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Monday, May 07, 2007

Background Reading - Use of PowerPoint

This month's LCB Big Question is on the Use of PowerPoint. In scanning around a bit for resources on this topic, I've found a few good starting points. I have tagged these in del.icio.us using the tag: lcbPowerPoint. I will continue to do so and you can find a current list at:

http://del.icio.us/tag/lcbpowerpoint

5 comments:

Lanny Arvan said...

I wrote something about this a while back here in response to this post from the Tomorrow's Professor blog. It's an old post and the links are broken, but I think the core points still hold.

Tony Karrer said...

Lanny - thanks for the pointer. You should join in the LCB discussion as well.

Rachel said...

I need help with a Powerpoint possible use. I teach freshman composition at a university to non-native speakers of English. They often come to me for extra help in their other classes. However, they ALWAYS need help creating PowerPoint presentations for their other classes of subjects such as economics, nutrition, statistics, travel & Tourism...etc. I spend time teaching and explaining "transitions", custom animations"...etc. I thought, as I am helping them so much, is there any information as to using Powerpoint as an actual tool to teach composition writing? It would be great to impart knowledge just in the structure of a composition....any thoughts or resources out there? Thanks

Unknown said...

Rachel,

I have found PowerPoint to be a fascinating and flexible tool. It demonstrates how the line between media is beginning to blur.

Example: When does a slide show become a film? Ask Al Gore.

PowerPoint can be used to create documents as well as presentations. It allows you to incorporate nearly any digital media.

So where I am going is this: What are the implications for something like composition?

Composition in its broadest sense refers to the makeup of something; the arrangement of its parts. Composition in art is different than composition in writing, but they share many aspects.

Composition in PowerPoint would seem to incorporate both visual and narrative elements, and in my mind this makes it an ideal tool for exploring a broader concept of composition -- one that could only be more meaningful as we move toward a more media-literate world.

You can read more of my thoughts on PowerPoint here.

Unknown said...

I just came across your blog and other sites and just wanted to say that some of your tips on using PowerPoint and presenting in general are great. As we all strive to be better elearning content designer it's great to find resources such as these. Keep up your good work.

I also wanted to mention that if you have an interest in taking a look at a new PowerPoint to E-Learning tool, Wondershare
PowerPoint to Flash
to convert PowerPoint to Flash for high-impact Web presentations and eLearning Courses with rich media, quizzes and simulations.