Going on the Road
I really liked the statement "be clear, be quick, be gone" from the article Starting Successfully: How to Begin a Presentation. That sums it up for me, have as short a presentation as possible, covering the main points completely and then get out of there. All of these articles cover good basic points.
1. Be short and to the point.
2. Make sure you know who your audience is.
3. Be extemporaneous, have fun, go out on a limb.
4. Tell them what you're going to tell them and then tell them what you told
them.
5. Smile and have good eye contact.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Day 11 Readings
Readings: Portfolios and Assessment
Assessments are good on judging where your students are and what the teacher still needs to cover, but does it help the student assess himself? Do any students go back through a paper and try to determine what they did wrong or do they just look at the grade? Most students just look at the grade and maybe read the teacher comments. I teach math, and very few students ask me why they missed a problem. Some will go back through and see what they did wrong for the next exam, but not very many. A porfolio would force them to assess themselves. They would be involved in the process of picking which assignments would be in their portfolio, therefor wanting to know what they did wrong so they can inprove on future assignments.
Assessments are good on judging where your students are and what the teacher still needs to cover, but does it help the student assess himself? Do any students go back through a paper and try to determine what they did wrong or do they just look at the grade? Most students just look at the grade and maybe read the teacher comments. I teach math, and very few students ask me why they missed a problem. Some will go back through and see what they did wrong for the next exam, but not very many. A porfolio would force them to assess themselves. They would be involved in the process of picking which assignments would be in their portfolio, therefor wanting to know what they did wrong so they can inprove on future assignments.
Day 10 Readings
In our district, our counselors use a program called Bridges. It's a place for students to enter their interests and then see what type of career they are suited for and would like. This helps the counselors suggest classes that the student should take to eventually work towards there work place goal. While we were going over it, we found out that students have an eportfolio by default. The students can type in or scan in work and it's all accessible from the Internet as long as you have the correct password. It would also be just as easy to scan in the rubrik's from the assignment, so the reader would be able to see what the grade was and how they were graded. I'm not sure if you can load audio or video, I will have to check into that. Other than that, I believe it would help our students keep their best work and be able to show it to anyone in the future. (And yes, supposedly as long as they log in every once in a while, they have it for life!)
Day 9 Readings
Electronic Portfolios
Electronic Portfolios or eportfolios are the most diverse and easily accessible. They are not folders with information in them that can be passed from one person to the other and only display the type of writing the person can do. Eportfolios can show not only writing capabilities but logical thinking and creativity. How do you navigate your eportfolio? This would take thinking skills. It needs to be set up so that anyone can navigate through it and get back to where they want to be. Creativity is also a HUGE part. In eportfolios you can add movies and sound tracks where in the old folder this was impossible. Since you are using all different modes of technology it keeps the audience engaged, and makes them want to see what else you have included in your best works.
Electronic Portfolios or eportfolios are the most diverse and easily accessible. They are not folders with information in them that can be passed from one person to the other and only display the type of writing the person can do. Eportfolios can show not only writing capabilities but logical thinking and creativity. How do you navigate your eportfolio? This would take thinking skills. It needs to be set up so that anyone can navigate through it and get back to where they want to be. Creativity is also a HUGE part. In eportfolios you can add movies and sound tracks where in the old folder this was impossible. Since you are using all different modes of technology it keeps the audience engaged, and makes them want to see what else you have included in your best works.
Day 8 Readings
Professional/Teaching Portfolios
A Portfolio is a great way to keep track of our accomplishments. Whether it be a great lesson or a rave review from our principal, we can keep these in one place for ourselves and others to access. Portfolios are also a way to show how we strive to improve. We are always looking ways to make our lessons better, this will help us keep track of our best efforts and provide a starting point for improvement.
A Portfolio is a great way to keep track of our accomplishments. Whether it be a great lesson or a rave review from our principal, we can keep these in one place for ourselves and others to access. Portfolios are also a way to show how we strive to improve. We are always looking ways to make our lessons better, this will help us keep track of our best efforts and provide a starting point for improvement.
Day 7 Readings
Tips for different types of presentations
I have been to several presentations where the speaker is very knowledgeable on the topic, but not very interesting. If you can't present it well, half the audience will tune out with 30-60 minutes, which means no one is learning anything. But when you have a speaker who is knowledgeable and entertaining, the time flies by! The trick is to figure out how to make the presentation interesting so you hold every ones attention. In short, you are the expert, you can speak on the topic and give great information, but the audience is what matters. If you can't keep their interest, you might as well be speaking to a block wall.
I have been to several presentations where the speaker is very knowledgeable on the topic, but not very interesting. If you can't present it well, half the audience will tune out with 30-60 minutes, which means no one is learning anything. But when you have a speaker who is knowledgeable and entertaining, the time flies by! The trick is to figure out how to make the presentation interesting so you hold every ones attention. In short, you are the expert, you can speak on the topic and give great information, but the audience is what matters. If you can't keep their interest, you might as well be speaking to a block wall.
Day 6 Reading
Digital Photography
The main point I got out of these readings was think about what you are doing. Don't just go out there and start taking pictures or using the scanner, actually think about what you want the end result to be. Arrange the people in your picture, make sure there aren't any shadows, sometimes you need the flash in the middle of a bright sunny day. This was the step that surprised me the most. I need to use the flash on a sunny day, they must be joking? Seeing the difference in the pictures real made the difference for me.
The main point I got out of these readings was think about what you are doing. Don't just go out there and start taking pictures or using the scanner, actually think about what you want the end result to be. Arrange the people in your picture, make sure there aren't any shadows, sometimes you need the flash in the middle of a bright sunny day. This was the step that surprised me the most. I need to use the flash on a sunny day, they must be joking? Seeing the difference in the pictures real made the difference for me.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Day 5 Reading
The articles for today seem to be a "KISS" examples (keep it simple stupid). Keep everything simple and easy to read. Use Sans-serif fonts so words are more visible and not blurry. Also, stick to 1 style of font, so your presentation is consistent. Don't use a font size smaller than 24 so everyone in the room will be able to see the words at the front of the room. The same principle goes for pictures. Make sure you only use the originals. They need to be undamaged, even the best photo shop program will not be able to fix everything. The biggest thing on pictures and graphics, is too make sure they tie to your presentation. Don't just add pictures to add pictures.
I agree that you need to consider your audience and use graphics that fit that audience. Addressing adults is totally different than addressing teenagers. Teenagers find it more interesting to have clip art and cutsie pictures. All of the other steps again seem like common sense. Make sure someone else goes over your presentations and that you practice your presentation will only make the end result better.
I agree that you need to consider your audience and use graphics that fit that audience. Addressing adults is totally different than addressing teenagers. Teenagers find it more interesting to have clip art and cutsie pictures. All of the other steps again seem like common sense. Make sure someone else goes over your presentations and that you practice your presentation will only make the end result better.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Day 4 Readings
Defining Multimedia. Multimedia, Copyright Law and Fair Use
Multimedia, is anything using a computer, pictures, movies, graphics as a type of communication.
Copyright is a little more difficult. The main rule to live by is to get permission from the original author, but when you can't there are several guidelines to follow on how much you are allowed to use. Never copy an entire book, but you can copy a chapter. If you are using the information for more than 1 semester, get permission from the author. If you are unsure how much you are allowed to use, make sure you find out what is allowed before you use anything.
Multimedia, is anything using a computer, pictures, movies, graphics as a type of communication.
Copyright is a little more difficult. The main rule to live by is to get permission from the original author, but when you can't there are several guidelines to follow on how much you are allowed to use. Never copy an entire book, but you can copy a chapter. If you are using the information for more than 1 semester, get permission from the author. If you are unsure how much you are allowed to use, make sure you find out what is allowed before you use anything.
Day 3 Readings
Setting the Organizational Stage
After conceptualizing an idea, your next step would be to create a storyboard. A storyboard is a way to lay out how your presentation will look. Once the general direction of the project has been determined, you should begin working on the finished product. Most storyboards are never complete, they are a jumping off point. A storyboard can be created using a piece of paper and a pencil, or you can use several computer programs to help with the process. These programs include, but are not limited to Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Inspiration. In the long run, a storyboard will cut down on the time you spend coming up with your final project.
After conceptualizing an idea, your next step would be to create a storyboard. A storyboard is a way to lay out how your presentation will look. Once the general direction of the project has been determined, you should begin working on the finished product. Most storyboards are never complete, they are a jumping off point. A storyboard can be created using a piece of paper and a pencil, or you can use several computer programs to help with the process. These programs include, but are not limited to Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Inspiration. In the long run, a storyboard will cut down on the time you spend coming up with your final project.
Day 2 Readings
How do I Apply Constructivism in My Classroom
The main points I took from this article is to always use a topic that is relevant to the students. In other words, make sure it's something the students are interested in. Make sure they understand there are no wrong answers. This is a brainstorming type of activity where the teacher will somehow tie in all student ideas. Instead of teaching the parts that make up the whole, teach the whole and break that down into parts so they can see why they need to learn this particular lesson. In the end try and be more creative with the final projects. Students get sick of having to take the same type of tests, or write the same old essay, try and make it more fun.
Design Tips
The design tips given in these articles seem to be common sense items. (At least common sense after taking EDT 545!) Tips such as, don't use too many colors, center on the page, put a box around something that you want to stand out. Make sure your final product is consistent. Make sure you use the same colors through the presentation along with the same type of layout. Don't clutter up the page with too much information. Basically, make it easy to follow and pleasant to the eye. Remember who your audience is and make it relevant to them. Make sure you are not reading your presentation. Have bullet points to guide you through the topics, but do not read word for word from your slides, this will cause you to lose connection with the audience and everyone including the presenter, will become bored. Don't jump into the presentation, make sure you map it out first. You always want to sketch out what it will look like before you begin creating. If you don't, you'll end up doing 2-3 times the work (at least that's what always happens to me!).
The main points I took from this article is to always use a topic that is relevant to the students. In other words, make sure it's something the students are interested in. Make sure they understand there are no wrong answers. This is a brainstorming type of activity where the teacher will somehow tie in all student ideas. Instead of teaching the parts that make up the whole, teach the whole and break that down into parts so they can see why they need to learn this particular lesson. In the end try and be more creative with the final projects. Students get sick of having to take the same type of tests, or write the same old essay, try and make it more fun.
Design Tips
The design tips given in these articles seem to be common sense items. (At least common sense after taking EDT 545!) Tips such as, don't use too many colors, center on the page, put a box around something that you want to stand out. Make sure your final product is consistent. Make sure you use the same colors through the presentation along with the same type of layout. Don't clutter up the page with too much information. Basically, make it easy to follow and pleasant to the eye. Remember who your audience is and make it relevant to them. Make sure you are not reading your presentation. Have bullet points to guide you through the topics, but do not read word for word from your slides, this will cause you to lose connection with the audience and everyone including the presenter, will become bored. Don't jump into the presentation, make sure you map it out first. You always want to sketch out what it will look like before you begin creating. If you don't, you'll end up doing 2-3 times the work (at least that's what always happens to me!).
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