subject. This digital tool is important for learning managers who need extra help on a topic or wants to upload student work.

Zooburst

Zooburst creates 3D pop-up books. Books can be created, written, have audio added and pictures inserted. Although it costs extra for specific features, it is a great digital tool to use in a classroom.

Overall, all the digital tools above are useful within a classroom (each with its own speciality for the students use). All can be aligned with the SAMR model and this can also help with the implementation within a classroom. This week’s tasks have been familiar yet unknown, with new ideas, information and possibilities.

References

BBC Active. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/UsingPreziInEducation.aspx.

Commonsensemeida. (2014). Glogster. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/glogster.

Prezi. (2014). Retrieved from http://prezi.com/prezi-for-education/.

Weimer, M. (2012). Does powerpoint help or hinder learning?. Retrieved from http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/does-powerpoint-help-or-hinder-learning/.