Digital Blog Post #H

Chapter 9: Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies

There was many interesting aspects in this chapter. The first interesting part to this chapter was the section called Strategies for Using PowerPoint with Students. It really grabbed my attention because I know a lot about PowerPoint, because I've used it most of my life and wanted to see if I could learn more. PowerPoint is often used as a source to present information. These presentations using include information to inform while being in a section of graphic design. Graphic design is a process that someone using PowerPoint will use in order to arrange the information and images to hold most attention. There are a few different aspects that one has to take into consideration when making a PowerPoint, those are:

• Who is the audience
• What do I want my audience knowing or remembering

If you think about the people viewing the PowerPoint, you can create a more successful PowerPoint. There are also a few different steps that one can take to create the best presentation!

• Use Images to Generate Class Discussion
• I've learned in my creation of PowerPoints, that the more information you have the more boring it is so it is important to add some pictures! The pictures will grab everyone's attention while also provided another source of information for student's to attain the material.  
• Promote Visual Analysis of Discussion Topics
• Visuals will also promote discussion if you lead it to that way. Asking questions when the picture is presented will get minds flowing. I never even thought to do that!
• Display Questions or Comments for Short Writing Assignments
• Giving open-ended questions for the students to respond to during the presentation will also get the mind flowing! It is not something that students really like to do unless they know the subject so, I, personally, would put it at the beginning to see what they know and then put it at the end of the PowerPoint to see how much they were listening. 
• Use the Slides as Attention-Getters
• It is important to make the PowerPoints as attention-getting as possible. In order to keep the student entertained, you must give them a reason (other than boring information) to entertain them. You can add different effects to the slides so that they pay attention including sound to pop for each slide or each fact! 
• Develop Your Own PowerPoint Learning Games
• This is one I've never even thought to do. Teachers can find games that go with their PowerPoint information or create their own! I think it's important to get the students involved so this is a great idea! 

Furthermore, the next section that intrigued me was the section on Webcasts. I didn't know this but the term webcasts is a combination of web and broadcasts. It makes sense thinking about this, but I just thought it was just a word created! This describes different video and audio over the internet. Webcasts can be used in teaching in all sorts of different ways! Older documents could be shown onto video for the students to visualize it. Also, some webcasts even read aloud older books or documents. In addition to that, during a presentation, while you are giving other information you can easily switch it over to a webcast to grab the students attention. I think webcasts would be very suitable in the classroom atmosphere.


Lastly, another point that interested me was the Strategies for Using Cameras with Students. These strategies are for students that have the ability to use cameras on a daily basis.

• Use regularly. 
• It is important for students to have the use of cameras on a day-to-day basis so that students keep the skills they attain in their heads. Cameras don't have to just be used for special events, but just for anything. As students use them more often they will be more confident.
• Record events while they are unfolding.
• In daily or weekly events that happen in the classroom, such as science experiments, students can use the cameras to video tape. If students are able to look over their work, they can use it to find what mistakes they made. Also, it'd be cool to see some things replayed. 
• Generate, edit, and publish student writing.
• You can also use cameras to publish student writing. This would add drama and other effects to make it more interesting! (I never even thought of that!)
• Create a video production area in the classroom.
• It is very simple to make a digital recording studio in the classroom! You can put the camera in the corner of the room on a tripod. And have a little green-screen set up in everything! I remember when I had these in my art class and it was pretty cool!

Test Time!