Chapter 9 Creating and Sharing Information with Multimedia Technologies

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

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

• Multimedia technologies offer ways for teachers to incorporate dynamic information presentation experiences into classroom teaching and learning. 
• PowerPoint, one of the most widely used computer applications in the world , is a way for teachers and students to present information in visually engaging ways.
• The use of PowerPoint has been criticize for oversimplifying complex material and creating uninteresting presentations. 
• Using PowerPoint effectively requires teachers to pay attention to two information presentation design principles, the first being to stress active participation rather than passive viewing by students, and the second to inquire who the audience is and what the audience should leave knowing or remembering. 

Photo Credit to Paul Watson on Flickr

PowerPoint presentations are becoming the easiest way to teach valuable information the students will remember. It is a short easy way to get the information across to not only students, but an audience without losing their focus. There are millions of copies of PowerPoint in circulation, and the tools are widely used in schools (Maloy, 2010, p. 245). It is hard to keep students focus with a lengthy set of information because they are going to lose interest to things that drag on. When teachers create a PowerPoint they can add videos, music, colors, themes, designs, ect, to keep the information visual appealing to students. Also teachers should make sure the PowerPoint has information presentation design. Which means the arrangement of written and pictorial information so that its intended audiences can easily and clearly understand it (Maloy, 2010, p. 247). Teachers should realize that they need to create fun lesson plans for students because when a student’s engages in what they are learning they will remember it. Most schools are starting to get active boards in the classroom, and that is what most PowerPoint presentation would be shown on. As stated in chapter one active boards are the new way to present information from a teachers computer to the entire class. 

Tech Tools 9.1: National Teacher Training Institute 

If teachers are having trouble creating media rich lesson plans I would recommend that they use the website above. This website is a video resource for teachers featuring lesson plans written by teachers (Maloy, 2010, p. 252). The website is very easy to navigate and is straight to the point. Once you are on the website there will be a tab that says "Lesson Plan Database", click on it. Then it will give you different school subjects to pick from. Whichever subject you pick there will be many databases to choose from that can help create video rich lesson plans. We have to keep the students interested and focused on learning, so I highly recommend looking through this page for lesson plan ideas.  

Summary & Connection: 

The chapter this week has been a reinforcement of the PowerPoint presentation that I have recently have done. Always make sure that when creating PowerPoint that they are short and simple. Once you lose the students attention it will be difficult for them to actually retain what is being taught. Remember students will pay attention to anything that is visual appealing to them. Classroom should start to have multimedia learning. Multimedia learning happens when teachers combine spoken words with visuals or written text with audio or utilize simulations and models (Maloy, 2010, p. 243). It is proven that students learn better with a multimedia classroom, than if they did not have any technology in the class. Videos are another great way to get information to students because a teacher can pause and rewind when someone does not understand, or needs the information. Teachers could also make or find a video presentation that comes with questions after every section. Then the teacher can pause the video and have the students answer the questions, than play it so they find out the answers. Or the teacher can just have the students answer questions and turn them in for a grade to ensure they were paying attention. There is also a technology called a podcast. With podcast teachers make new opportunities to learn academic material outside the classroom by hearing new opportunities to learn academic material outside the classroom by hearing or viewing lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and summaries (Maloy, 2010, p.272). 

This video is a short example of how to create a Podcast.

This video is a short video on how to create a PowerPoint. 

Reference: 

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

Chapter 8 Communication and Networking with Websites, Blog, Wikis, and More

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question: How can teachers use a website or blog to improve teaching and learning?

• Websites and blogs are emerging as one of the most important ways for teachers to communicate with students, families, and colleagues. 
• There are three basic types of education-related blogs: 
1. "Official face" blogs
2. single purpose blogs
3. active learning blogs 
• Teachers have three options for creating their own website or blog:
1. A do it yourself option
2. A commercially available option
3. An open source option 

Photo Credit to ajSEO on Flickr

It is becoming a rare thing that a teacher is not using some sort of technology in their classroom. Teachers are generally building one of two kinds of sites teacher/ classroom websites, and blogs (Maloy, 2010, p. 217). When teachers build websites they are generally using them to highlight who they are and what they have accomplished. It may also show information about your classes, and work students have done (Maloy, 2010, p. 217).  Teachers may put additional work on their websites so that students can use it for more practice. I had a teacher in high school that would put extra credit and fun educational games on the website for students. The educational games that were on her website always refereed back to the material being taught. Also a website could give the students a heads up of the material and lessons that would be taught throughout the year. A teacher’s blog is like their personal web journal that the public can read. Blogs are not only useful for student interaction, but also for fellow educators. Students can comment on posted blogs by teachers who have asked them to answer a question. Students can also read other students comments (Risinger, 2006, April, p.130). It does not matter which sources a teacher end up using because their focus is integrating technology.

Teach tools 8.1: Blogger

Creating a blog is very easy to do, as long as the website is easy to navigate. Blogger is one of my favorite websites to use to create a blog. I have used it a numerous of times in high school for my digital design class. After each project that we did, we had to create a blog to express what we did, and how we felt about it. At first I thought that it was going to be a drag to do this every week. As I became comfortable with the website I learned that it is a great way to express yourself. When someone is creating a blog they can choose between different background styles, font, color text, color highlighting, insert links/ videos, and also add pictures. The creativity of making your own blog is endless. You could write a blog to share with the world, or keep it as your own private journal. After you publish your blog you always have the option to change it to private or public. I would recommend using blogger because it has many features, and is easy to use.          

Summary & Connection: 

The chapter this week has taught me about websites, blogs, email, online discussions, and wikis. I cannot stress enough how important it is to use technology with students. I believe when teachers us different kinds of modern technology they will have a higher success rate in their class. When teachers incorporate something that the students will enjoy, students will pay more attention to their assignments. According to the text book transforming learning with new technology I have come up with a description of everything that I have learned. Websites are Internet sites developed by teachers to communicate information about themselves and their class to students, family members, school, and educational personnel. Blogs are publicly assailable online journals written by individuals; such as, teachers and for others; such as, students, families, and other educators to read and comment on. Emails/ instant messaging are forms of online communication that features short electronic exchanges between individuals, such as between teachers, students, family members, administrative, and educational personnel. Online discussions are electronic forums where teachers and students discuss educational topics. Online discussions are a common component of many teachers’ websites and blogs. Lastly wikis come from the Hawaiian word meaning "quick" or "rapidly", and are websites that teachers and students create together by reading and revising each other's ideas and comments. (Maloy, 2010, p. 208)

I believe this video is a good example of how to create a wiki page. 

This video is like a basic tutorial for blogger. 

References: 

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

Chapter 7 Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools

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Focus Question: How can teachers use computer games and simulations as learning resources? 

• Students today play computer, video, Web-based games regularly for entertainment; boys are heavier users of video games rather than girls  a fact that contrast with fewer gender differences in most other areas of technology use and online activities. 
• The educational impact of gaming experiences remains intensely debated-- some educators and psychologist see little value in games or gaming while other researchers envision exciting possibilities for learning when students use the intellectual skills needed in effective game playing for educational purpose. 
• Digital games for learning represent a new category of educational themed games that emphasize active learning, sustained concentration and focus, and innovative problem solving. 
• Strategies for effectively using games in the classroom include minimizing those that teach isolated skills, carefully choosing games that are solely based on winning or losing points, discussing game content with students, and actually playing games with your students. 

Photo Credit to Harryjacob2911 from Flickr. 

In today's world more than half of the Unites States families have a computer, I pad, or smartphone in their house hold. It would be the logical thing to do to incorporate these new technologies that are being created into teaching. Students should understand that they can use these items as a form of engaging themselves in learning, and that it can be fun. There is a website that helps students create their own educational game from what they have learned in the class called scratch. I talk about it more in my tech tools 7.1. When using educational games in the classroom it gives the students a chance to explore new learning strategies that the teacher has. When teachers use games the students will be more involved, and are most likely to learn what is being taught. The photograph above is an example of a learning game for a student who is in elementary school. This online game has the student subtract certain numbers, and see what answers they get. When the student is correct they can fine the number that matches theirs with a certain color on the bottom. Once they click on the number and color it will automatically color the picture with the certain color. This game is fun for students because they are coloring the picture, and they cannot wait to see what the final picture will look like. The students are engaged in the activity and want to do well to see how their picture will turn out. If a game is educational I say use it as a tool in the class for information reinforcement. 

Tech Tools 7.1: Scratch 

There were only three teach tools thing week that I could choose from, so I chose that one that went along with the focus question. The website that I looked up is called Scratch. This website is a beneficial website that teachers and students could use. The students can go to the website and create their own educational game, animated story, and interactive art (Maloy, 2010, p. 185). It is free to sign up for this website, as long as the student or teacher has a valid email account. Once an account is set up, they can see project that other people have made. Also the website is very easy to navigate. In the home page there is a button that says "Get Started" and when clicked on it gives step by step instructions on how to get started. I feel that anyone would be able to navigate this website because it is self-explanatory. It is a different experience when the students get to create their own work to teach themselves. Here students follow their own initiatives, learning from those activities with feedback, and support from the teacher (Maloy, 2010, p.185)

Summary & Connection: 

The chapter this week has been about how teachers could use computer games as a way to teach. Some people might think that it has no educational value for students to play games, but I believe they are wrong. When teachers teach they have to keep in mind that their material has to be appealing to the students. If a class is boring it is likely that the students would not want to pay any attention. On the other hand when a teacher makes the lesson plans appealing to the students, they are more likely to pay attention to what is being taught. Also when you give the students an opportunity for them to create their own game based on what they know, it gives them a sense of freedom to express themselves. Students will be confident in their knowledge when the teacher gives them positive feedback. A teacher can determine what software to use in their class by evaluating the effectiveness of it. If a software program is not going to benefit the students, then there is no point in using it. Educational software can be evaluated in terms of how it promotes higher order thinking where students engage in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of what they are learning (Maloy, 2010, p. 203). The school board usually makes the decision if certain software would be valuable to a large amount of students.  They are the ones who usually buy software in bulk for the different schools in the county.  If a teacher is going to use free software for students, they have to make sure that it will be flexible for all students.  A new term that I learned this week is Intelligent Tutoring System; Are powerful new software programs that promote inquiry learning by students through computer responses to student actions (Maloy, 2010, p. 197). Just as a human tutor would help out a student in any subject that they need help, so would this new online tutor. It is a new way to get online help at all times. The online tutor would provide the extra practice the student needs to become better academic learners, and test takers (Maloy, 2010, p. 197). 

Technology in Education

Example of Educational Online Game

References:

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