Practical Time Saving Activity Starters

Want a quick overview of this workshop? Go to Prevent PowerPoint Poisoning!

Create technology-based, virtual workspaces for students to organize their thoughts, ideas, and understandings. Apply existing classroom technology tools such as PowerPoint to create engaging project starters where students can share their understandings through e-scrapbooking, writing, illustration, and sound communications across the curriculum.

Let's create virtual workspaces for students to organize their thoughts, ideas, and understandings. In this session, you'll apply technology tools you already have in your classroom such as PowerPoint to create powerful project starters for your students. Adapt existing software to create focused, standards-based project starters for learners. Once you get beyond the bullet points and low-level slide shows, PowerPoint can be a powerful tool for learning in every content area. Turn PowerPoint into a dynamic tool for addressing standards across grade levels and subject areas. Whether introducing new concepts, practicing essential skills, or transferring knowledge to new situations, technology-based starters provide an effective, efficient, and appealing learning space where students can share their understandings through writing, illustration, and sound communications. Once you’ve created projects starters, you’re ready to dive into the advanced features of PowerPoint and design projects that promote inquiry, higher-order thinking, and deep understandings. Learn to adapt starters for different types of learning, create electronic portfolios, and integrate multimedia and interactivity. Bring your curriculum ideas and leave with engaging, technology-rich learning materials. Think of technology as a useful sidekick that can provide tools and tutorials to help students learn. Although many of the tools we use in schools were developed for adults, they can be adapted for use by young people.

Desktop Learning Spaces

Desktop learning spaces are areas created on the computer's desktop to facilitate learning. The next step in the quest for effective, efficient, and appealing work spaces is the design of quality support materials, templates, and starters that facilitate the work of learners in specific situations.

Adapt software you already have on your computers to create focused, standards-based project starters for learners. Once you get beyond the bullet points and low-level slide shows, PowerPoint can be a powerful tool for learning in every content area. Turn PowerPoint into a dynamic tool for addressing standards across grade levels and subject areas. Whether introducing new concepts, practicing essential skills, or transferring knowledge to new situations, technology-based starters provide an effective, efficient, and appealing learning space where students can share their understandings through writing, illustration, and sound communications.

Once you’ve created projects starters, you’re ready to dive into the advanced features of PowerPoint and design projects that promote inquiry, higher-order thinking, and deep understandings. Learn to adapt starters for different types of learning, create electronic portfolios, and integrate multimedia and interactivity. Bring your curriculum ideas and leave with engaging, technology-rich learning materials.