My New Take On...

PowerPoint

I've used PowerPoint to do presentations in the past but they were always quite generic and didn't really have any zip. I always ASSUMED that it would be too difficult to add any extras so I just didn't (although in my defence I hadn't really seen any PowerPoint presentations that were anything exciting). Now that we have learned how to add videoclips and music, I have realized that it's really not hard. I think I now possess the tools AND the attitude to make PowerPoints of the future something that my students will remember (i hope).

The Possibilities!!

We just had a jam packed class! I feel that I learned quite a lot of useful things today.

• I'll start with PowerPoint - I've used PowerPoint before but in quite a "linear" way (as Alec would say). I didn't know how to insert music or video clips and that whole "dragging a picture from the internet onto your slide" thing was really cool. I think my future PowerPoint presentations will be much more interesting (although probably really time consuming considering there are so many neat things to play around with) and if I use my presentation as a game, ex. Jeopardy, I think my students will be really engaged!
• Microsoft Word - I've noticed all of the little buttons on my tool bar and was aware that there are quite a lot of options under each menu but my thoughts never went past that. I was shocked today to learn that there are some really amazing features that I never knew about. After learning about the commenting feature, I really want to teach middle years so I can use it. Well...not really but it would be really cool to use with your students and I can't see myself finding that much opportunity in a Kindergarten classroom. I did show Anders the feature when I got home...he'll be teaching high school in the future so maybe I can live "the commenting feature" through him. :)

WOW I'm Teched out

...well not really, but I did process a lot of information today. Thanks Alec for the great websites you took us to today. I'm sure the rest of the class will agree with me when I say that I loved Tuxtype 2 and Tux Paint! I think I'm going to try to download them today (for the kids of course :0). I also really liked the video search engines...I bet I'll use them for PowerPoint presentations in the future. The Microsoft Excel exercises we did were pretty cool. I've never really used Excel before and I'm still a little confused (we'll see how I do on TechTask #3) but like everything, the more I do something the easier it becomes, practice makes perfect, etc. etc.
Until next time...

Life on the Edge

There are few things in this world that an elephant can't step on.

Really Sweet... 

I've Entered The Blogging World

This is my first blog and it's kind of exciting! Anders has been bugging me about getting a blog for a long time. This could be one of the most exciting days of HIS life...:)