Classroom
Technology
By: Diane Quigley, Nick Chiappone,
and David Czeiszperger
Overview
• Explain how to use PowerPoint, Visual
Presenters, and Chalkboards
effectively in the classroom
• List the pros and cons of each
method of presenting material
Primary Uses
• Display notes for lecture/discussion
in an extremely legible manner
• Present pictures, diagrams, video
clips and other images
• Include hyperlinks for immediate
internet access
Tips for a Well Done
PowerPoint Presentation
• Make sure the technology works
before the day of the presentation
(hyperlinks, animation, video clips)
• Emphasize the science, not the
gimmicks (keep colors and
background the same)
Tips….cont.
• Font should be large enough to read
and contrast clearly with the
background
• Don’t let defaults box you in
• Use animations and special effects
only to convey information or enhance
content
Pros
For Students
• Detailed information becomes very
legible
• Can see things that could only be
talked about before
• Involves more senses
• Multi-media can make information
more interesting
Pros
For Teachers
• Can incorporate digital images, video
clips, photographs and diagrams
• Can be animated and shared
electronically
• Helps to stay organized
• More efficient in covering content
Cons
For Students
• Dim lights result in drowsy students
• May be presented too fast for
students to take good notes
• Teacher centered, not student
centered
• Promotes students passivity and
hinders and discourages feedback
Cons
For Teachers
• Lacks in class flexibility
• Technology failures (no power, blown
projector, etc)
• Constricts delivery to narrow format
• No persistence of information, only
one board or slide visible
Other ways to use
computers
• WORD Document for English class
• Spread Sheet or Excel for math
• Search Engine (Google, Yahoo or Dog
Pile) for research
• Clip Art or Word Art for publishing a
document or piece of writing
Overhead Projector/
Visual Presenter
Overhead Projector
• Projects enlarged images onto a
screen
• Image is on a transparency placed
below the projector
• Transparency is lighted from
underneath
Visual Presenters
• Video camera mounted on a folding
arm and attached to a base
• Object is placed on base
• Camera transfers the video image to
a projector that projects the
enlarged image onto a screen
Primary Uses of an
Overhead Projector
• Project enlarged images onto a
screen
• Transparencies may be prepared
before presentation
• Notes may be written on
transparencies during presentation
Primary Uses of a
Visual Presenter
• Displays 2-dimensional objects such
as a photo, graph or document
• Displays 3-dimensional objects such
as a book or object
• Zoom capability
• Popular in Science Classrooms
Tips for a Well Done
Projection Presentation
• Set projector 6-feet from screen
• Use large fonts. Min. 24 point. 30-40
point is best
• Avoid fancy fonts
• Make all lines, dividers and graphs
wide lines (2 pixel)
Tips Cont.
• Format pages in landscape
• Use Revelation
• Turn off projector when not
referring to transparency
– Train the Trainer (1990) Univ. Hosp. & Clinics. Columbia, MO
Overhead Projector
Pros
•
•
•
•
•
Can operate while facing audience
Content easily modified
Room lights remain on
Transportable
Inexpensive
Visual Presenter
Pros
• Same benefits as an Overhead
Projector
• Plus, detailed 3-dimensional images
• Camera projects motion. Especially
useful for demonstrations
Projector
Cons
• May appear sloppy
• Less visual interest
• Limited types of media
Blackboard/Dry Erase
Board
•At first, chalkboards were merely small squares of slate,
framed with wood to keep them from breaking.
•Geography teacher in Scotland was reputed to have gotten
the slates off student’s laps and up onto the wall.
•The earliest record in America shows instructors utilizing
them in academic military schools, such as Westpoint, in
1801.
•Teachers no longer had to spend so much time writing
individual problems and lessons on a single student’s slate,
but could speak to an entire class where everyone had the
benefit of seeing the board.
•Reliable.
•Most classrooms equipped with one.
•Easy maintenance.
•Teacher works on same pace with students.
•Students can use without risk of damaging it.
•Problems can be presented to the entire classroom at the
same time.
•Don’t have to turn off lights to see clearly
•Monochrome (even with dry erase boards,
most teachers only use one color).
•Have to write everything in front of the
class.
•Handwriting can get sloppy.
•Misspelled words .
Ideas from class
•What is your favorite way to have info
presented to you?
•IS there a “best” way to present info?
•How will you use these forms in your
classroom?
When to use technology
• When its strengths allow the presentation
of information in ways otherwise unable to.
• If you struggle to produce legible notes on
blackboard or overhead
• Technology is a powerful tool when used in
the right circumstances and should only be
used when it adds to student learning
Closing Thoughts
•Technology can be used to help you
teach
•Technology should not become a crutch
you depend upon
•Use the technology that best suites
your needs, your students’ learning
styles, and your abilities
•Just because some technology is more
modern, it is not necessarily the best
option for use
•Don’t become trapped into depending on
one form of technology
Resources (pictures)
•
•
•
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http://www.bhsu.edu/resources/technology/classroomtechnolo
gy/Equipment/elmo400.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail//B000067O6F/104-9381589-6218350?v=glance&vi=techdata&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER
http://www.hmc.edu/comp/doc/labs/frc/powerpoint.shtml
http://www.shawnmcgough.com/site_images/drawings/PowerP
oint.gif
More Resources
•http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-history-of-thechalkboard.htm
•http://www.uiowa.edu/~centeach/talk/volume7/power
point.html
•http://www.cwru.edu/its/nostrings/2003.archive/j/MikeBroderick/292,6,Argumen
tsforPowerPoint.html
•http://pages.pomona.edu/~nuh04747/Bio165A/powerp
oint.html
•http://wings.buffalo.edu/publications/mcjrnl/v5n1/tec
hwatch.html
•www.sfsu.edu/~avitv/overheadtips.html
•www.dictionary.com