Week 5 - Reflection on Powerpoint

Teachers, or educators, in the 21^st century classroom, as mention in the reading Audience and Purpose need to ensure that, when technology is used in the classroom, and thus the presentation tools, the purpose and audience is kept very close at hand. The afore mention reading pushes the necessity, when using/creating a digital tool, that there is a focus on what you expect the audience to do/complete. (Nature Education, 2014)

When considering what you want the audience to complete, prior knowledge is a must know. For example in a classroom, you could not simply launch into a PowerPoint on Marxism in society if the students had no prior knowledge, no matter how well made the presentation was. Before launching into an analytical lesson, teachers must provide a "simpler vocabulary (or definitions), as they have not mastered the technical terms" (Nature Education, 2014). So as to ensure all of the audience has an understanding and no-one is excluded. Therefore, teachers must also ensure the presentation tool they use in both the base lesson and the analytical lesson does not exclude any students, those of both primary and secondary reading skills. (Nature Education, 2014) In the long run, the use of PowerPoint as a learning tool, both initial and revision, is extremely helpful and ensures that no-one is left behind and everyone in the audience can gain an understanding.

This week were introduced to the concept of presenting learning utilising ICT, through means such as PowerPoint, Prezi and Glogster. Whilst each of the programs presented their own strengths, limitations and effectiveness, above all I found plain old Microsoft PowerPoint to be the most effective at presenting learning.

The presentation of learning in this day and age is incredibly important – if the student does not engage with the presentation, then they will not learn anything as they will disconnect from the lesson. And all hope is lost! But if used correctly, PowerPoint will save the day!

Glogster, although an intriguing and fun program to use, requires a large purchase price for a program so small. Price is also an issue with Prezi, with the full version costing upwards of 40 American dollars. A few years ago, back when I was on the other side of the desk, the free version of Prezi was a force to be reckoned with, however when we examined it this week, I was astonished to see that most of the fantastic features that had once allowed it to reign supreme had been removed and the features that had been left – leaving Prezi now to seconded to PowerPoint.

PowerPoint may seem like one of the least likely programs to be the most invigorating way to present learning using ICT, but after some investigation and mucking around with the software, even I was pleasantly surprised at the recent additions to PowerPoint as part of Microsoft Office 2013.

I have uploaded an example PowerPoint to my Wiki – the link here.

PowerPoint has been used in the classroom for generations of students, even I remember my teachers using trusty PowerPoint to attempt to engage us in learning, albeit not always successfully. However, with the recent updates, presenting learning through PowerPoint has become more impressive than ever, even if it is more time consuming.

Since the new update, PowerPoint now includes many fantastic features that prove to further present learning with ICT which is as engaging as it can be. PowerPoint in an engaging and entertaining way to present learning with features or animations that allow the changing or flashing of colour in a bunch of words on a click to illuminate important parts of a paragraph or parts of a reading. The ability to reveal or hide an image or text, once again with a click, switching between slides with a click or the use of the arrow keys. These features are used primarily during the actual presentation of the PowerPoint, there are many features or strengths or PowerPoint that are utilised outside of the presentation but used within it.
Much like a blog, PowerPoint can have photos and videos (both ones on the computer themselves or off YouTube) embedded on it for easy viewing and unlike blogs, audio can also be embedded on a PowerPoint to play at a specific time or once a specific slide has been used. This is something that cannot occur on a usual blog such as Blogger – but it can occur on a blog site such as Tumblr (although this site is probably not suitable for school use).
All of these features help to present learning in a fun and engaging way as well as meeting the expectations of the Australian ICT Curriculum. In which students that are currently in Grade 10, this is, a level 6 standard, should be able to “Locate, generate and access data and information use advanced search tools and techniques or simulations and digital models to locate or generate precise data and information that supports the development of new understandings. Select and evaluate data and information develop and use criteria systematically to evaluate the quality, suitability and credibility of located data or information and sources.” (Australiancurriculum.edu.au, 2015) And, "generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks: Design, modify and manage complex digital solutions or multimodal creative outputs or data transformations for a range of audiences and purposes." (Australiancurriculum.edu.au, 2015) If the PowerPoint is correctly created, then students will have no trouble being able identify and access the data and information that they require to both complete assessment and develop new understandings. The second part of the ICT curriculum mentioned is accessed properly when students actually create PowerPoints, which I will mention shortly.

The only real downfall I can gather with PowerPoint is that it is extremely time consuming if you wish to add features that will benefit the presentation of learning as mentioned above. However, once saved and completed, that presentation can be used for years to come. Another limitation is that PowerPoint can only be used if the laptop or computer being used has Microsoft Office or at least PowerPoint installed, also different versions of PowerPoint don’t like to interact together, another issue.

The sharing of PowerPoint presentations is quite simple, with the simplest method being through a USB or similar device. PowerPoints can also be shared on a common drive or home drive with students or staff members. Because they are so easily sharable, PowerPoints are ideal for use in a school setting as everyone within the school network can have access to it.

However, because of the nature of PowerPoints, anyone can edit the slides/transitions and save it back to the drive or USB as if nothing has occurred and the only hint you receive would be during the actual presentation. Thus, if someone has a copy of it, they can make edits to it and save it back, with nobody none the wiser. This along with the time consuming nature of PowerPoint is the only real downfall of it, however, like most ICT if the power went out or the network died, then nothing would be able to occur, unless – like you always should, the slides had been printed out and thus the lesson could be taught using mechanical pedagogies.

The use of PowerPoint does not just stop at teachers and presenting learning, in most classes. For example: in History it would be able to be used as exam revision with the possible programing of slides to slowly reveal parts of the answer on a click or timer. Or in an English class with parts of the play or novel appearing on the screen and once again on a click, important sections or paragraphs could be highlighted for students to acknowledge and reflect upon. The possibilities are endless! PowerPoint can also be utilised by all students in the secondary setting as either part of an assessment or a way to present learning that has occurred and demonstrate it to the class.
And whilst this sort of interaction with PowerPoint is occurring, students would be making a clear attack on the SAMR model. Much like with videos, students would be required to create and utilise sounds, images, text and videos in such a way to aid their learning and the learning of the peers. This type of learning and interaction is considered very high on the SAMR model.
PowerPoints used by teachers to demonstrate learning itself is still active on the SAMR model – just a lower level – that of Substitution and Augmentation. However with a bit of tweaking, the SAMR of the PowerPoint used in the classroom could be increased.

There are many positive benefits and opportunities to use PowerPoints in the classroom to present learning to students in an engaging and interesting light. Because of the easy access, students can engage with the PowerPoints during class as well as at a later date. All in all, PowerPoints are an incredible tool that is constantly increasing with versatility and use within the classroom, as well as allowing teachers to reach the Australian ICT curriculum.

References:

Australiancurriculum.edu.au, (2015). The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability continuum. Retrieved 9 April 2015, from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Mobile/Curriculum/Continuum/115c6749-9f4a-425f-8860-9fdd00cccf66

Nature.com, (2014). Audience and Purpose | Learn Science at Scitable. Retrieved 10 April 2015, from http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/audience-and-purpose-13952663