Design Challenge (Animations)

Each person in my class was assigned to do an animation challenge on PowerPoint. There were many different challenges we could have done but I chose to animate chess pieces as they would move in real life! Unfortunately, since I had to save my PowerPoint as a PDF file, the pieces won't move in my flipbook :(

PowerPoint

You know how to make a PowerPoint, right? That's what I thought too. I LOVE  to put tons of pictures, animations, and fun colors! Turns out, some things only distract children and should be used in moderation. Sure they get a good chuckle out of the "whooosh" sound of a transition slide but in that moment their attention is elsewhere. 

PowerPoint for students should be kept fairly simple. Pictures are used to emphasize points but should not be overdone. Animations should be kept to a minimum as far as transitions between slides but can be used to your advantage. 

I learned many cool things about PowerPoint this week:

• How to customize animations (such as movements of objects and what objects and shapes can do)
• Teachers: use SIZE 18 FONT OR BIGGER! (this way everyone in the class can see!)
• Slide backgrounds should be plain
• Keep topics and slides simple
• Don't over do it on the goofy clip art

I was more than excited to see all of the things I didn't know about PowerPoint! It is a great tool to be used in the classroom both as a teaching aid and for student interactions. Students will be excited to create their own work and teachers will be excited to have an interactive visual for their lesson.