EDTC 5010 Chapter 9

1. How can my students use multimedia for their presentations?

"Multimedia is communication that involves more than one format" (Mayer, Moreno, Boire, & Vagge, 1999) and can be used in the classroom in numerous ways.  "Multimedia can incorporate text, graphics, pictures, and photographs, video, sound, hyperlinks, and animated objects" ( Morrison & Lowther, 2010).  Multimedia is most appropriately used by students to create presentations to display, and explain content knowledge that is enhanced through the inter-activeness of the multimedia platform.  "This publishing process can help students synthesize ideas as they work through their data and determine what they want to tell

others (Brookes, 1988; Corbine, 1995; Johannessen & Kahn, 1991) and to become active and involved in the learning ( Keys, 1999).  The creation of multimedia presentations also provides a period of time of reflection upon the material for the students. The use of multimedia in these presentations engages the audience as well as the creators and presenters to help ensure the retention of the material.  

2.  What applications are available for creating a multimedia presentation?

 "With computers, mobile devices, projectors and Interactive White Boards becoming more common in American classrooms, teachers have increasingly greater opportunities to bring multimedia resources into the classroom. Whether creating a presentation to guide student learning, or showcasing a video to illustrate a new concept, presentations and multimedia add a new dimension to the classroom" ("Teaching and learning,").  Applications that can be used in the classroom to create multimedia presentations include but are not limited to the following; 
1. PowerPoint
2. Prezi                                                 
3. VoiceThread
4. Downcast 
5. Blogger
6. iMovie
7. Keynote
8. Sliderocket
9. Xavier Presentation
10. SlideGrabber

These multimedia platforms provide great ways to present content material in informative, interactive, and engaging ways.

3. Should I place limits on how my students use multimedia?

The limits placed upon students will vary depending on the grade level, the content, and the desired outcome of the multimedia usage.  Students in elementary and middle school may need explanations on how to properly create and present their material as they are more inclined to use distracting and time wasting features. "There are two approaches to addressing this problem.  First, let the students experiment and see what they can craft.  Then have them explain how the "supercharging" helps communicate their idea rather than get in the way.  The second approach is to limit the presentation to a rather plain background and design as they create their presentation" ( Morrison & Lowther, 2010).  Then you can give them a short period of time to go back and spice it up a bit.  High school and college students should be trusted to use the multimedia platform properly and in a highly functioning manner that is both informative and engaging.  A good presentation should support and enhance the content material while not taking away from it or distracting the audience.  

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Bibliography: 

Morrison, G., & Lowther, D. (2010). Integrating computer technology into the classroom: skills for the 21st century . (4th Edition ed., p. 30). Pearson.

Teaching and learning with multimedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://edtechteacher.org/index.php/teaching-technology/presentation-multimedia