Power Point is Evil

I thought that the author, Edward Tufte, had some good arguments about Power Point, and I agree with many of them. However, I don't think that the problem is Power Point, itself, but rather how we use it. I agree that all the silent reading material, in combination with the speaker, is an overload of information in a short period of time. I have often felt in class (NOT in 554) that the teacher gave too much information on the slide and while talking at the same time. I am not a good multitasker. This kind of presentation of information makes me want to zone out, and I find myself not paying attention to the important information that they are trying to give to me. I think that if Power Point was used to just highlight the important stuff, in a few sentances or words with supportive pictures, then people like me wouldn't have to ask the teacher to go back to the last slide.

Educational Technology Blog

I revisited the iLearn Technology blog, which is a great blog for teachers to use to help them integrate technology. The first post I read about described Bemused which is a website for the Birmingham museum and art gallery. On the website, students can do activities, quizzes about the museum, watch videos about the museum, and create their own art and post it in an online gallery. Whats great about this website, is that it gives more information in a "kid" friendly manner to students who are planning on going to the museum. I go to museums every summer for the arts camp that I teach at, and most of the exhibits are not engaging for students (unless its the Natural History Museum). In the past we have done scavenger hunts and other engaging activities that get the kids involved in the museum, instead of just walking around and not really looking at the art. I think that a website like Bemused, can get kids excited about going to see the museum, and it can extend what they have learned from the museum. It's a great resource for teachers.