Discussion Three

Discussion Three

After reading the article, I agree overall that by using PowerPoint as the only tool of teaching in the classroom is abysmal for communication.  However, I disagree with the view that these particular issues are the root of PowerPoint evil.  I feel as though PowerPoints can be very effective when showing pictures, diagrams and other visuals to students. By presenting them in a PowerPoint, the teacher has them ready and well done and does not need to spend time to draw them, poorly, on the board. They can also be used, at the end of a unit or a discussion, for a summery and review.  When I go in to do observations and follow-ups with teachers, I have seen teachers that use the technology in every class and make impressive presentation, but at the end the students are not really learning. On the other hand, I have seen others, who are not obsessed with PowerPoints and use them as supplementary method, or used in moderation, whose students do much better.  There are many advantages to have technology in the class. Teachers who use it, make a great impression on their administrators. But Technology used without the teachers understanding of what his/her goals are, without plan of reinforcement and with no real assessment, has no real value.  I personally do not use PowerPoints in my classroom, I mainly use flipcharts.  I love to use flipcharts because they allow my 1^st graders to involved and have ownership of their learning.  By being in this 590 class, I have learned about Prezi.  From what I have learned about Prezi, it not only engages students through the “wow” factor inherent to a new tool, but also through the dialogue that is fostered when students can ask questions and teachers can easily jump to a point in the Prezi and focus on a detail.  My goal is to learn more about this PowerPoint tool and bring it back to my classroom this fall.