PowerPoint is an Amazing Tool !!!!

What?
Today we talked about using PowerPoint and using it to create learning activities for our students. It was great. I loved working as a group, and enjoyed brainstorming together to think of a fun PowerPoint activity for our project. Together we researched different interesting ideas. Then we searched for pictures on google and created a collection of pictures. I enjoy using PowerPoint, it is so user friendly, I totally enjoying putting together this project and will definitely use this tool in my future classroom.

So What?
Now we will be creating the rest of our presentation. We haven't quite decided exactly the game or activity we want to incorporate into our PowerPoint, but we are thinking about a type of matching game, which will allow the students to be able to see the various choices and make the decisions to which country they are associated with. We are also helping create activities for Dr. Waters to possibly use in her book about PowerPoint. I have enjoyed working with all of these tools in creating this project. I used PowerPoint, Picasa and google documents to make this presentation. I was great to be able to know my way around and know what to do. One skill I had to learn was printing the screen and pasteing it into my google document. That was a bit tricky but after practicing a few times I knew just what to do. I am so glad I have been able to take this technology course, it has taught me amazing things, that I never thought I could accomplish.

Then What?
In using PowerPoint in my classroom I will be able to better engage my students with pictures and facts and sound. I can bring in pictures and information they feel is interesting and help them become more interested in our topics. I still believe the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words". I feel that by using PowerPoint in our lessons we will be able to make our lessons more meaningful, enjoyable, and bottom line--help our students understand and learn what we are teaching. This tool helps us by giving us the opportunity to use our creativity to produce wonderful educational presentations. I like having the option of making up my own ideas and allowing me the freedom to choose information I feel will suit the students best. I like to be able to edit the information each year according to my students needs and add or eliminate material. Knowing how to use these tools gives me that option. I have loved learning to use all of these tools--They will benefit my students, and help me be a better educator.


Video Reflection
This video showed how much education can positively effect our students lives in and outside of the classroom. It helped us realize that what these students learn and the skills these students gain will be able to help change their futures. It will also give them the knowledge of what they are interested in and help them build the skills to be successful in those areas of interest. I feel it is very important to give children every opportunity to experience life, and to see what is out there for them. By giving them a wide variety of experiences it just helps them develop into a more complex and successful human being.

Picassa

What?


Today we talked about using Picasa on the desk top and off the Internet. Initially I couldn't down load pictures onto Picasa, because my computer wouldn't allow the download. But then I was able to download pictures I searched from google image, drag them to my desktop and then I was able to down load them that way. It is great that is is free and gives you all of the options to create and keep images and pictures so efficiently.


So What?

By learning to use Picasa I will be able to take this knowledge into the classroom, and be able to create interesting projects with my students. I will be able take pictures and store them in a safe protected program, that will allow me to use them whenever I choose. This will help me keep my costs down, and allow me to still be creative and have options.

Then What?

I know this will be a great asset for me to use in the future. I will definitely enjoy using it to create classroom collages, and also taking pictures to record progress by my students. I think it will be fun to allow my students the opportunity to create projects also, and have that experience. This seems like a wonderful tool to use in the classroom but also to use anytime.

Kidspiration 3/8/10

We didn't have to reflect on this video, but I already watched it earlier and blogged on it--so I'm going to leave it here. It was a good thought provoking video.

Video Reflection

I enjoyed seeing the old pictures and seeing where we came from. In watching this video it still reminded me that we became great during those pictures, even from such simple beginning--and I still have hope that we will continue to help lead the world in a positive direction.

This was a very informative video and helps us all realize that we aren't necessarily the "top dog" in the world anymore. With the recent economic downturn it is very evident we have some enormous problems to deal with and change--before we will be able to feel that we are a leading nation. I think this is sad, because I still believe in the American Spirit to explore and invent and aspire to higher ground. American invention has been behind most of the major industry and technology we enjoy today--this is where I believe we have the upper hand-we have to option to imagine and know if we work hard we can do great things. China on the other hand, does have an unlimited workforce, but they live suppressed in a country that still doesn't allow it's citizens true freedom to think something contrary to it's government's stand. China has all of the manpower for it's labor force but without the freedom and ability to think outside the box--I don't think they are any further ahead of the other countries.

I do feel however we need to ensure that our children are being taught the latest information and technology available. So we will be able to ensure our position as a world power, because with the education and the unlimited imagination and the freedom to explore--I feel our future can be limitless. Our children also need to know the importance of hard work, we have become a bit lazy-but with the economic problems facing us, we all have had to step up and work harder-- in order to survive. That's a good thing--it makes us appreciate what we have and it makes us stronger.

I do feel that we need to get our economy and government on track--there is much work to be done in fixing our present issues--but we live in a democracy so we are able to vote, to be involved, and be able to change--that's the beauty of the United States we have the freedom to change.

Digital Powerpoint Nutrition

Digital PowerPoint Nutrition Slide Presentation 03/02/2010

http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ddmvmspk_51ccbtxkhh

What?

Today we worked together as a team and created our digital camera /power point presentation. We decided to use nutrition as our presentation, because we found this under the 2nd grade curriculum guide on UEN. We took pictures last week, and brought them to class on an SD card, and also saved on our Gmail accounts. Dr. Water's was out, so we didn't learn about Picasa, but we worked with it while putting our presentation together.

So What?

After we imported all of the various photos we were able to make a plan toward what type of presentation we wanted to build. We decided on a topic then we added pictures and writing and color contrasts as well as information into the presentation. It went fairly well, the program kept freezing up while we were editing the photos and slides. That was frustrating, but eventually we were able to get it all imported and saved and it looked great!

Then What?

I enjoyed working with power point in combining pictures with my entire team. It was a good experience that will help me be able to make more efficient presentations to my class. I feel it is very important to be able to present information in a way that my students will be able to understand and learn what I am teaching. By learning how to create interesting, concise and effective power points for my class, I will be able to use the latest technology to teach, and give my students the opportunity to learn and understand better. I need to be aware of the benefits and work to make sure my presentations are informative, and can hold their attention, and contribute to my lesson. I think power point is a very useful presentation tool, and I will definitely use it in my classroom.


Video Reflection 3/2/2010

This video showed all of the things we should be aware of, while working with power point and putting together slide presentations. It was funny, but also had many good points to remember in order to help you create more effective presentations. It pointed out various problems some people have had when using power point and listening to power point presentations.

By watching this video I was able to see potential problems, and be able to watch for those, and try not to create them in my work. I thought it was interesting and true at how our power points can actually take away from our presentation if not created in a effective way. It high lighted problems like; putting too much information on the slides, making the slides too confusing with color, facts, and grids, and poor background color choices. It also warned against having too many prompts for the presenter--that was funny. It also encouraged you to be careful to just bullet the main key points, not every point you present. That way your audience will be able to focus on your main idea, and not be thinking of many different ideas and facts. Power point can be a powerful tool in teaching if used correctly.