PPT as an Educational Tool

In our district students start using ppt as an educational tool during elementary school where they create simple presentations. As they progress into middle school they use them in their LA/SS classes and in the tech elective. I do not use powerpoint in my class as I have an interactive whiteboard and use the flipchart software that is more interactive for the students than powerpoint allows. In flipchart you can write on the pages during the presentation and choose to save the work or not depending on if you need the information.

The teachers that are effectively using powerpoint with their students are adding the use of voice overs in appropriate places. They also are incorporating the use of powerpoint as an alternative summative evaluation tool to unit tests.

As we build towards the future and need to reach to students outside of our classroom their may be a need to develop more of the classroom presentations in powerpoint or other similar presentation software. This would provide students the ability to observe the classroom lesson on their schedule.

Additional web resources that teachers new to powerpoint might find helpful can be found at:
PowerPoint -- Creating Classroom Presentations http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech013.shtml

PowerPoint uses to extend educational reach
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/Education.htm