According to Jamie McKenzie's article, Scoring Power Points, (http://www.fno.org/sept00/powerpoints.html#anchor5.2) powerpointless is a term used to describe how useless powerpoints are when students devote more attention to special effects than devoting time to study the issue in depth.
In the article, she brought up how students will develop mentalsoftness.
"Unless we take care to develop the foundations for rigorous independent thought, we risk raising a generation of young people inclined to accept the sound bites, mind bytes, eye candy and mind candy so typical of the new information landscape. There are, after all, millions being spent on marketing to shape the thinking of consumers and citizens. Misinformation and infotainment are rampant, with simple answers to complex questions appearing like the dandelions of spring - bright, appealing, widespread and persistent."
I cannot recall a time where I have witnessed powerpointlessness. As I recall the presentations I watched as an audience member, I remember appreciating the use of powerpoint. It was different. It was cutting. It caught my eye more than a monotonous, note-card presentation. However, I do recall some presentations where the presenter simply read what was on the slide and did not elaborate further into the material.
According to Jamie McKenzie, we can do a number of things to teach studetns to learn to think and communicat thoughtfully with PowerPoint.
1. Emphasize ideas and logic. (Provide sufficient evidence and supplement slides with text.)
2. Design artfully. (Use powerful images, consider who your audience is, avoid being wordy, etc.)
3. Deliver dramatically. (eye contact, avoid reading slides, speak with conviction)
Powerpoint can be an effective tool to communicate with conviction, thouroughness and creativity. Eighty percent of one's time should be spent researching the topic. The other twenty percent should be spent on the presentation. If done in this manner, it will be effective and portray the important elements about a topic.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
How Technology Improves Higher Order Thinking...
"The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence."
Technology can improve higher order thinking. The use of technology varies up the way students learn. Rather than the rote and mundane forms of learning from the traditional lecture style, the computer is used to stimulate and foster learning in a new and creative way.
Some may view technology as a form of distraction to the students. I used to view it this way as well. However, if utilized in the right way...technology can be a great asset to teachers and help improve students' higher order thinking capacity.
Teachers can have students narrow down their focus and direct them to websites that will help them find information they need. They can comprehend the information they read by re-writing it in their own words. Students will apply the material they read by taking a stance on whether they agree with what they read or not. ThinkTank is a resource that can help students analyze the information. They can use a resource like Backflip to create folders of the Webpages they got their research from. Lastly, they can create online surveys for their peers to evaluate the results.
Technology can be a huge asset in enabling the teachers to teach curriculum and train students in higher order thinking. However, they must be selective and careful in pointing them to the right webpages and online resources.
Technology can improve higher order thinking. The use of technology varies up the way students learn. Rather than the rote and mundane forms of learning from the traditional lecture style, the computer is used to stimulate and foster learning in a new and creative way.
Some may view technology as a form of distraction to the students. I used to view it this way as well. However, if utilized in the right way...technology can be a great asset to teachers and help improve students' higher order thinking capacity.
Teachers can have students narrow down their focus and direct them to websites that will help them find information they need. They can comprehend the information they read by re-writing it in their own words. Students will apply the material they read by taking a stance on whether they agree with what they read or not. ThinkTank is a resource that can help students analyze the information. They can use a resource like Backflip to create folders of the Webpages they got their research from. Lastly, they can create online surveys for their peers to evaluate the results.
Technology can be a huge asset in enabling the teachers to teach curriculum and train students in higher order thinking. However, they must be selective and careful in pointing them to the right webpages and online resources.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Entry 1
About Me:
I love being active. I enjoy the Great Outdoors and marveling at God's creation. I have a large family with five brothers and 2 sisters. My parents were divorced for 6 years, but got remarried! That was definitely one of the biggest miracles I have ever seen in my life! I graduated from Trinity International University in 2007 with a degree in Christian Ministries. My emphasis was Camp Ministry and Outdoor Education. I am now back at Trinity and have begun my first year in the Masters in Teaching Program.
I have worked as a youth leader for 6 years, served as a camp counselor for 8 years and worked as a soccer coach for 5 years. I love how kids are impressionable and love being able to make a positive impact in their lives. I desire to be a middle school history teacher. I believe every person has the ability to be a historymaker. My hope is to teach my students about the trends and characteristics of the leaders and historymakers of the past and encourage them to reflect on their own life and realize the potential they have to impact history like those who have gone before them.
Today's society is all about technology: cell phones, cameras, laptops, internet, Ipod's, etc. I remember the first time using a computer in high school. I created my first email account when I was a sophomore in high school and received my first cell phone my senior year. I took a couple computer classes in high school and college. I feel very comfortable with Microsoft Word. I can handle my own with Excel and Powerpoint; however, there is definitely room for improvement. I use my cell phone and text message regularly. I also love taking pictures and am very comfortable on my digital camera. I am very comfortable with the internet. Although I struggle when it comes to researching and finding professional, peer-reviewed articles.
I don't really have any expectations for this class. I hope to improve and clean up my technology skills and learn as I go along. A red flag popped up in my mind as I watched the videos about technology in school. I fear that computer's are taking away from the important face to face interaction with humans. I do think technology can help in the classroom. However, I feel it is vital for teachers to still interact with their students and do more of the formal teaching on a consistent basis.
I love being active. I enjoy the Great Outdoors and marveling at God's creation. I have a large family with five brothers and 2 sisters. My parents were divorced for 6 years, but got remarried! That was definitely one of the biggest miracles I have ever seen in my life! I graduated from Trinity International University in 2007 with a degree in Christian Ministries. My emphasis was Camp Ministry and Outdoor Education. I am now back at Trinity and have begun my first year in the Masters in Teaching Program.
I have worked as a youth leader for 6 years, served as a camp counselor for 8 years and worked as a soccer coach for 5 years. I love how kids are impressionable and love being able to make a positive impact in their lives. I desire to be a middle school history teacher. I believe every person has the ability to be a historymaker. My hope is to teach my students about the trends and characteristics of the leaders and historymakers of the past and encourage them to reflect on their own life and realize the potential they have to impact history like those who have gone before them.
Today's society is all about technology: cell phones, cameras, laptops, internet, Ipod's, etc. I remember the first time using a computer in high school. I created my first email account when I was a sophomore in high school and received my first cell phone my senior year. I took a couple computer classes in high school and college. I feel very comfortable with Microsoft Word. I can handle my own with Excel and Powerpoint; however, there is definitely room for improvement. I use my cell phone and text message regularly. I also love taking pictures and am very comfortable on my digital camera. I am very comfortable with the internet. Although I struggle when it comes to researching and finding professional, peer-reviewed articles.
I don't really have any expectations for this class. I hope to improve and clean up my technology skills and learn as I go along. A red flag popped up in my mind as I watched the videos about technology in school. I fear that computer's are taking away from the important face to face interaction with humans. I do think technology can help in the classroom. However, I feel it is vital for teachers to still interact with their students and do more of the formal teaching on a consistent basis.
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