PowerPointful

PowerPoint is presentation software. A presentation is a collection of slides relating to the same topic, which may be shown while an oral report is given to help summarize data and emphasize report highlights. From the presentation slides, you can prepare handouts for the audience, speaker notes to use during the presentation, or outlines to provide an overview of the presentation. In addition, you can print slides as signs or overhead transparencies.
 * Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint slides may include text, drawings, charts, outlines, graphics, video, and audio clips.

The use of technology results in higher levels of student achievement. Students can practice basic skills faster and better. Curriclum can be more easily individualized. Students can be more productive and can do more in-depth information retrievel. Technology can aide in organization, communication, and creativity. Technology lends itself to the learner centered classroom.
 * Moving from PowerPoint-less to PowerPoint-ful


 * Multimedia:**
 * aides in learning because of the uniqe ability to store, interconnect, and provide access to a wide range of knowledge.
 * helps with student retention and integrating information to the student's existing knowledge base.
 * can be detrimental when the technology is used incorrectly, mostly in a distracting way.
 * can help focus the learner and keep the learner's interest.
 * can give the learner control over the direction of the learning.
 * allows students to process information through multiple channels.

The benefit of multimedia hinges on the design and delivery. The medium, the message, and the messenger are all important in student learning.

When using mulimedia, teachers need to focus on:
 * the content and not the technology.
 * the needs and abilities of those using the technology.
 * a learner centered approach.

Example ABC Assistive Technology Project: [|http://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/mbe/Main/assistive%20technology/letters.ppt]
 * PowerPoint Window**[[file:ppt window.doc]]
 * PowerPoint Answer Key**[[file:powerpoint intro and key.doc]]
 * PowerPoint How To**[[file:xp PPt How to.doc]]
 * Triggers How To**[[file:triggers.doc]]
 * Checklist**[[file:checklist3.doc]]
 * Outline** (Storyboard)[[file:Powerpoint outline draft.doc]]

Information taken from: "The Multimedia Paradox" (Tad Simons, //Presentations//, vol. 18, no. 9, September 2004, pp. 24-5, 28-9), "The Impact of Technoloygy on Student Acheivement" (http://www.apple.com/education/research/), "Our Multimedia Future" (Our Multimedia Future: Recent Research on Multimedia's Impact on Education, M.D. Roblyer, col, 26#6, pp. 51–53), //Increasing Student Learning Through Multimedia Projects (//Michael Simpkins, Karen Cole, Fern Tavalin), and Barry Haines--instructor with Lesley University.