Presentation Tools - PowerPoint

Reading: Nature Education. (2014). Audience and Purpose. Retrieved from Scitable:
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/audience-and-purpose-13952663 

With the increasing use of technology in the classroom - and presentation tools - it is necessary to keep the audience and purpose in mind. Nature Education's Audience and Purpose highlights the importance of creating a digital tool, such as a PowerPoint, by focusing on what you would like your audience to do (Nature Education, 2014). Thus, one must know their audience's prior experience and knowledge on the topic. 

In a classroom context - such as English - a teacher could not present a PowerPoint on sustainability and expect the student's to be able to complete analytical activities without having laid the foundation first. No matter what the starting point, however, all student's will come to class with differing prior knowledge. A teacher must use "simpler vocabulary (or definitions), as they have not mastered the technical terms" (Nature Education, 2014). Consequently, in order to keep from excluding students a teacher must design the presentation tool with both primary and secondary readers in mind (Nature Education, 2014). This will aid in the initial learning and later revision, which PowerPoint is extremely useful in aiding. 

It must be noted that presentation tools are not limited to PowerPoint. There are many other alternatives out there such as ActivInspire, Prezi, Glogster and Knowledge Vision. Justin Croxton has created a more rounded list on CustomShow. Despite the many advantages these alternatives offer, the fact is that a very large majority rely on the Internet. While Internet connection is more readily available than ever before, problems can occur, rendering Prezi, Glogster and Knowledge Vision useless. ActivInspire is very similar to PowerPoint, its main difference being its design for an interactive whiteboard. PowerPoint, then, is the most useful presentation tool for the classroom. 

PowerPoint

PLEASE NOTE:
The following response is in regards to PowerPoint 2013. Earlier versions will have different settings and capabilities.

Technical Aspects - An Overview:

PowerPoint was first developed in 1990 and is now in its fifteenth version. Microsoft developed PowerPoint as a slideshow presentation program, and while it is still used as such it is now a tool to expand learning and engage in transformative teaching. PowerPoint allows one to insert digital media - photos, videos, audios, quizzes, mind maps and hyperlinks - which centers the learning in one document. The settings of this technology allows one to alter each piece of embedded digital media and present a topic in a linear fashion, using dot points to exhibit the most critical information. 

PowerPoints most outstanding features are those which offer high levels of interaction for students. For instance, the 'Content' page in my PowerPoint will direct you to each section if clicked on - no need to scroll through! Unfortunately, this does not work on an embedded copy - only a downloaded one. Quizzes can be embedded to test students knowledge and if the 'Mind-Map' app is synced students can organize their ideas and insert the final image, as seen on Slide 10. PowerPoint can easily be student orientated and there are many websites which allow interactive storybooks or lessons to be inserted. 

There is a multi-author function (found under Share) which enables collaboration for paired students or an entire class! PowerPoint can also be presented online in 'real-time' or downloaded onto each students individual laptops. In regards to privacy settings, unless shared online, PowerPoint does not have any need. On that note, OneDrive is an excellent online platform for the distribution of PowerPoint and has its own privacy settings which are automatically set to private. 

PowerPoint is notorious for its customization options - a user can either use a template or create a new presentation entirely from scratch! The digital tool is so versatile that the user can be as creative as they like - choosing from thousands of images, videos and audios or hundreds of fonts and colours. The basics of PowerPoint is extremely simple to use, however the advanced settings (such as hyper-linking slides) can take practice. Overall, PowerPoint is the immediate choice for many teachers due to its multimodal nature. 

Advantages of PowerPoint (2013):

• It centralizes and compacts the lesson
• Easy to present
• Offers visual aids
• Students can work at their own pace
• Aid in developing speech skills - students can reflect upon each recording
• It can be either teacher or student directed
• Supports interactivity and ICT skills
• No handouts needed
• Can be accessed across multiple screens (shared with students)
• Is a multimodal form of learning - any artifacts can be added
• Allows for easy revision - students' can reattempt the tasks
• Supports 'primary' and 'secondary' readers if created effectively

Disadvantages of PowerPoint (2013):

• It is presented in a linear fashion (unsuitable for global learners)
• Can become 'messy' (students focus on effects rather than content)
• Student's can skip ahead
• Secondary equipment is required to present the PowerPoint
• The advanced settings (such as embedding PowerPoint onto another platform) can be complicated
• Time requirements to create a complete presentation

Learning Outcomes:

PowerPoint can support multiple learning outcomes within the classroom, which will ultimately improve student interaction with particular activities and materials. 

Applying learning outcomes to pedagogy:

The 21st century has witnessed the rise of ICT within the classroom, warranting the Australian Curriculum to address how it affects contemporary learners. 

Sourced from: https://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx05hqB6jt1r5nnw1o1_250.gif

"In the Australian Curriculum, students develop ICT capability as they learn to use ICT effectively and appropriately to access, create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in all learning areas at school, and in their lives beyond school" (Australian Curriculum, 2014). 

Po

PowerPoint is a digital tool which requires students to "select the modality of their presentation for the audience and purpose", consider "multimodal solutions" and "manage their own learning process and output" (Fasso, 2015). PowerPoint is ultimately an effective digital tool which can be student-focused. The SAMR model will depict this.

References

Australian Curriculum. (2015, April 9). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability. Retrieved from Australian Curriculum: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/information-and-communication-technology-capability/introduction/introduction

Fasso, W. (2015, April 2). Bringing it all together - Presenting learning. Retrieved from      
             Moodle: https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=16634 

Nature Education. (2014). Audience and Purpose. Retrieved from Scitable:
             http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/audience-and-purpose-13952663