Class PowerPoint Portfolio

I made a portfolio filled with several projects I made using computer programs. I liked putting it together as I was able to see how I progressed over the school spring term. I loved making certain projects and experimenting with computer programs. PowerPoint is a great way to display things over time.

Reading Elements PowerPoint

In one of our classes, we had to use PowerPoint and make either a story or talk about a book and the elements in it (characters, setting, plot, etc). I loved using PowerPoint as you can add interactive sounds, images, and graphic words into it. You can also alter how the PowerPoint presentation moves as it changes to the next slide. I felt the interactive factors in PowerPoint makes it a useful tool in teaching students about a certain topic and students will have fun using it for presentations. 

Animoto

It was my first time using Animoto and I had fun using it. Although the program allowed you to only make a 30 seconds clip, I found it to be useful in teaching or introducing a lesson topic to students.

Here's my animoto clip that I made:

http://animoto.com/play/emSzAR4Vvw5CTnI8ShYLbw

The animoto clip would be a great way to introduce second graders to third graders to the idea of equality. I would introduce it when Martin Luther King, Jr Day has arrived and the video would be a great introduction to the lesson. It would explain how the main idea behind Martin Luther King Jr Day is how equality was strongly desired in the past and the importance behind it. Students would be able to see through the pictures and drawings how everyone is equal. It is a great social studies lesson and a great way to introduce one of the important historical figures in America. In Mayer and Moreno's "Animation is an Aid to Multimedia Learning," the spatial contiguity principle explains how on-screen text next to animation helps students learn better. In my animoto clip, there are short texts next to images or on the image itself. It helps explains the main idea behind the clip and allows children to understand and learn better.

Another Excel Project

I made another excel project that dealt with the Christmas holiday and creating a double bar graph. After the first time, it became easier for me to manage Excel. I was able to remember what to do and what formulas will help me find the average and more. The images and colors make the bar graph more fun and interesting.

Monthly Newsletter

I created a newsletter using Word Doc and it was interesting. There were times when it was frustrating with typing in the slots and moving the boxes around. I loved how the newsletter came out and I found it to be a great way to update students and their parents on what is going on in the classroom and about school events. I also find having templates ready will make things easier for anyone who wants to make a newsletter.

Kidspiration: Food Web Chart

  

I enjoyed making a web chart about apples: where it comes from, types of apples, and what we can make from apples. This is a great way to demonstrate to students you can use computer programs to make charts instead of a paper and pen/pencil. Kidspiration provides images that makes the chart more colorful, fun, interactive, and interesting. I loved how I was able to add pictures with the words. It makes the food web more lively.

Kidspiration: All About Me

I was always use to jotting down ideas by using a pen/pencil and paper so using the computer software, "Kidspiration" was an interesting experience. I liked finding images that pertained to me, my life, and my family. It was fun and I think a lot of students would enjoy using "Kidspiration."