Teacher's Blog
Following on from our last Power Up tip for PowerPoint ( which was a while ago now !) This is another great idea,so that you don’t have to exit your presentation to let students share their ideas during a lesson.
It’s really useful to collect feedback and ideas from students during a presentation and add that to the slide deck. Usually this means jumping out of a presentation, typing the text on a slide, then returning back to the presentation. But there is a really simple way of doing this without having to leave your presentation.
Firstly, You need to find the Developer Tab in PowerPoint. This does not appear by default in PowerPoint 2007 & 2010. You need to go to Options and add it to your Ribbon. Once you have done this you will have a number of new tools available to you.
Select the Text Box (ActiveX Control). Click and drag to create a text box on your slide. Now you need to change it’s properties. Do this by right clicking on the box you have just created and select properties. From the list that appears change the following properties.
Dragbehaviour – enable this, it will allow you to drag text to other boxes. In the slide show highlighting and dragging the text will allow you to move it to another box. Great for organising ideas.
EnterKeyBehaviour – Select True , to allow the use of the enter key to move down a line
Multiline – Select True, to allow separate lines of text
TabKeyBehaviour – Select True, to allow use of the Tab key, great for creating lists
You might also think about changing ScrollBars to Both, just in case the amount of text exceeds to the box size.
Once you have done this for one box, right clicking and copying and pasting it , creates more boxes with these properties very quickly. Combine this with additional text and graphics and you can create a motivating way of collecting ideas from students.
Any text added to the slide can be saved by simply saving the presentation. This means it can be used for review, revision and reflection in other lessons.
After the great success of the previous Microsoft Partners in Learning Teacher Camps, we are taking the event on the road – this is an open invitation to all Teachers in Wales. So if you want to spend time with other great innovative educators, then this is an ideal event for you. This is possibly some of the best CPD you will ever get.
Camp Wales takes place at Willows High School, starting 4:30pm - 8:00pm Friday 29th and finishing 9:30pm - 3:00pm Saturday 30th June 2012.
This event is free to attend.
What will I be doing at Camp?
We will give you training in using free Microsoft apps to create teaching and learning resources for the classroom. You will have time to design, create and evaluate those resources and collaborate with others. You will also get the chance to speak to experts and award winning teachers about our technology. In addition you will also be learning how to deliver the same training to colleagues in your own schools.
These resources will take the form of screen capture videos, which we call Innovids. You can see examples of these on the Partners in Learning YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/innovativeteach
How do I apply?
We don’t want videos or lengthy biographies from you, to apply for this free event, just email three tweet-esque type statements (140 characters or less) to Gareth Ritter – ritzertech@hotmail.com before the closing date Monday 18th June. These statements should be ideas of how you would, or are using Microsoft technologies to support learning across the curriculum. For example:-
· using conditional formatting in Excel to help visual learners in numeracy
· using PowerPoint to create animated flicker books
· using the Songsmith to create mobile ringtones
Also include details of your school, subject expertise and pupil age range in your application. We will select 25 applicants who will be notified by 22nd June 2012.
I am not an ICT teacher is it worth me applying?
Yes, most definitely, we are looking for classroom innovators in learning, rather than techie whizz kids. This event is targeted at those Teachers in Wales interested in teaching and learning, and how technology can support that, rather than the technology itself. This event is for teachers in Primary, Secondary and Special school settings.
What will I need to bring?
We expect you to bring some of the tools you are using already:
a headset with a microphone or Headphones and a Microphone
a laptop running Windows Vista or Windows 7,
Office 2007 or 2010 (not essential)
We will send you a list of tools to download and install when we confirm your attendance.
What will I be expected to do?
We will help you create two innovid resources, including the one you will create on the course. We will collect those resources and post them to our YouTube Channel.
We will offer you support if you wish you recreate this course in your school and you will receive a certificate welcoming you as a Partners in Learning Innovative Teacher and more ideas about how to enhance pupil through the use of technology.
There are still 8.1 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet and, along with a lack of interest, the cost of getting a computer and internet access is a barrier for millions of people. Research has found that nearly half of the people do not use the internet are on low incomes.This could be having a profound affect on the students in your school and their ability to access and engage with their learning online.
Get Online @ Home the initiative led by Microsoft looks to provide affordable reconditioned PCs and laptops to people who may not have been online before, is now offering a reconditioned Windows 7 PC for just £99 [£49 to those on benefits] or a reconditioned Window 7 laptop for £149 [£119 to those on benefits], when taken with TalkTalk Essentials Broadband and Phone at an exclusive price of just £5 a month.
The scheme is backed by UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox’s new organisation Go ON UK which aims to bring the benefits of the internet to every individual and every organisation in every community across the UK.
All Get Online @ Home PCs come ready to go ‘out of the box’ with Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft software for documents, emails, messaging and pictures, in addition to Microsoft’s free security software. Users will also benefit from TalkTalk’s free award winning HomeSafe™ security service, which is built into the broadband network itself.
This deal is only available by calling the specially trained Get Online @ Home team on 0800 090 1297 to have any questions answered and make it as easy as possible to get started.
UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox said:
“Of the 8.1 million people in Britain who have never been online there are 5.5 million adults over the age of 50. We know that the cost of buying and connecting a PC is a significant barrier and so being able to offer a PC with a year’s broadband for under £160 will be a lifeline for many. With more support like that of the Get Online @ Home team, we will build the digital skills of individuals and communities across the UK.”
Since its launch in March 2011, over 4,500 Get Online @ Home ‘Plug & Play’ PCs have been supplied to people across the UK with 90% of these going to low income families on benefits. Within this group, 24% have gone to single parents in the 18-30 age bracket with 15% for single pensioners over the age of 65. This programme is now genuinely achieving its aim of reaching those who need the extra support most.
Dido Harding, CEO of TalkTalk, said:
“The internet connects and entertains, educates and informs – it even saves money. Yet we know that for some people the upfront cost of getting online can be a barrier. We believe that every family has the right to access safe and affordable broadband and, as the UK’s leading value for money provider, this belief is at the very heart of our business. By teaming up with Microsoft to offer a best value computer and broadband package we hope that more people will be motivated to take their first steps online.”
For more information, please go to www.getonlineathome.org or call 0800 090 1297.