Module 1 Reading Response

Power Up! Stimulating You

While reading, Power up! Stimulating you, I became quite confused.  In the article Andre Harrison writes about Microsoft Power Point like it is a new phenomenon or some amazing computer tool that was just released.  He discusses how to use a black box to hook up the computer to the television so that the presentation can be presented on a larger screen. All I could think was; why is he talking about a television and not a Smart Board? The author raves to his colleagues and encourages them to try using the program in their own classrooms.  Each sentence intrigued me more until I looked down at the corner of the page and saw the article was written in 1998.  So at the time of this publication Power Point was a new trend in the digital world.  It was most likely quite amazing and a tool that teachers should try to engage their students. 

           

Although this article is dated I still believe that Power Point is a great tool to engage students.  Its effects on teaching are even more so now with prominence of Smart Boards to display presentations.  Students are still engaged by these presentations and the special effects that they can bring to a lesson.  You are able to break down information by topics and add in sounds, charts and videos to support the subject you are presenting.  Power Points are convenient way to present information to people of all ages.

            

I enjoyed the way the article explained how to incorporate this type of technology into all types of education content.  It provided great examples of how Power Points can be used to present information in Social Studies, Language Arts, and Science as well as how it can be used to break down steps of Mathematical Processes.  However, what I found most encouraging was how Andre Harrison discussed how to use Power Point Presentations to help student collaborate on their own presentations.  Allowing students to present their research and what they have learned through an interactive presentation allows for students who may shutter at the thought of a long report to successfully inform others on what they have learned. 

           

I believe students of all ages can use Microsoft Power Point as a tool to learn with and a tool to learn from.  Student are can be engaged in lessons through the visual stimulation of presentations and learn to present their own information in an equally interesting manner.  In addition to interactively presenting the information teacher’s can also print handouts to for student reference at a later date. As, an educator I see Power Point as an essential tool to keep student’s focused on the information I am presenting.