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What Am I Supposed to do? | What is PowerPoint? | What will I need? | What do I do?
| How will I be evaluated?| Credits
| Teacher Page
1. Read the introductory material below
2. Complete the webquest that follows (links, questions etc.)
3. Create a PowerPoint Presentation to show what you have learned
4. Present your PowerPoint Presentation to colleagues to show the benefits of PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint is a computer program that enables a user to create simple to complex visual representations of information. PowerPoint is also capable of harnessing animations and sounds to add extra punch to a lesson plan. Such a presentation can be effective for students with effective learning styles outside the realm of straightforward instruction. PowerPoint allows a presenter to harness numerous learning styles into one effective presentation. Such a presentation can also be useful for students who have difficulty reading small text, as a PowerPoint presentation can be projected in large magnitude in the front of a classroom.
Microsoft PowerPoint is available for both the Mac and PC, which can be found within the Microsoft Office Suite (the most recent version is recommended). When using PowerPoint you will need more than just a computer and the necessary software. If you plan to project such a presentation to an audience you will need some sort of projection device (see below for options). It should be recognized that creating such a presentation can be time consuming, but the benefits and increased understanding from your students, should be reason enough to test PowerPoint out in your classroom.
What do I do?
Complete the following webquest which will help explore the uses of PowerPoint within a classroom. In particular, how PowerPoint presentations can be used as an assistive technology that can benefit students with disabilities. The participants of this webquest will learn the benefits of PowerPoint, as well as what pitfalls to avoid. After completing the webquest, you will be asked to produce and present a PowerPoint slide show to teach other educators of the information that was obtained through this webquest. It is the goal of this webquest to give you the tools necessary to effectively use PowerPoint in a classroom to help students and assist students with learning disabilities.
Follow the links below to grasp a better understanding of what a PowerPoint Presentation is and how it can be created:
You should have a basic idea of what a PowerPoint Presentation is and how to create a slideshow. If you have not been able to successfully create a slideshow yet, please refer back to the links above, which provide very detailed instructions on how to create and add many of PowerPoint's multimedia features. You may also look at some Sample PowerPoint Presentations, please follow the necessary directions on how to view such presentations. Below are some links that present informative research that shows the benefits of using PowerPoint in your classroom.
After following all of the above links, see if you are able to determine appropriate answers for the following questions in your head. If you are unable to come up with an answer, please re-visit some of the previous links, until you feel comfortable with moving on.
Please do not move forward unless you are able to formulate an appropriate answer for the questions below
- What specific information did the linked websites provide? Do you agree or disagree with some of the research? Why or why not?
- Do you find yourself capable of creating a PowerPoint presentation? If so, what effect do you think this will have on your learners? If not, what elements of creating a PowerPoint presentation do you need more information?
- What are a few tips that can improve the overall effectiveness of your PowerPoint presenation?
- What are a few things that you should commonly avoid when creating a PowerPoint presentation?
- Do you think you will use this type of assistive technology in your classroom? If so, what type of learning activity? If not, why not?
- How long will it take PowerPoint to benefit my students?
- How can various content area teachers benefit from PowerPoint in their classrooms? Provide examples.
In order to further understand how you can use PowerPoint in your classroom you will need to get a hold of the software itself. Many school districts already own the rights and licenses to such software. Contact your STR or technology representative to get yourself hooked up with a copy if you don't already have one.
YOU WILL NEED A COPY OF POWERPOINT TO COMPLETE THE ASSESSMENT PORTION OF THIS WEBQUEST
Check out
PowerPoint Classrooms or do your own search using a major internet browser. You will need to have a very good understanding of PowerPoint to create your final PowerPoint presentation.
As you explore keep in mind the following questions.
- What benefits can PowerPoint have in my classroom?
- How can I transition to using PowerPoint in my classroom?
- What are some of the problems when using PowerPoint in the classroom?
- What other technology will I need to use to make PowerPoint run in my classroom?
- How much does this software cost?
- What steps need to be taken to obtain a copy of PowerPoint?
- What types of presentations can I create?
- How can different teachers use PowerPoint in their content area classrooms?
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Cover of PowerPoint Box |
Additional Power Point Links
How will I be evaluated?
PowerPoint - PowerPoint Presentation Assessment
The PowerPoint, PowerPoint Presentation (yes that's right, you will be making a PowerPoint presentation about PowerPoint software, and its uses in the classroom) will be completed as a culminating activity. Find 3 or 4 other people that have completed this webquest and create a group to finish the assessment portion of this webquest. This presentation does not have any specifics of organization, as this will be left up to your group as you present the information you feel will be most beneficial in persuading others to use PowerPoint. When completed, please save your finished presentation (burn it to a disc or post on the Internet) as you will be presenting your presentation to your colleagues. Below you will find the rubric that will be used to score your final product. Be sure to storyboard out your final presentation before creating it, as you will be awarded points for your pre-layout story boards, please do not exceed 20 slides. Remember brevity is at the heart of a good PowerPoint Presentation! This assessment is worth 50 points.
PowerPoint - PowerPoint Presentation Rubric
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ACTIVITY
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Exemplary
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Proficient
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Partially
Proficient
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Incomplete
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POINTS
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Preproduction Plan - Storyboard
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10 points
The storyboard illustrates the slide
presentation structure with thumbnail sketches of each slide including:
title of slide, text, background color, placement & size of graphic, fonts
- color, size, type for text and headings, hyperlinks (list URLs of any
site linked from the slide), narration text, and audio files (if any). All
slides are numbered, and there is a logical sequence to the presentation.
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6 points
The thumbnail sketches on the storyboard
include titles and text for each slide and are in sequential order. |
3 points
The thumbnail sketches on the storyboard
are not in a logical sequence and have incomplete information. |
0 points
There a very few thumbnail sketches
on the storyboard and do not provide an overview of the presentation. |
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Introduction |
3 points
The introduction presents the overall topic and draws the
audience into the presentation with compelling questions or by
relating to the audience's interests or goals.
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2 points
The introduction is clear and coherent and relates to the topic.
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1 point
The introduction shows some structure but does not create a strong sense
of what is to follow. May be overly detailed or incomplete and is somewhat
appealing to the audience.
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0 points
The introduction does not orient the audience to what will follow.
The sequencing is unclear and does not appear interesting or relevant
to the audience.
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Content |
9 points
The content is written clearly and concisely with a logical progression of
ideas and supporting information.
The project includes motivating questions and advanced organizers that
provide the audience with sense of the project’s main idea.
Information is accurate, current and comes mainly from * primary sources.
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6 points
The content is written with a logical progression of ideas and
supporting information.
Includes persuasive information from *primary sources.
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4 points
The content is vague in conveying a point of view and does not create
a strong sense of purpose.
Includes some persuasive information with few facts.
Some of the information may not seem to fit.
*Primary source use is not always clear.
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0 points
The content lacks a clear point of view and logical sequence of information.
Includes little persuasive information and only one or two facts about
the topic.
Information is incomplete, out of date and/or incorrect.
Sequencing of ideas is unclear.
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Text Elements
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3 points
The fonts are easy-to-read and point size varies appropriately for headings
and text.
Use of italics, bold, and indentations enhances readability.
Text is appropriate in length for the target audience and to the point.
The background and colors enhance the readability of text.
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2 points
Sometimes the fonts are easy-to-read, but in a few places the use of
fonts, italics, bold, long paragraphs, color or busy background detracts
and does not enhance readability.
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1 point
Overall readability is difficult with lengthy paragraphs, too many different
fonts, dark or busy background, overuse of bold or lack of appropriate
indentations of text.
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0 points
The text is extremely difficult to read with long blocks of text and
small point size of fonts, inappropriate contrasting colors, poor use
of headings, subheadings, indentations, or bold formatting.
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Layout
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4 points
The layout is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to the overall message
with appropriate use of headings and subheadings and white space.
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3 points
The layout uses horizontal and vertical white space appropriately.
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1 point
The layout shows some structure, but appears cluttered and busy or distracting
with large gaps of white space or uses a distracting background.
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0 points
The layout is cluttered, confusing, and does not use spacing, headings
and subheadings to enhance the readability.
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Citations
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6 points
Sources of information are properly cited so that the audience can determine
the credibility and authority of the information presented.
All sources of information are clearly identified and credited using
MLA citations throughout the project.
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4 points
Most sources of information use proper MLA citation, and sources are
documented to make it possible to check on the accuracy of information.
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2 points
Sometimes copyright guidelines are followed and some information, photos
and graphics do not use proper MLA citations.
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0 points
No way to check validity of information.
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Graphics,
Sound and/or Animation
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3 points
The graphics, sound and/or animation assist in presenting an
overall theme and make visual connections that enhance understanding of concept,
ideas and relationships.
Original images are created using proper size and resolution, and all images enhance the content.
There is a consistent visual theme.
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2 points
The graphics, sound/and or animation visually depict material and assist
the audience in understanding the flow of information or content.
Original images are used.
Images are proper size, resolution.
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1 point
Some of the graphics, sounds, and/or animations seem unrelated to the
topic/theme and do not enhance the overall concepts.
Most images are clipart or recycled from the WWW.
Images are too large/small in size.
Images are poorly cropped or the color/resolution is fuzzy.
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0 points
The graphics, sounds, and/or animations are unrelated to the content.
Graphics do not enhance understanding of the content, or are distracting
decorations that create a busy feeling and detract from the content.
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Writing
Mechanics
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6 points
The text is written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation,
and spelling.
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4 points
The text is clearly written with little or no editing required for grammar,
punctuation, and spelling.
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2 points
Spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors distract or impair readability.
(3 or more errors)
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0 points
Errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage and grammar repeatedly
distract the reader and major editing and revision is required.
(more than 5 errors)
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| Teamwork |
6 points
The group documents how members brainstormed, discussed, assumed roles
and solved problems.
Provides evidence that group members helped one another, shared ideas,
developed and evaluated their finished product(s).
The project is clearly a group effort.
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4 points
The group documents how members divided tasks, shared the workload and
managed problems in a way that advanced the group goal.
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2 points
The group occasionally helped one another but required teacher assistance
to resolve differences.
One person documents that he/she did most of the work and/or problems
were not managed in a way that advanced the group goal.
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0 points
The group required teacher assistance with dividing tasks and resolving
differences.
Few people contributed their fair share of work.
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TOTAL
POINTS
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/50 |
Conclusion
After completing this webquest, we hope that you have a better understanding of what PowerPoint is and how it can be used in your classroom. If you are interested in finding out more information about this topic, please re-visit some of the links used in this webquest, or continue to research using an internet search engine. We hope that you have expanded your knowledge of PowerPoint and we hope that you will use it in your classroom.
Credits & References
PPTools. Retrieved October 27, 2005
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00034.htm.
University of Wisonsin. PowerPoint Rubric Retrieved November 8, 2005
from
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/pptrubric.html.
Northeastern University Education Technology Page. Retrieved October 27, 2005
http://www.edtech.neu.edu/workshops/materials/powerpoint/overview/why_ppt.php.
The Electric Teacher Retrieved October 26, 2005
http://www.electricteacher.com/tutorial3.htm.
Based
on a template from The WebQuest Page
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