Education student-Todd
Just another Edublogs.org weblog
This past week, I finished off my Powerpoint presentation. I found it most difficult to send my presentation onto edublogs for some reason, but it eventually got there!
I found it fun finishing off this task,as I was more familiar with it.
We were introduced to Photo Story 3. Unlike Powerpoint, I am unfamiliar with this program but can see it’s value. I think this program would be alot easier to use, as opposed to the other camera programs that are given to us. When I begin my work, I will evaluate it’s usefulness- watch this space.
As I am approaching the end of semester, I have come to the realisation on how much technology has changed since I was at Primary school. i think Powerpoint was inplemented in yr 5 and 6, but everything else was not available or familiar. I had only become aware of these programs through this course, and can see the value each holds. I will definately carry these programs into my teaching career. I look forward to finishing off my photo story in the next lesson.
This week, I finalised my Inspiration task, and progressed onto the next portfolio Item- A Powerpoint presentation. This task required me to use my information I did on my Inspiration task, and transform it onto a Powerpoint Presentation. I approached the task by ooking at what was required of me, and then applied it to the slides.
I began typing the headings, and then using the information I typed in the text boxes, I used that as my sub-headings. I felt for this presentation that using sounds was not necessary, as it doesn’t apply to the topic of Interactive Whiteboards and would not be appropriate to an adult group.
I feel that when designing slides, that the backgrounds need to be variated, to create interest, and maintain the attention of the intended audience. This work will be finished in the following week.
This program is vital for a variety of situations, and would suit a variety of careers. The program assists the Education department in terms of schools, as a teacher can present the information to the students, and meet their needs. This can be distinguished through introducing a new topic to students, teaching students a unit of work, without verbally teaching students, allowing students to self teach themselves with the program, and develop technological skills with the program, as well as basically introduce students to the program, and teach them the variety of mediums available with Microsoft Powerpoint for those unfamiliar with it.
On a Uni context, Powerpoint is valuable as it can allow a student to present information to the class, as well as the tutor. A lecturer uses powerpoint to communicate information to the students, which is vital to a subject, which is part of their course.
From a differentiation point of view, Powerpoint can cater for most children’t needs. It would be most suitable to a visual learner as they are visually seeing a product, as opposed to writing it down. An auditory learner is appllying the visual aspect with the auditoy factor from the presenter, the kinaesthetic learner is using the information given to them, and writing it down- being effective.
Today in ICT, we finished off our Inspiration Task. I discovered more about the program today, including choosing a background to suit the images, which represent the information that needs to be communicated. I also had discovered in the marking criteria that I had to find an article to go with the Inspiration task. It was lucky for me that I found a Case study embedded in the article as it was not only informative, but also gave me a situation which can be related to the subject.
I feel with this program, that it can be useful to many individuals in a variety of fields. People who are in a bussiness corp. would use this information in order to better promote their product, or to expand on a company, an advertising agency would use Inspiration to look at how the designed product can influence the mind of an individual, a teaacher would use the program to encourage students to explore a given topic, and present it, using the program.
As a teacher, I can value the importance of Inspiration in terms of using it with students. It enables them to display information not only in a digital, but also neat manner. Some of the novelties of Inspiration include the little drag down function- which can be a text box filled with information to share. This gadget was something I thought was quite funky as it was something I had never seen before, and enhanced my presentation as it didn’t appear clattered with information- quite “Inspiring”! When out in the teaching workforce, I will implement this program as part of my curricular activities.
This week, we were introduced to the program, Inspiration. I had never heard of the program before, but when it was presented to me, I was suprised on the usefulness of the program, and felt at ease with this feeling. I thought the program at first seemed a little pointless, as it is very easy to draw a mind map. However, as I relfected on my history with mind maps, I came to the conclusion that alternatives such as Inspiration is good, as it can make the maps condensed with the information, and give a more attractive and neat look. This was made obvious by the demonstration given. I found this program to be flexible with its ease of making the figure/bubble, and linking it to a further one. I also enjoyed looking for a caption to link it to the key information that needs to be displayed. I found Inspiration to be more of a rememberance tool as well. To expand on this, Inspiration enabled me to expand on knowledge, rather than what I had written. This prevented me from repeating previous information.
The topic I had chosen for this project was the Interactive Whiteboards. I have used the Whiteboard before, so it was very easy to apply the knowledge I have in this tool, to the information which needed to be displayed within the Inspiration program. i followed through with this task, and also explored various sources, in order to expand on that knowledge. I found a case study, which can be found at the bottom of my web.
In terms of the Inspiration program, I can see how it can be utilised within the classroom environment. Inspiration can allow students to apply various tasks to the computer. They can relate information by an image, and use various avenues to ensure their information is impacting and made effective, through the various mediums available in both technology and the program.
For a student, Inspiration can be used at University to explain information to various students, or be used in a presentation, for a particular subject. I look forward to finishing off this task
ict-interactive-whiteboards.ppt
Here is my Portfolio item 7. Please find it attched
This is my Portfolio item for Weeks 10 and 11. This entry includes the Inspiration Task, which should be attached.
This week, we had finished the Excel Portfolio Item. I found the concept of the Grade system difficult, and had to ask for assistance. I think this was mainly due to the fact that I was at the back of the room, meaning that it took me a while to follow through with the sums, in order to complete the portfolio item.
After the assistance, I can now present the item, and hand it in as an assessment. Please find it attched.
As an evaluation of this task, I found Microsoft a valuable tool in the Education world. I believe that Excel can be used in a variety of ways, in terms of displaying results of students marks, forming a graph on results or with data gathered by students- within the classroom environment, the program would also allow students to use another tool other than pencils, and rulers to display mathematical information, it would integrate technology within the classroom, as well as teach skills to the teacher.
This resource can also be of assistance while at uni as it can assist in the evaluation of information for an assessment task or to develop further skills from other sources eg. teachers in order to broaden the skills in the program.
