Week 5 Reflection Power Point.

This week as I reflect on group 3 tools,I have to admit I have struggled. Assignments are due that I am in control of, and as a result the rest of my life is rather out of control. I am finding this course very time consuming! While I have come so far in such a short time, it is at a huge time cost, and a few tears!!! So what you dear bloggers can whip up in a short time, takes me hours and hours. As a result my reflection this week is on Power Point. Oh no- you groan!! Keep in mind I am a mature aged student who is waving not drowning as I complete another week of e Learning. I am really happy with power points. I have also explored glogster and prezi and they will be something that I will use in the classroom. As is typical of the week, I have had, my power point is not on this blog but in Wednesday 27th March. And for some reason that I cant explain, the hyperlinking I so painstakingly installed, does not work now!



So how does powerpoint help the learner?
Power point is a fabulous multimodal resource. It is a presentation tool that is capable of interactivity, text, audio,images, formatting, text embedding and linking. This allows for learning and creating through endless possibilities. It is suitable for use in prep(how cool was Mouse Mischief!)as a class tool, and upwards.

Students can create an informative presentation with prerecorded narration; how great is that for developing speaking skills, on a topic they have explored. The presentation is totally their own decisions in terms of what size font to use, what colors, templates, animations for words, sounds and pictures. A unique sample of work created by and for the student. This helps support Power point as a learning tool and its link to the learning theory of connectivism.
Creating your own presentation using multimodal technology identifies with the networked nature of learning with computers. Preps could create a multimodal power point with assistance; what a great learning concept to show on Grandparents day. Their own story of "Why I love my Grandparents".

I found Siemens theory interesting as I was reflecting. He questions "How learning is best supported" in the classroom. Using technologies such as powerpoint does support learning in a valid way that is appropriate to today's learners.
Also thinking in terms of cognitivists' theory,that is learning in terms of mental processing. Your sensory and working memory is filtering and organizing through information that will be put into your work as you create an interactive powerpoint.
Talking about productive pedagogies, facilitating deep knowledge through higher order thinking. Challenging students to problem solve, come to new understandings and reach their full potential while exploring audio, interactivity and linking for example. This happens as students explore and create!


A PMI on power points:

Plus-
# students get to decide information content
# formatting is self styled
# relatively easy to navigate
# can be used to support oral presentations
# supports embedded text, linking and interactivity, audio, video and images.

Minus-
# power points can get a bad wrap but they don't have to be bad
# everyone has suffered 'death by powerpoint' at some stage.
# technology can fail at times

Interesting-
# Shulman (1986) states 'comprehension or understanding subject matter and transformation of content knowledge into forms that are adaptive to students abilities', are part of his model of pedagogical reasoning. As a learning manager I can help support Shulmans theory through the use of technology in the classroom.
#DeBonos six thinking hats and powerpoint in a mash up. What do you get??? Well white and blue of course! But why? you ask. Its simple dear bloggers. A white hat calls for information known or needed to create something like a powerpoint. A Blue hat is used to manage the thinking process. A skill that is needed by learners when creating with technology.


I'm off to eat some chocolate now!
Happy Easter.

Kathryn.