Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Chapter 4 Synopsis

Chapter 4 is about how to get the audience's attention and how to keep it. The information in PowerPoint presentations should be able to evoke feelings in the audience, such as a connection with the information, maybe find humor where appropriate, let the images communicate experiences with them, see the big picture of the presentation and/or also use their multisensories to help them understand the message being delivered. Maybe not all these feelings will be evoked but at least those that will help keep the audience interested in wanting to hear more.
The presenter must also be presentable. He/she must be careful not to distract the audience with what colors or items they wear. Neutral colors and good grooming is a best practice.
Chapter 4 also introduces the acronym CHIMES. CHIMES are different ways to capture an audience by using Connections, Humor, Images, Music, Emotion, Story and/or Senses. Not all can or should be used at once in a presentation. Each presentation calls for diffent approaches.

Burmark, Lynell, They Snooze, You Lose: An Educator's Guide to Successful Presentations (California: Jossey-Bass, 2011) pp61-68 .

Chapter 1 Synopsis

PowerPoint presentations have changed over the years because they are specific to an individuals creativity. Tweaking PowerPoints to achieve maximum impact is the focus of this chapter.
Templates are guides and shouldn't be used "as is" in all PowerPoints. Personality and creativity are what will catch the audience's eye.
Color in PowerPoint presentations should be cautiously chosen to appeal to all audience members. The most appropriate colors to combine are yellow text on a blue background.
The location and/or screen being used for your PowerPoint presentation is also important because it could make or break the entire presentation. Just because the presentation looks good on your computer or laptop it may not look the same in another location.
The amount of words used on each slide should be limited to no more than 40 words per slide. Approximately 6 bullets with 6 words per bullet is appropriate. The important point to remember is that in order for the information on a PowerPoint to be retained it should be able to be processed within 3 seconds.
With font, it is best to use 36 point and either Georgia or Verdana. This ensures that anyone sitting in the back of a presentation room, will also be able to see the text.

Burmark, Lynell, They Snooze You Lose: The Educator's Guide to Successful Presentations (California: Jossey-Bass,2011) pgs.3-23

Sunday, August 28, 2011

What is Technology Integration?

Technology integration is the use of technology resources in collaboration with curriculum. The technology must be engaging, emerging, and effective in order to keep students from tuning out a lesson.

Effective integration is when a  lesson is carried out with the use of technology resources as an everyday practice. "Students are more actively engaged in projects when technology integration is a seamless part of the learning process" ("What is Technology Integration", n.d., para 2).Technology integration will become the paper and pencil of the future. Students will be required to use higher-order thinking to complete tasks and therefore become responsible for their own learning.

What is Technology Integration. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/teaching-module-technology-integration-what