ACA Tech Summit
Knoxville Conference Center
October 2, 1998

What Is PowerPoint?

Presentation software with special structures for displaying ÒmultimediaÓ

Promises

• "Revolutionize education"
• More realistically, support your learning/teaching objectives.
• Organize presentations
• Display "multimedia"
• Coordinate handouts
• Store components in single location
• Alter and update easily
• Focus attention
• Create tutorials, reviews, etc.
• Involve multiple senses during presentation
• Assist with note taking, spelling, etc.
• Support for responding to questions
• Provide framework for student presentations
• **Support your learning/teaching objectives.**

What Can You Do with PowerPoint?

• Computer/Projector Displays
• Overhead Transparencies
• Slides
• Speaker's Notes
• Create Handouts
• 2 , 3, or 6 slides per page
• Include notes, single slide per page
• Create Outlines

What Can Be Included on a PowerPoint Slide?

Text

• Text with bullets
• Graphic text

Graphics

• Clip art
• Scanned images
• Digital camera images
• Art created with graphic software
• Art created in PowerPoint (limited capabilities)

• Supports a variety of graphic formats
  (PICT, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, EPS, BMP)

• Sample Graphics
  • Family Photos Shared with Captive Audience
  • Images from Digital Camera
  • Clip Art

Video and/or Sound

• Short video clips
• Video from CD-ROMs (must have CD-ROM disk)
• Sound from
• CD
• CD-ROM
• Audio software creation

Links to

• Other applications
• Web sites
• Other slides in the PowerPoint presentation
• Other files

Animated Text

Displays list items one at a time in response to mouse click

Choices for method displayed
• One bullet
• One word
• One letter at a time

Previous bullets displayed
• No change
• Dimmed
• Not visible

Links to Applications

• Word
• Excel
• Netscape
• Etc.

Close other software packages when done

Return to PowerPoint presentation

Example: Spreadsheet application - launch Excel and demonstrate

• Topic: IF function
• Example: Determining if student makes the DeanÕs list
  
  IF gpa > 3.0 then on Dean's list
  IF D3 >3 then enter "Dean's list"
  =IF(D3>3,"Dean's List"," ")

Links to Other Slides in PowerPoint Presentation

Methods of branching

• Action buttons - preset
• Control-click with mouse button - decide on fly
• Defined movements, next slide, first slide, etc.
• Any slide in presentation, select by name

Make Notations with Pencil

Temporary, removed when another slide is displayed

Control-click with mouse button

Select colors

Customize Presentation, Hidden Slides

Hide unwanted slides

Activate slides in response to questions, etc.

Internet Access

Launch Web browser and enter URL

PowerPoint Generates Web Pages

Text editing must be done in PowerPoint first and then converted to a Web page again.

Larger file storage size for Web pages

Extremely slow Webpage creation process

Problems

• Learning how to use the software
• Time consuming, especially at first
• Suggestions:
  • Start slowly, don't try to do everything at first
  • Include only text
  • Keep the presentation short, less than 10 slides
• Inadequate training in graphic design
• Conquering complexity of graphics
  • Scanning
  • Various formats
  • Large storage size
  • Infinite design possibilities
  • Suggestion: Expand to include graphics gradually
  • Suggestion: Use clip art, scanned images, and graphics copied from the Web at first (honor copyrights)
• Expensive equipment needed
  • Projection units
  • Replacement bulbs
• Technology failures
  • Suggest alternate backups; transparencies, etc.
• Copyright, obtaining permission to use materials
• Inadequate access to sophisticated hardware and software
• Suggested configuration:
  • Fast micro with lots of memory
  • Scanners
  • ZIP drives
  • Digital cameras
  • Video capture equipment and software
• Inadequate access to tech support
• Workbooks, Web tutorials, etc.
• Delivery problems
  • Instant display vs. writing/drawing with chalk
  • Too fast
  • Too much information on screen
  • Presenter reads information on screen and no additional information mentioned
  • Students distracted by graphics, etc.
  • Lack of eye contact (staring at screen)
  • If too "glitzy," then audience becomes passive.
  • Suggestion: Develop new mode of delivery.
  • Inadequately equipped classrooms
  • Suggestions:
    • Lights that dim
    • Window coverings that block sunlight
    • Projection screen that can be marked
    • Projection screen that can be erased
    • Location for faculty member to stand that doesn't block view of projected image

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Copyright (c) 1998, Berea College

Updated November 20, 1998.

URL: www.berea.edu/CC/Bolster/ACATechSummit.html

Information prepared and page maintained by Sandy Bolster, Sandy_Bolster@Berea.edu.