In terms of an educational point of view, this program would be of great assistance to students. The steps of producing a visual story product is simple and quick as opposed to other programs. I think students will enjoy the flexibilty of the program in terms of the special features such as music and transitions as opposed to other programs. As a teacher I can see this to be of great help. Photostory3 can also allow teachers to present a new topic to a class through images rather than text, which caters for the variety of learning styles for students, particularly from an auditory and visual point of view. This has been a great program to have been introduced with, and will be used in my future teaching career.

Please find above  the new competency test. I have used my old test, and placed a Y instead of an X to show the new results. When I finished the test, it shows that I have i higher score than the first time I filled the test out. This is due to the fact that  I have gained more skills in ICT than when I had started the course. This course I have found so useful. There were so many programs which I have not heard of before such as Inspiration, WebQuest and Photostory 3. This has therefore broadened my skills and knowledge in the new technology.

I think some of the areas which are weakened are due to the fact that the next box required me to place a letter if it was implemented into the school program, which is where the boxes seem to finish. This is because I am not a teacher as of yet, and am observing students at a school. If I was a teacher, these programs would be implemented. Some of the weaknesses however, involve the multi tasking of some of the medias. My skills have advanced though as previously said by using the computers.

Some of the areas in ICT to improve are probably ways in which to show the students these programs, and using them in a group situation. Apart from that, without physically introducing the task, I couldn’t see a way to improve without implementing it within the classroom environment.

This unit will as a teacher provide me with the foundations to implement technology within the classroom environment. The reason for this includes the fact that technology in its advancement enhances the learning of the students. For example, Inspiration allows students to present information in a mind map in a neat manner, with the advantage of writing information in a text box.

In terms of Excel, the program can assist teachers in presenting the marks of the students in their assessments. The information can also demonstrate to teachers which students are excelling, and which ones are emerging in their learning.

With Photostory3, teachers can use the program for students to tell a story using images. The program gives simple instructions on how to write a story, and where to place the images, with the additives of sounds, transitions and text.

Powerpoint allows teachers to implement a new topic, and present it to students. The program also allows students to present information on an assessment task. With assistance of a teacher, students are able to establish skills in technology in order to follow through with this task.

It is therefore conclusive that the programs that have been taught in ICT are vital to the current student body within the education environment. Without the current education presented to student teachers and teachers inclusive, it provides a barrier on the programs available for our new generations. It also allows teachers to use technology to cater and integrate the curriculum. It is of great help to have this knowledge to teach and share with other students in the future.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.