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Advantages of Using Laptops in Class

February 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Laptop use has become a common occurrence in most college level classes, and it’s even beginning to appear in high school classes.  Here are some of the benefits of allowing and promoting the use of laptops during class to improve learning.

  • Convenience for the students and instructors
    Laptops not only offer a faster method of note taking, but also a more convenient method for integrating and storing these notes.  Students can type much faster than they can write, so taking notes in a word processor can allow them to record more information at faster speeds, improving their studying capabilities and the amount of material they are able to learn from the course.  Similarly, instructors can take advantage of this increased speed and convenience as they lead their classes, providing more information to the students, or spending more time reviewing the same information.
  • Integration with PowerPoint presentations
    Laptops also allow for easy integration with PowerPoint presentations and lectures, as many students are now able to download the PowerPoint document directly onto their laptop during class.  This allows them to take notes on or near the document, and read fine print more easily than on a large screen.  Taking notes on the slides also helps students organize their thoughts and questions based on where they are in the lecture; they can note any questions on the particular slide.
  • Interactive learning with computer programs
    Many instructors are now encouraging laptop usage during their classes, as it allows them to teach with new programs.  They can hold tutorials to demonstrate how to use these programs, as well as implement in-class learning activities using these programs on the student laptops.  This feature is incredibly helpful for math and science classes, as well as engineering classes, in which students will need to build or observe structures in three dimensions.

These advantages of laptop use during class can help students more fully take advantage of their education if they are able to avoid the common distractions associated with laptop use.  Instructors can also benefit from laptops, as they can expand their lectures to include interactive technology.

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Creating PowerPoints to Be Effective Study Tools

January 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

PowerPoints have been widely used for lectures and presentations, but increasing numbers of students are also beginning to use these PowerPoints as study tools for their next exam.  Instructors can implement a few basic techniques to help improve the quality of their PowerPoint presentations or lectures, while transforming them into useful study guides for their students.

  • Posting the PowerPoint Online
    Teachers often post their class PowerPoint presentations online either before or after the lecture.  This allows students to download the documents to take notes on during class or to review after class.  Posting the presentation online before class can be an effective study method if some sections are intentionally left blank; students must pay attention in class and take adequate notes to fill in these blanks, which usually contain the most important information of the lecture.  In contrast, posting the notes online after class, including all of the key points, can provide a useful review guide for students.
  • Including Videos and Links
    One of the benefits of PowerPoint presentations is that they can easily incorporate other learning media, such as videos, links to other sites, and interactive programs.  While beneficial in class, often times these programs and embedded videos get lost when the PowerPoint notes get posted online, preventing students from reviewing them after class.  Instructors can improve this situation by including the actual hyperlinks in the notes and by posting the videos as separate attachments online.
  • Designing the Slides to be User-Friendly
    Cramming in too much text into a single slide, not including enough relevant pictures and figures, or not including important information in the slides can both harm the presentation itself and the PowerPoint’s effectiveness as a study tool for students.  Leaving enough space in the margins will create a more visually appealing presentation, in addition to giving students room to take extra notes.  Similarly, including the key points will provide students with a quick, basic review of the main concepts.

PowerPoints are incredibly versatile, and by implementing these three strategies, teachers can improve the quality of their PowerPoints and create more effective study materials for their students.

Filed Under: Modern Education Tagged With: ,

PowerPoint Presentations in the Classroom – Enrichment or Hinderance?

December 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft PowerPoint Icon
Image via Wikipedia

The gradual increase in the use of PowerPoint presentations has led to the enrichment of classroom education tools. However, it is imperative for educators to ensure it does not turn into a hindrance to teaching.
PowerPoint and its Proper Usage
PowerPoint presentations can be one of the most effective tools of learning and instruction. Complementing visual charts, graphs, maps and other teaching aids, present mental signposts to students to recall learned material.
Presentations prepared by students should also be encouraged, since they facilitate creativity and use of technology by students themselves. They must also be persuaded to build on their technological proficiency, eventually helping them chart their career graphs.
PowerPoint and its Misuse
In several cases, PowerPoint presentations have proved to be a detriment to instruction, rather than an aid. They have depersonalized education and limited student interaction. Teachers have been frequently known to not revise goals of instruction, despite reforms in curriculum and changes in course objectives.
Teachers have also been found to use PowerPoint to put forward their notes and studies, rather than discuss them and make classes more interactive. Not using PowerPoint as an outline to the topic, they have been using it as a convenient substitute to impart instruction.
With such misuse of the tool, much teaching time is wasted, interactive and substantial deliberations obliterated. In such scenarios, the dimmed lights for an ongoing presentation only imply light-hearted exchanges among students, rather than serious education.
It is important that PowerPoint does not become an alternate to classroom teaching methods, but continues to support existing educational methods.
While PowerPoint presentations can make learning more enriching, teachers must be careful they do not allow it to turn into a mundane means of interaction. Alternating the use of the tool with LCD projectors, Smart Boards, video and DVD, as per availability, helps maintaining association of enjoyment with learning.

Filed Under: Online Learning, Online Resources Tagged With: , , ,

Interactive Classrooms with PowerPoint Drawing Tools

December 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment

PowerPoint presentations are known to be an effective method of imparting education. They make teaching both interactive and enjoyable by offering display notes, video, audio and images.
However, if not used properly, they can become a hindrance to teaching rather than an aid. It is not difficult for PowerPoint presentations to turn into lectures rather than interactive sessions.
The Internet offers a wide range of tutorials on how to make effective presentations.
Drawing Tools for Effective Introductions
PowerPoint provides the use of drawing tools that enable you to introduce your topic through a picture and make your lesson very interactive. By going to the View menu, one can select Toolbars, and then Drawing Toolbar. Once the Drawing Toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen, one can experiment with various shapes and positions of these shapes. By right-clicking on any of the shapes, the Custom Animation tool can be selected. This allows for a variety of effects to be added to the creation.
Using the Pen for Presentation Notes
An interesting tool for making notes on an ongoing presentation, the Pen tool in PowerPoint can be used only while viewing the actual Slide Show. In View mode, one needs to hit Control + P, opening the Pen. One can use the mouse to draw or write. On exiting, the notes or drawings can be saved.
Text Boxes for Interactive Presentations
Students can set up Text Boxes and type information in them, making PowerPoint presentations more interactive. By going to the View menu and setting up the Control Toolbox, one can click on the Textbox button, and create as many textboxes as desired. This tool can only be used while viewing the Slide Show.
Conclusion
PowerPoint is a tool that can make learning more meaningful and education a much more engaging experience. It lies upon the teacher to realize the potential of this wonderful resource.

Filed Under: Online Learning, Online Resources Tagged With: , , ,