Mod 1: Reading Response

Power Up!

After growing up in the generation first taught using PowerPoint, it was very interesting to read an article talking about the program’s potential from 14 years ago.  At the time, PowerPoint must have seemed like a great and creative new way to “jazz up” lectures.  However, the main problem with PowerPoint is just that:  it is still used primarily to lecture.  I read through the possible classroom uses listed in this article, and the only activity listed that included student engagement beyond lecturing was the Jeopardy Game.  I think the biggest failing of PowerPoint is that it is too easy to be used as a crutch:  teachers believe that adding color and graphics is enough to make a lecture interesting and engaging for students.  The author of this article often mentions how pictures and sound effects “capture students’ attention,” but our generation is constantly being bombarded with pictures and videos and sounds- adding a few to the same old lecture is not going to go very far.

On the other hand, PowerPoint can be very helpful if it is one tool in a teacher’s entire “toolbox.”  This article mentioned using PowerPoint to help students who are nervous speaking in front of the class give presentations.  When used correctly, this can be a comfort, providing a small barrier between the presenter and the class.  The lights dim and the presenter does not need to make eye contact with the audience because everyone is looking up at the pictures.  This does help students who are shy about public speaking.

There was, however, a statement made by the author that I believe is not at all true:  “PowerPoint also can help address other learning styles, such as the auditory, visual kinesthetic, and manipulative.”  Presentations with pictures and graphs may be more useful to visual learners, but I cannot imagine a way to use PowerPoint to teach manipulative learning styles, and this was never addressed.  A SmartBoard could be used in this way (moving words and images around on the screen), but not a regular PowerPoint presentation.

Mod 1: Smart Exchange Activities

 The first activity I found (that wasn't Jeopardy) is the "My Family" activity.  This short vocabulary game would be a good warm-up activity for a German 1 level class.  It would be a good chance to get the more physically active students up to the front manipulating the words, and students at that level (usually freshmen) enjoy opportunities to show their classmates that they do know the material and aren't dumb.  I might also use it as review before a test or quiz.

The second activity I found is the "Popcorn Game," which is a creative way to show questions.  I think it's original purpose is to review for a test, but I would rather use it to start discussions.  Instead of vocabulary or grammar questions, they could be personal questions or discussion starters.  This way, it could be used at any level, depending on the level of the questions.  Hitting the kernels with koosh balls would be a great release for the higher-energy students and get them engaged, as long as things don't get out of hand.

The third activity that caught my attention is the "My Bad" game.  It plays like a virtual version of the board game "Sorry," except that you have to answer questions before you can move ahead.  This would be a nice option for reviewing before a test or quiz in small groups.  I think I would prefer to keep this at a lower level class, I could see older students being a little offended and thinking that this game is pointless (unless the group is right).