WEEK #10: PowerPoint Activities

WHAT:

We discovered the different PowerPoint Activities that the "50 Quick & Easy PowerPoint Activities" book offered.

SO WHAT:

I think that this can be helpful to me as a student because I can use it to make lesson plans for my classes more fun. Also they activity book has quick easy PowerPoints that are fun.

Also I can use it not just in my education classes, but also in my general classes. I can use it when i have to do presentations. Obviously I will have to tweak it to make it more age and curriculum appropriate. But I can use the general idea and make it work for me to make the presentation fun.

NOW WHAT:

Now i need to continue looking though the book and find some that I like. Once I have some that I like I should make them and see if I like that and if they could actually work in a classroom. I think that once I make them and practice with them and it will allow my creative juices to flow and I will be able to come up with my own.

Also I can have my students learn about PowerPoints and how to make one. The PowerPoints in the book are very user friendly and they have simple step by step instructions. I can have them choose from a couple of PowerPoints and have them create one. There are many possibilities!!!

VIDEO:

I loved this video as much the second time as I did the fist time. You were right, it was a great way to help me feel re-motivated and become focused again. It's a good reminder that EVERYTHING that I am doing to prepare to become a teacher all comes down to the fact that I'm doing it for the kids. I need to remember that!!!

WEEK #9: Picasa...again : D

WHAT:

We played with Picasa this week and discussed some of the different things that can be done with it.

SO WHAT:

Like I said last week, Picasa is something that I am very excited about. .I am all about photography and exploring the cool affects you can create on your digital photography. Picasa offers a lot of these tools and affects that I can use to edit and make my pictures more fun.

Picasa can also be used in my schooling right now and also once I become a teacher. I can use it to edit pictures for presentations and slide shows. Not only does it let you edit pictures, but you can also set up on-line albums, slide shows, head shots, and SO much more. Basically I think we are learning it to make our digital lives easier.

NOW WHAT:

I feel like I have so much more that I can learn about Picasa. I just need to keep practicing with it to be able to obtain that first had experience. By practicing not only will I get better at editing my pictures but also and finding new tools and techniques that the program offers. That way I will be able to truly know the program so I can teach it/use it in my classroom when I become a teacher.

I know there are countless things I can use Picasa for once I learn it. I could use it to do head shots of my class, make a collage or slideshow for my desktop that has my students faces on it, make name tags with their pictures on it so I can learn the students names and they can learn each others, and so much more. The thing I really just need to do now is continue using it and practicing with it so I can truly take advantage of all that it offers.

VIDEO RESPONSE:

None. Commented on it last week.

WEEK #8: Picasa

WHAT:

Because we didn't have an actual lesson on Picasa we were supposed to play around on it and get a feel for it. I think the reason we are supposed to get to know Picasa is because it can be a one stop spot for all of our digital picture needs.

SO WHAT:

Picasa is something that I am very excited about. I love taking pictures. So learning the cools Picasa offers and how they can affect my pictures is really neat. I like how there is the "I'm feeling lucky" button for quick fixes, but then you also have the option of going in and editing bits and pieces of detail. It will be helpful and fun to continue playing with.

I can also use Picasa when doing presentations as a student or slide shows as a teacher. Not only does it let you edit pictures, but you can also set up on-line albums and slide shows. Basically I think we are learning it to make our digital lives easier.

NOW WHAT:

I feel like I have only touched the surface of Picasa. I'm sure there are endless things I can learn and find on it. What I need to do is continue to play with it. I should switch to using it as my editing photographs program. That way I will obtain first hand experience with it and be able to teach it to others, like my future students.

I had a lot of fun last week when we were learning about using digital cameras in the classroom. That idea was very appealing to me and I think I could come up with some fun lesson plans using it. As I go through the education program and have to write these lesson plans I will make sure I have the students use Picasa to edit the pictures. I feel like Picasa is a safe and fairly simple program to use, so I think it would be great the use in the classroom.

VIDEO RESPONSE:

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=6102&title=How_NOT_To_Use_PowerPoint

I loved this video! I love when people teach but having fun. Not only was the video fun and funny to watch it made great points. There are things I found that I need to work on. I am one of those people who like to have everything I am going to say on the powerpoint. It makes sense how that could be very boring and could make for a long powerpoint. This is something that I really need to improve on before becoming a teacher. If my powerpoints are word for word what my slides say it will be very dry and the students wont learn anything. I need to remember to use powerpoints a a way to show the dry skeleton of what I want to teach, and use that skeleton as a guide to add detail and elaborate.