Reflection 4 – a fresh look at PowerPoint

We have established in our investigation of multimedia tools, that multimedia does have a place because ‘students learn better from words and pictures than from words alone’ (Mayer, 2001, p. 63).  Swisher (2007) warns that the use of multimedia in itself does not guarantee educational success.  We have all endured death by PowerPoint.  Endless slides of boring facts and figures.  I have good news for you!  There is absolutely no reason why PowerPoint presentations should be boring and tedious.  Technology has once again improved, to allow the humble PowerPoint to be interactive.

Mouse Mischief is a free download for PowerPoint, which enables the PowerPoint to become interactive.  Each student can operate a mouse at their desktop, and interact with the slide.  Mouse Mischief also supports collaborative learning, and students can utilise this resource as part of a team.

As a teacher of Certificate II in Engineering at TAFE, I could utilize this technology with PowerPoint.  When doing revision in preparation for exams, the PowerPoint slide could have a multiple choice question.  Students could be divided into two teams, and each team could circle the answer they believe to be right.  This YouTube clip shows how Mouse Mischief can be integrated into the classroom.

PowerPoint has always been known to be an effective tool to engage students aurally and visually.  The integration of such tools as Mouse Mischief now introduces a third sense of touch to the lesson as well.  As discussed in the previous reflection, engaging the senses improves the transfer of information to memory, and assists in the retrieval of this information.

References

Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

mousemischief. (2010). Mouse Mischief Sultan School CaseStudy.  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGHEU5UowXY

Swisher, D.  (2007).  Does Multimedia Truly Enhance Learning? Moving Beyond The Visual Media Bandwagon Toward Instructional Effectiveness.  Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/1046356/Does_Multimedia_Truly_Enhance_Learning_Moving_Beyond_The_Visual_Media_Bandwagon_Toward_Instructional_Effectiveness