My google, uhhh I mean my computer has often stood more as a tool than an interactive opportunity for learning. That isn't to say that I'm Computer illiterate, actually quite far from it. I think it would be fair to say that today's tutorial confirmed that I can indeed make effective Power Point slides, which I might add is a blessed relief considering the fact that I have been using slides to teach year 9 SOSE.
Narcoleptic convention...... I think not!
Apart from confirming my ability to create dot points and action buttons, a question did occur to me while I sat in class single digit typing "Last Lesson". How do Power Point Presentations become magical cures for Insomnia? Well I think there are a number of ideas that come to mind:
1. Too many words and such!
2. Clashing Colours.
These of course are the obvious ones I heard in class but upon thinking a little bit more on the topic, (while trolling Conservative News Paper Sites) I came to the conclusion that the beauty of an effective Power Point Presentation, like any kind of delivery of information lies in its Simplicity. Now that's not to say that I subscribe to the "Keep it Simple, Keep it Stupid" principle for giving presentations (although I do when trolling the Herald Sun forums, ouch.... too easy) but a presentation that is accessible by all students, which is clear and concise is going to be more effective than an overloaded and overstimulating PP. Let's be honest, who wants to stare at this for 20-30 minutes?
So pretty and colourful, your students won't know what hit them!
Or This?
Even the teacher can be forgiven for losing track.
4 Quick Tips:
1. Your Background does not have to be supercool-blow your student's minds awesome. Try to stick to single colours, so you don't have to stuff around with the font colour as well.
2. Short, Sharp and Concise. No one likes a show-off, and it allows more time for fun activities.
3. This one seems obvious but you should mention your sources after each image used.
4. Try to make it interactive or even Smart Board friendly (it's ok to have students move around the classroom).
I will leave you with a nice quote that often describes my frustrations with computers.
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy. ~Joseph Campbell
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