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Monday, September 15, 2008

Chapter 10: Presentation Software

Throughout high school and over the past few years, I have used PowerPoint significantly more than I have used other programs, such as Excel.  I thought that I had a pretty good grasp on how to use the program.  After reading Chapter 10, however, I realized that once again, my knowledge of presentation software barely touches the surface of the possibilities these programs have to offer.  In the reading, Hamilton presents so many activities and assessments that can be done using these programs.  Many of these activities, including brochures and bookmarks, I would have thought to do in other programs - never PowerPoint.  I'm excited now to learn how to do them on presentation software instead.

While this book does focus on the elementary level, I am finding it very interesting and useful for me, a future high school teacher, as well.  Most of the ideas that I have read about so far could easily be adjusted for the high school student/curriculum.  In this chapter, for example, the text mentions creating portfolios and character webs using presentation software.  Both of these projects would be very applicable to the English classroom, no matter what the grade level.