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This month: **Powerpoint** Use powerpoint for more than just a multimedia presentation tool in class. (the key is multimedia -- are you using it as a medium in which you can share information, including movies, hyper-linking to websites for a topic, sharing images . . . ) Use the insert toolbar when in Powerpoint to do this.

Some ideas:

Once you have created a Powerpoint, you can then print off the slides to use in a variety of ways. Use as a notes handout. Post to your classroom website/wiki so students have access to the information. Go to **Print** --and on the right side where it says **Print What** -- choose the format. **Slides** will print out 1 slide per page. The **Handouts** will print the number of chosen slides per page. The **3 slides per page** option will give you the lines along the side to take notes, **4 slides per page** also gives ample room for notes.



Record your presentations and post them to your website/wiki for students and/or parents to refer back to. Go to **Slide Show** from the toolbar at the top and choose **Record Narration**. This will start your Powerpoint slideshow presentation, and will record audio as you go through the presentation. What a great additional tool for students to be able to access for some re-teaching when they are ready for it, or for information readily available for someone who was ill or maybe had to miss class for a school event. When you choose this option, you'll be prompted for your input source. You can use your computer to pick up the audio, or ask to borrow an external microphone.



Here's something different - a technology to do for the month. This will take something you normally use (or have recently learned to use), and give some tips of using that technology at the next level (or make you aware of additional features you may not have been aware of). This month: the **document camera**.

Below is the PDF version of the User's Manual for the AVerMedia Document Cameras we are using throughout the district. For many (including myself), the document camera has been a great alternative to the transparency overhead projectors. But the document camera has other features.

Some hi-lites: p.8 -- there is an optional accessory available to still be able to view transparencies and/or negatives p. 9 -- there is an optional accessory available to use your document camera as a microscope -- could this be beneficial to you? p. 10 -- the optional anti-glare sheet in the box that came with your document camera -- clear sheet that can go over glossy images to reduce the glare p. 16 -- study the different functions (such as presentation options, capturing images p. 26 -- using the document camera to transfer images to your computer. (you can then incorporate these images into your Powerpoints, Notebook (SMART Board) software, etc.





Looking at this, we have begun to incorporate and embrace many facets of technology into our classrooms. However, technology just doesn't stop and let us take a rest. As we continue with learning about more opportunities to incorporate technology into our classrooms, I wonder what "next year's wordle" will look like. It was exciting to watch the wordles that began popping up throughout the district. What other changes and new learning opportunities will take place? I strongly believe, as I stated in the presentation from the first day, technology is no longer an option. We have made great strides in using sources available for us to engage and differentiate for students. I look forward to the many more doors that will open throughout the year.