Project #5 blog

The most challenging aspect of this project was once again the question of what the subject matter will be. I have extensive experience with powerpoint from instructing in the Marine Corps and the Sheriff's Department, so use of the application was definitely not an issue. I guess that the familiarity with powerpoint would actually double as the rewarding aspect as well, as there wasn't any lost time due to a learning curve. I believe powerpoint has a significant role in classroom instruction, as it provides audio and visual teaching aids in addition to lecture. The only caution I can think of to offer with powerpoint is to not let the "bells and whistles" of the application over power the lesson you are trying to teach. It is easy to get lost in the custom animations and sounds, in an effort to make the presentation look good, and the cost of too much is it will take away from the effectiveness of its teaching power. The three ways I can think of that students could use powerpoint in the classroom is as part of their own projects or presentations, in a study-game format, and as printable handouts for note-taking.