Power Point as a presentation tool ET4

PowerPoint is regarded as a presentation tool that is used to support oral presentations. But boasts more functionality then just a presentation tool. It is a platform that supports the embedding of text, linking and interactivity, audio, video and images. So it is really a very easy to use multimedia-authoring tool.

PowerPoint can be used to create a narrated stand-alone presentation. This means that your students are able to record, listen, improve and re-record their narration - a benefit that is not afforded by an oral presentation. Thus, your students have the opportunity to develop their spoken skills rather than being confronted by nervousness when presenting orally.

As a presentation tool, PowerPoint supports embedded audio and video, which has already been proven to be important to this generation of learners, and certainly by the learning theory you have consulted.

PowerPoint can be used to analyze a process, to create interaction "choose your own path" storybooks. It can be used to create interactive quizzes both by yourself and by your students for each other (or other audiences).

But there are other ways to use PowerPoint as a multimedia authoring tools. In the activities this week, you will learn how to manipulate images, how to make PowerPoint’s interactive. Examine the "save as" file options - you can use PowerPoint to create images by simply saving your slides as jpg images. These images can be used for a variety of purposes. So your students can create image layouts (for instance book covers) on slides, which can then be used in many ways.

You can use PowerPoint to make a drag and drop activity for students. It can be used to create concept maps, to brainstorm. It can also be used creatively as a whole class interactivity tool (- see Mouse Mischief. Mouse Mischief allows you to use multiple mice (up to 25 if using Vista or Windows 7) in a single interactive PowerPoint. And it is VERY easy to do. There are even downloadable lessons for you to use.

In short, there is a number of multimedia authoring tools that are complex and require significant learning to use. PowerPoint is so versatile for the creation of learning objects and games.

The best use of PowerPoint is not to have it in your hands, but to ask your learners to use it in inventive, thoughtful, complex and creative ways! Have THEM create presentations, displays, interactive resources, interactive Mouse Mischief presentations.