Using PowerPoint.

I use it primarily as a tool to hook the children into the subject matter.  The flexibility of the software allows me to use video clips, colour photos and sound to create presentations that I refer to as I do the 'chalk and talk' section of the lesson.  I also use it to get the information into the class that they will require in order to complete an individual or group task.  I am also leaving presentations running in the background of lessons which contain useful facts, dates, picture sources, etc.

When I create a PowerPoint presentation I use the school's scheme of work for a key question or investigation.  Then I consider how I would usually present this to a class.  I look on the web for as many sources as I can find and store them on the hard drive.  Then I put them into slides and add text as appropriate.  Its as easy as using Overhead Transparencies when you get going.

Children using PowerPoint.

I organised a field trip to Chepstow Castle last June.  Whilst there, the classes had the brief that they would produce a piece of coursework (using PowerPoint) when they returned to school based on the question "How well did Chepstow protect its owners?”.  So they were making notes, sketches and taking digital photographs of the castle.  When we returned our head of ICT put the photos (lot's taken by me and the children) onto the school server.  Then after a half lesson on putting the information together - I gave them instruction on what the PowerPoint presentation must and must not contain.  It must be no more than 7 slides; it should have a plain background; each slide should contain no more than one photo; animation should be reserved for the final slide.  By doing this I hopefully cut down on the amount of time wasted in fancying up the presentations needlessly!  This is important as we often stipulate what children's written reports should contain, but sometimes forget to give them rules for using ICT.  Then the groups set to work accessing the photos from the server folder and from various Chepstow websites.  The results were excellent!  I was able to let the class display their presentations to the rest of the class using a data projector and whiteboard.  Great fun.

© K. Caslin, 2001.  www.SchoolHistory.co.uk