Week 5, Reflection 4

This week I chose to expand upon using Powerpoints in the classroom. The Prezi and the Glogster had some fantastic features but I chose Powerpoint as this is a digital tool I would most definitely be able to use immediately in almost any classroom.  Powerpoints now have the ability to incorporate graphics, videos and music, they are no longer simply an word document for an electronic white board. 

I chose to create a Powerpoint addressing a Key Learning Area for Grade 3 History Students (ACHHK063) – the days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia. My Powerpoint would be used a brief overview of the days to be discussed. The KLAs for this topic make reference to the importance of symbols and emblems so I included these throughout. In an effort to make the presentation interesting, I included links to government websites, videos and music clips. Using slideshare I then uploaded my presentation to the web. View my Powerpoint presentation HERE..

There are many features available in a Powerpoint presentation which I have not used, including simple tools incorporating sounds and motions. These are excellent effects when teachers wish to highlight important areas. I would also suggest that a greater number of videos, including animation would be beneficial to the presentation. 

In almost every subject and in almost every year level, ACARA demands that students become familiar with using a variety of software and Powerpoint presentations are an excellent way to help achieve this. A Powerpoint presentations allows users to bring together information and resources in a variety of formats. This in turn enhances the effectiveness of information and appeals to a number of different learning styles. 

As a teacher I would be able to re-use this document and could also make it available in a flip classroom environment as a research tool for older students. This document would be an introduction only, each of the days featured in my Powerpoint would be developed further and students given the opportunity to create their own Powerpoint presentations for each day (i.e. ANZAC DAY, DAIDOC Day etc). This level of creation introduces Modification and Redefinition into the process.

Substitution	When used as a tool to present a Key Learning Area.
Augmentation	The introduction of video links, web pages, sound grabs and more extend the usual word document/blackboard lesson.
Modification	Students become actively involved in the process when they are given the opportunity to create their own Powerpoint presentations in class.
Redefinition	The curriculum could be planned around use of this technology eg a flip classroom, where students could use the Teacher's Powerpoint presentation as a springboard to their own presentation. Using sites such as Slideshare, students can upload and share their work.  They could also work collaboratively on their presentations via the net.

Powerpoint is easy to navigate and is a format the majority of students today would be familiar with – most homes have Microsoft Office. A variety of learning styles can be introduced – audio, visual, creative and kinaesthetic are all enhanced by the use of multimedia via images, colour and sound. Working collaboratively to develop a Powerpoint is a simple process with students having the ability to work on something at home (or in the classroom), then coming together to compile their “pages” to make one final presentation.

Following is a table highlighting the Plus, Minuses and Interesting features of a Powerpoint Presentation.

PLUS	MINUS	INTERESTING
·         Extremely easy to use. Non-threatening to teachers and students alike! ·         It’s a great tool for visual and auditory learners because of its ability to include images, videos, audio and text. ·         Engages and motivates students.Ability to create interactive presentations. ·         Effective tool to use for any year level or KLA. ·         Students can show more creativity with school projects. They can focus on a learning style that suits them. ·         Accessible to anyone who has Microsoft Office. ·         Is not an online program so is less susceptible to ethics, safety and security threats.	·         Of many digital tools available, Powerpoint is one of the “oldest”. It is seen by many as simply an extension of a word document. ·         Traditionally presentations are not collaborative. ·         Possibly the most overused digital tool in the classroom. Students in the older grades will be looking to use more advanced technology. ·         By itself it does not allow students to create videos, rather it is a portal to these alternate digital tools. ·         Embeddiding some videos and other media can be tricky.	·         Newest version has more interactive features than ever before. These should be used to promote productive pedagogy. ·         Students need to be engaged. When using power Point as a presentation, it is important to introduce discussion and collaborative exercises wherever possible. ·         A Powerpoint presentation can be used as an introduction to a KLA or as a tool for discovery. ·         Using Powerpoint has the same basic ethics, safety and security considerations as all e-learning tools. However, as it’s not an online tool, it’s not susceptible to privacy and security issues (unless uploaded to a site such as Slideshare).

Technology is constantly evolving and teachers have to engage students to enhance the connectivist learning theory. Powerpoints are a very simple and effective way to begin this process. They are a tool that encourages higher order thinking, allowing students to expand on their current knowledge and broaden their learning. For me, the most important feature of the Powerpoint is that it is non-threatening to students and teachers alike, and an excellent way to introduce students to their own classroom based ICT journey.