PowerPoint - In the Classroom

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presenation program developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office Suite, and runs on Microsoft Windows operating system.

The program allows the user to create their own PowerPoint slide show based on a topic of their choice. The program has many design functions and tools, you can choose a background and layout, add text, pictures, animation, sounds etc. Once you have the content of your slides you can choose special effects for example, you can choose how your text appears on the slide such as flying in and also add a sound as it appears. It is operated by the mouse or space bar far which controls the slide show.

I have developed an example slide show about Elephants, it is quite basic but gives you an idea of what I am trying to explain and allows you to see how it works for yourself. To view the PowerPoint please click this link Elephant PowerPoint which will take you to my wiki where the slide show is attached.

PowerPoint is a wonderful tool for learning, it can add a new dimension to learning allowing teachers to explain concepts and accommodate different learning styles. Used properly PowerPoint can be a powerful tool for teaching in the classroom but used inappropriately, PowerPoint could confuse students and make learning difficult.

It can save a lot of time for teachers who would have used a blackboard or overhead projector instead. The program is quite easy to use and encourages those who would not normally use a visual aid or give a presentation to make a presentation.

The benefit of PowerPoint is always being discussed, its use in the classroom has influenced investigations of PowerPoint’s effects on student performance in comparison to overhead projectors, traditional lectures, and online lectures. It is a useful introductory tool for lecturers/classes but at this stage there are no results to prove or disprove that PowerPoint is more effective for learner as opposed to traditional presentation methods. I think that used correctly it can make learning more interesting to students, using a presentation may encourage them to want to learn about specific topics instead of using pen to paper or chalk to blackboard.

A slide show developed appropriately with the correct content and design, using PowerPoint in the classroom can be another useful tool for presenting information to students. It introduces the program to students who may not know about it or how to use it, it provides another form of presenting information to students other than using a blackboard, introduces and teaches learners about technology, it accommodates all learners’ needs and develops language and spelling skills. It can also be fun to watch and make, the program not only motivates students but can motivate educators as well. Some other advantages of using PowerPoint in the classroom is that if a student is away the teacher is able to print out the slide show or make a copy and provide it to the student. Also allows you to reflect on your lesson and make any additions or changes.

Because students today are so technologically advanced presentations developed with the use of videos, music and pictures attains student’s attention and increases student involvement.

Presentations made poorly have been given the term PowerPoint hell. If used continuously PowerPoint can bore students and diminish its effectiveness. A negative for educators is that a successful presentation can take several hours to create, teachers in a school environment do not always have this much time on their hands.

Teachers do not need a book on how to use PowerPoint the program comes with a complete tutorial. There are also a number of websites that provide extensive information, during my research I found this website  to be useful it has a list of positive and negatives. Another website I found useful was  targeted to teachers on how to use PowerPoint and its use in the classroom. I also found a website that allows you to downlaod free background layouts and a site called slide share this is a free website that allows the user to create and share presentations.

Reference:

Wikipedia.(2010). Power Point. Retrieved November 26, 2010, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint

teAchnology.(2010). Whats all the hype?. Retrieved November 18, 2010, from
http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/powerpoint/

eHow. (2010). What are the benefits of using Power Point and slide presentations in the classroon. Retrieved November 18, 2010, from

 

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008796_using-powerpoint-slide-presentations-classroom.html