Chapter Five

Integrating Multimedia and Educational Software Applications

Objectives:

You will be able to:

Explain the benefits of using multimedia applications in the classroom.
Identify various learning styles.
Discuss ways in which a specific Web site can be integrated in the classroom.
Identify numerous ways to integrate multimedia applications into the classroom.
Create a PowerPoint presentation.

This is Important Because...

Teachers are becoming increasingly accountable for student learning. How can you reach every student? Not all students learn the same. Students come to school with different experiences, backgrounds, ability, and motivation levels. Technology offers teachers a great educational tool to reach every student. Furthermore, multimedia software has the potential to greatly enhance the learning of all students in the classroom.

Multimedia applications can provide "cognitive scaffolding" for students that lack background experiences. In building, a scaffold is a temporary structure used for support. A cognitive scaffold is something that can be used by students to support their learning. When students lack background experiences or knowledge necessary to learn a new concept, multimedia software can provide the visual and auditory information to support the new concept. This increases their understanding of the new information. Research has shown and continues to show that when integrated into the classroom effectively, multimedia applications are a powerful learning tool for any student.

Using a multimedia application to present information to students, for tutorials, and for student projects adds a dynamic element to teaching and learning. Students are excited to create their own multimedia presentations and take more control of their learning when using multimedia software.

As you become more familiar with software applications you will begin to see similarities between applications. Once you know one piece of multimedia software well, such as HyperStudio or PowerPoint, you will easily learn other multimedia software applications. Most menu items and functions are similar. In addition, once you know a specific version of a software application, such as PowerPoint 97, it is easy to learn the new features in the upgraded version, i.e. PowerPoint 2000 or PowerPoint XP.

Multimedia

mul-ti-me-dia adj. Date: 1962: using, involving, or encompassing several media . Source: WWWebster Dictionary

Classrooms have changed dramatically in the past 30 years. We have seen an evolution of ideas that have changed how teachers teach to better enhance student learning. Recently, researchers have been focusing on both learning styles and multiple intelligences. Everyone has a particular learning style, a way in which they learn the best. Some students are very visual, others are auditory, and some are tactile. Visit the following sites to learn more about your particular learning style.

Take this online Learning Style Inventory by Pennsylvania State University, Royer Center.
Receive a free e-mail newsletter from The Center for New Discoveries in Learning that describes learning styles.

Multimedia applications appeal to all learning styles by their very nature. When students are able to employ their best learning style, it follows that they will learn better. If they are learning better, they are experiencing more success in school. This raises self-esteem and increases student motivation. When students are given the opportunity to be successful, creative, and involved in their learning, they will become life-long learners.

Microsoft PowerPoint

Your textbook introduces PowerPoint in chapters 3, 5, and 7. PowerPoint is similar to HyperStudio in that it allows users to create multimedia presentations that can incorporate text, graphics, animation, audio, video, links, and most importantly interactivity. PowerPoint is most often used as a presentation tool. Presenting a lesson using PowerPoint is very motivating to students. Students find information presented using a multimedia software application, such as PowerPoint, to be more interesting. PowerPoint is simple to use and easy to learn. In addition to the links below, your textbook provides links to tutorials on creating a PowerPoint presentation in the In the Lab section starting on page 5.43. Instructions for using PowerPoint as well as productivity and integration ideas are provided as well. Be sure to visit this In the Lab section at the textbook Web site.

PowerPoint in the Classroom - This is a very clear and fun tutorial. You can print this tutorial and there is a Teacher's Guide as well.
PowerPoint - The University of West Florida created this tutorial that teaches the basics of PowerPoint.
Land-Grant Training Alliance Online Lessons - From this site you can access very thorough online PowerPoint tutorials!
Microsoft In Education: PowerPoint - Microsoft also gives detailed instructions on how to create a presentation using PowerPoint.

HyperStudio

As noted, HyperStudio is another popular multimedia software application. Visit the links below to see how teachers utilize PowerPoint and HyperStudio in the classroom to enhance student learning.

HyperStudio Showcase - Minute-by-Minute - A collection of How To stacks focusing on specific HyperStudio functions can be downloaded at this site. Additional stacks are available from links at the bottom of the page. Many of the advanced features of HyperStudio are highlighted here.
Math Forum: Tessellation Tutorials - Scroll down the page to locate information on how to use HyperStudio when teaching tessellations!
Artech Online Academy PowerPoint Tutorials was created by students in Tennessee to be used in the lower elementary classroom. You can download these presentations.

Time Saver!

When you or your students print their PowerPoint presentation, a good technique is to print the presentation with six slides per page; instead of one slide per page. This saves time, paper, and ink. This is especially important if you are printing presentations in color as printing large presentations as one slide per page can quickly deplete a color print cartridge.

To print presentations with six slides per page in PowerPoint 2000/XP, click Print on the File menu (do not click the Print icon on the Formatting toolbar). When the Print dialog box displays, click the down arrow in the Print what: option box and then select Handouts. Make sure that 6 displays in the Slides per page: text box in the Handouts area and then click the OK button. If you are using PowerPoint 97, click Print on the File menu (do not click the Print icon on the Formatting toolbar). When the Print dialog box displays, click the down arrow in the Print what: option box and select Handouts (6 slides per page) and then click the OK button.

Once you have created and saved a few PowerPoint presentations, do not start from scratch when you need a new presentation. Instead, open a previously created one that is similar, save it with a new name, and then modify it as necessary.

Chapter Five Assignments

Read Chapter 5 in the textbook and briefly review the Special Feature that follows Chapter 5 (starts on page 5.47): "Guide to Professional Educational Organizations."
Go online to the Shelly Cashman Web site, http://www.scsite.com/tdc2/ and complete the following textbook end-of-chapter sections.

"Education Issues"

Write a 150 - 300 word reflection on Educational Issue #3 (page 5.40) “Distance Learning,” focusing on what you learned. Do not summarize the report, instead discuss ideas and significant insights and how the information can be used to support classroom integration of technology, also reflect on your personal reaction to reading the article. Type your assignment single space with an extra line between paragraphs. You must use Microsoft Word.

Send this document via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter's due date.

“In the Lab”

#1 - Follow the directions given on page 5.43 – 5.44 using Microsoft PowerPoint to create the “Back to School Open House,” presentation as shown in Figure 5-57. It will not be necessary to print the presentation. For additional help using PowerPoint try accessing one of the tutorials listed on the website on in your textbook. You must use Microsoft PowerPoint.

#2 - Follow the directions given on page 5.44 – 5.45 using Microsoft PowerPoint to create the “Welcome to Parent Night,” presentation as shown in Figure 5-58. It will not be necessary to print the presentation. For additional help using PowerPoint try accessing one of the tutorials listed on the website on in your textbook. You must use Microsoft PowerPoint.

· If you do not have the “crayons” design template, choose another appropriate template

· If you do not have the clip art shown, choose other appropriate clip art

Send these files via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter's due date.

3. Respond to the Discussion questions posted for Chapter 5.

4. Complete Chapter 5 Test