Isn't Power Point a little outdated for use in today's classroom?
Ahhh - 1990's 🙈👇 😁
Not going to lie.. the idea of Power Point (PP) brings back memories of three hour lectures in a class of 120 on Company Accounting.
We all know PP is a presentation package which allows for the production of professional looking presentations... along with being a word processor, outlining, drawing, graphing, and presentation management tools... that its designed so its easy to learn and use... and if that fails then there's always google (who can, for example, direct us to a free mind map template which we can copy into PP then even make interactive with embedded links to relevant "places").
We can probably figure out that given the capabilities of the various apps and programs that are available today it most likely has a had a bit of a make-over since we were all at uni in a bid to remain competitive and alive.
(wahoo - snaz-eeee 👄👌😝)
So now that it has the usual functions of what we've come to expect as ICT users... being able to embed whatever needs to be done so, uploaded to where it needs to go YouTube, FB, emailed, linked.. and so on...
(New and improved functions of PP)
Is this really going to be enough to capture the engagement of the Gen Zer's in the midst of their salad days?
In lieu of spending hours creating my very own interactive PP
(I did give it a very quick shot HERE) I accumulated more hours watching YouTubes on PP engaging students with special needs, early primary uses for PP and of course just general tutorials of the capabilities of the program.
While these are a little off the generic secondary school teacher topic they still presented me with a magnitude of ideas which then got me thinking about the ways they could be adapted into my classroom..
I now present to you.....
SAMR and Power Point uses in my Classroom..
While I like PP as a user and I could definitely use it as a tool in a teaching context in the manners I have mentioned above (the intended uses of power point)... The students can really gain great benefit for learning - and in particular creating with PP!
Substitution
I record a narrated audio presentation using PP and present as the lesson.
Kids use PP as a word processor - submit an assignment similar to what used have been done on a "poster" type assessment piece.
Nothings really ventured and nothings really gained
Augmentation
My above mentioned presentation moves on to having embedded links and audio and/or relevant videos.
Kids are required to create a PP presentation which supports their spoken word assessment task.... a little is added with the use of PP!!.
Modification
Children are invited to partake in assessment in groups of three (set by me - to ensure inclusion off all as well as children experiencing working with differing people) which involves the setting of a weekly quiz created through power point once per term.
On the weeks they are not partaking in setting the quiz they of course need to sit the quiz. Both tasks will form part of assessment marks.
Redefinition
In a Year 9 Economics class where the curriculum requires knowing how and why participants in the global economy are dependent upon each other the collaborative work of a class museum could be truly amazing... The creation of a virtual museum which requires the students once again in groups to explore assigned differing stakeholders and their relationships.. in differing levels of "rooms"
This would of course form an overall picture.. or a class museum so to speak.
I also wanted to touch on just some other thoughts and uses for PP... and also highlight ways in which students with differing needs will be engaged in my classroom....
👊 Kids who struggle with text (resources permitting) - access your PP as you are presenting - and record their own audio notes or questions as they go.
👊 PP as an assessment piece in the form of a presentation tool allowing for students who really struggle to get words on paper (obviously not me!!!) as it really permits that bullet style of writing!
A point highlighted in Topic 4 - Curriculum in Jnr Secondary, stipulates that kids (year 6-9) will generally only remember ten things per lesson.... Sooo why not make it a valuable ten to be noted every lesson and then submitted per term... or even returned to them for exam revisal as the words would be their personal notes and hold greater value.
👊 Narrated stand alone presentation uploaded onto my class blog for parents and students to access... ensuring the lines of communication are all engaged as well as students having ability to revise.
👊 Chose your path story book - could somehow integrate this into Accounting and the reasons different rules exist - particularly in the older years this could be useful when for example doing journal entries... it could be a path way for mapping what went wrong... showing them why it isn't done a particular way..
👊 Use in the classroom as a loop - no audio... maybe just playing in the background.. this could be esp useful for accessing those repetitive learners particularly if closed book exams require memory of Financial Formulas...
Think....
Annual Percentage Yield 😐
APY = ( 1 + r) n -1
n
r being the stated interest
n being number of times compounded
👊 One of PowerPoints new and improved features could be used for enhanced collaborative interactive lessons...with the ability to work together in real time seeing what others are doing and working on - could allow for great brainstorming - a great co or multi authoring feature!
Given the nature of PP the majority of issues concerning legalities, safety and ethical protocols have been covered in my two previous reflective posts: 1 & 2.
As the majority of the tasks I have identified for the use of PP in my classroom involve the creation of assessment pieces by the students I need to be aware of students copying others works... and need to ensure that all copyright obligations are met and identified to the students - particularly with the use of images and videos within their PP's.
It would seem Power Point really is SOOO much more than just a presentation/lecturing tool... and can still be used to engage Gen Z's as well as giving them tools to promote their own personal advancements by way of task redesign in a bid to really brighten the prospect of higher order thinking.
and..... just before I sign off for another assessment piece I also do just want to touch on... the point that I don't think its just about the kiddies ability to partake in higher order thinking... We as the facilitators in the classroom need to allow them to discover as well as allow ourselves to redesign our own tasks and creatively involve the ICT's that are currently available... or could be available in our schools (the prospect of limited resources is very real in the public system)....
BLOGGETS
