Interactive PowerPoint

1. Interactive PowerPoint Not your usual approach A sampling of ideas from Deborah Healey

2. What is the secret of ... • Learning English? • (note the pause)

3. Setting the stage • Start with something to activate schema – learners’ background knowledge • Pictures • Interesting question • “Hook” to catch learner attention • Learning objectives – so learners know where the lesson is going • Objective for this presentation: Teachers will discuss ways to add interactivity to their lectures, leading to their creating an interactive PowerPoint presentation

4. Real interactivity is NOT • Just letting students click on the slide show • Teacher talk the whole time • Q&A where the teacher has all the questions AND the answers • So what is it?

5. Techniques to promote interactivity • This PPT show combines many techniques – far more than you should have in a typical lesson. Use only 1-3 maximum. • Blank slide • ConcepTest • Think-Pair-Share • Interpreted Lecture • Rapid Reflection • QuickWrite • See more possibilities at http://www.thiagi.com/interactive-lectures.html

7. Blank slide technique Say this during while showing the blank slide – not on its own slide, as we have here • Using a blank slide can re-focus attention off the screen and onto the speaker • You need to have something useful to say, of course. • It can also serve as an excellent transition to the next topic. • In our case, it’s specific techniques to use that promote interactivity.

8. Quick Quiz: ConcepTest • What are three ways to activate learners’ background knowledge (schema)? • Share with a partner, then share again with the people near you • Come to consensus – any questions?

9. ConcepTest technique • This can come at any time during the class. • It can be short answer, multiple choice, true/false • Why would you do this at the beginning of a class? Why at the end? Why in the middle? • Think about a time that you might use this, and share with a partner.

10. Think, Pair, Share technique • Think individually • Talk with a partner • Share with the large group • How might you use a ConcepTest? (Think, then discuss with a partner, then we’ll share with the group.)

12. Blank slide technique • Good for discussion time if people know what they are supposed to do • Otherwise, leave instruction slides visible

13. Interpreted lecture • How would you explain a ConcepTest? • How might a blank slide be useful?

14. Interpreted lecture technique • Stop and have someone in the class explain what you just talked about • Use simpler language for an academic lecture • Repeat and review • Best to do this just after the concept is discussed by the teacher

15. Interactivity is... • Using PowerPoint as an organizer so that you can do OTHER THINGS more easily • Discussions about the audio or video clip • Writing the group’s responses in a Word document on the screen • Responding to the website activities

16. PowerPoint as an organizer • Easily move among websites (Insert -> Hyperlink) • Include learner activities, not just showing • Open Word and Excel documents on your computer (hyperlink) • Use Word as a blackboard; use Excel for learner activities • Play audio and video from the web (hyperlink) or from files on the computer (Insert-> Movies and Sound) • Have a learner activity associated with these

17. Examples Make sure all files are in the same folder as your PowerPoint show if you are using a file from your computer. • Link to a website: www.nicenet.org • Demonstrate how to join or how to post a comment • Link to a local Word file: sample.doc • Use this for taking notes

18. Examples Make sure all files are in the same folder as your PowerPoint show if you are using a file from your computer. • Insert a sound from a file on your computer or link to a sound online • Introduce an activity; do a dictation or cloze; etc. • Insert a video from a file on your computer or link to a video online • Smooth transitions between activities.

19. Your thoughts... • What else can you do if PPT is an organizer? • Think, pair, share

21. Non-linear PowerPoint • You don’t always need to go in a straight line from beginning to end • Right-click in Slide Show mode to bring up a menu; jump to another place • Include internal hyperlinks • Why would this be useful?

22. Non-linear PowerPoint • Go back to a previous point or jump forward (in response to a ConcepTest) • Posing a question: • If yes, go to one place • If no, go to a different place • You control PPT; it doesn’t control you

23. Do you understand? • Jumping around with a hyperlink • Yes: let’s go on • No: please show me again

24. Games templates • Create a Jeopardy game • Create a Concentration game (matching pairs) • Learners can use this on their own • Use it in a one-computer classroom as a whole-class activity

25. Student-created PowerPoint • Using templates (from Microsoft.com or teacher-created) • Power in the hands of students • Useful knowledge for the work world • Useful knowledge for academic presentations • They often know more than we do...

26. Key question... • Are you willing to give up control? • Will you create a real learner-centered environment? • Or not?

27. QuickWrite/Minute Write • Take two minutes to write down three techniques that you plan to use in a future class.

28. QuickWrite/Minute Write technique • Very short time • Beginning – activate background knowledge • Middle – check comprehension • End – review and reinforce learning • Can be graded, but usually isn’t

29. Thanks for interacting!