Week 5 – Digital Technologies 3 & 4

Welcome to Week 5!!

The last week of blogging before assessment 2 is due. I will admit I was packing myself when I first started this course because I knew nothing but I can now say that I have enjoyed learning about all the different tools which can help create effective pedagogy. I feel a tad more confident going into school now after gaining an understanding of a variety of different tools which can be used in the classroom. Let’s get into it!

Creative Ways to Use PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a slide show presentation software which is used a lot by educators, students, trainers, business workers and many other people.1 Surely we have all used PowerPoint at least once before. It can be developed into a very engaging activity within a classroom due to the fact that they can include educational videos, music, animations, images, graphs and charts.² These can then develop into talking books and in class quizzes for example.¹ There are a number of benefits to using a PowerPoint in a classroom:

•  Can summarise a lesson
•  The main points can be emphasized
• Key questions can be displayed
• Adds flair to content
• It’s on nearly all computers
• It’s a fast way to present
• It’s easy to use

Time to create some basic PowerPoints! I made a short Health and Physical education PowerPoint on healthy foods using some simply techniques plus an image powerpoint. I dont think the animation copied over unfortunately.

Heath and physical education from lizzyegerton

Presentation1 from lizzyegerton

Prezi – A Zooming Presentation Tool

So until this week I had never heard of Prezi and now I’m in love! This tool is so awesome! I had so much fun playing with it. I think it’s very engaging for students and teachers. I think students would really enjoy creating a Prezi because you design it the way you want. It’s very rewarding being able to watch what you have created. Here’s a YouTube clip on using Prezi in the classroom.

Prezi is a great tool for the classroom as student are able to create non-linear presentations which allows the viewer to identify relationships, comparisons and identify patterns.³ Using Prezi allows teachers to present engaging presentation to students and also for student to present material to their classmates in a creative way. There has been research performed on a year 8 English and SOSE class which resulted in 58% of students saying they would like Prezi if they had more time to practice.³ 65% of the class also said that they would prefer Prezi over PowerPoint and 78% would recommend it to others.³ To read more about this research click here. Below is my attempt.

My Prezi

Glogster: An Online ‘Scrapbooking’ Tool

This is another tool I had no idea about. A Glogster is known as a social network which is used to create interactive posters or graphical blog.⁴ Glogster has been designed to engage students, inspire curiosity, excite learner and create visible relationships. This technology can expand digital literacy, promote independent problem solving, demonstrate understand of curriculum objectives, enhance formative and summative assessment pieces, and provide differentiated instructional activities.⁴ Glogster is also great because it can be private and safe. Teachers are able to register and generate safe and secure passwords. These accounts are able to be made without the use of email address or contact information and the teacher can access all students projects/activities.⁴ This tool could be very rewarding as a student as they can see the progress in their work. As a teacher I could see myself using this tool for a HPE assessment piece. My attempt is below.

My Glog

Hope everyone enjoyed week 5! Best of luck to everyone for Assessment 2! Smash it!

References:

¹ The University of Sydney- Faculty of Education and Social Work. (2002). Powerpoint.Retrieved 27^th March, 3013, from http://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/learning_teaching/ict/skills/powerpoint.shtml

² EducationWrold. (2013). Creationg Classroom Presentations. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech013.shtml

³ McLean, J. (n.d.) Teaching with Prezi. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/sites/default/files/Final%20Prezi%20article.pdf

⁴Glogster EDU. (2007). Create New Glog. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://edu.glogster.com/