Week 6: Daniel's Reflection

Empowering Teaching

 

 

This week was all about promoting productive instruction via the Microsoft tool Power Point. I have until this week viewed power point as an important tool in one way communication. But this week has advanced my knowledge on power point that it can not only be applied to enhance interaction in class but also very convenient to apply it in a large class size with having as equal out come as managimg a small class size would have. Isn't this a break through specially in classrooms over flooded by an influx of students? I have applied such interactive powerpoint in my class. First as it was a new phenomenon to my class I have to further investigate about it on how to implement it in order to foster class interaction. Thus I have read several articles on it and viewed the sites indicated in our course site for this week. They have actually enlightened me a lot in broadening my understanding on the do's and don'ts of that process. They further have boosted my confidence on its application as an interactive tool. As I have already mentioned it over my discussion post on Nice net, power point application was never new to my knowledge as I have used it in several occassions. But as an interactive tool, this week was my first step. It was indeed a very rewarding adventure. My students enjoyed it beyond imagination. And what witnessed that  was I hardly spoke apart from the instruction I was expected to give the rest and much of the class times were shared among the learners. Thanks Donna, for that enlightement that I have now been friendly to such interactive power point in every type of lesson in my class. I commonly use lectures in my class room and the interpreted lecture and blank slide techniques play a great trick of engaging leaners share their ideas in class. 

 

This week has also been a kind of experiment for what we have suggested as a solution to our class room problems. In my case it was a motivation problem. My students were not motivated to give presentations in class for the basic fact that they memorize their presentations and were easily disappointed with themselves as they fail to recall every thing in their presesntation. Thus my suggestion was if I can allow them present using power point it will easily alleviate the problem. The question is how did it go? Well, to be frank I have a very successful week this week in every respect. By demonstrating interactive power point in class myself,  I have not only managed to foster interaction in class but also laid an example to my students. Most of them used Interactive Power point while giving their presentation. One peculiar example is from Winta a student in my class. Her presentation was on "Isn't the Institute of Religous Studies (IRS) late at establishing student's lounge?". After introducing her topic and stating her findings colourfully using power point she arrived at the conclusion that the institute is inhibited by spatial limitations from having students' lounge. Finally she used the power point interactively asking her class mates to suggest possible recomendations and I can't tell you the enthusism she has created making each student want to suggest a recomendation. I was practically speechless at how the students dominated the discussions. What is more all the presenters were competitive to one another; each came up with very interesting slides and demonstrated their presentations with FULL confidence. What a MOTIVATION ! Now that I have witnessed the power of technology I will impart it to other English teachers to use interactive power point presentations often in thei class rooms.

 

To generalize this week has taught me a lot. One of which is that technology what ever it can be has the power to encourage learning. Second I also have got the taste that I no more should depend on the old style of chalk and talk instruction. I knew I have to upgrade my self in my instructions. It further taught me there is no raeson why we teachers can't manage motivating large class sizes to learn through power point. 

Power point is indeed a tool to empower teaching!!!