Tech Tools for Schools

Technology Tools for Schools Resource Guide provides definitions of key technology components and relevant examples, where appropriate as a glossary for educators. The guide also presents essential implementation and infrastructure considerations that decision makers should think about when implementing technology in schools. Technology
enhances administrative, teacher and student capabilities and performance, especially for those students who lack access to technology outside of school. Join the online discussion and share your examples at the supporting wiki.

Slideshare & Effective PowerPoint

Slideshare is the the world's largest community for sharing presentations. Membership is free. It is a great way to get your slides out there on the web, so your ideas can be found and shared by a wide audience, or to find slideshows for your research or teaching. You can share slideshows publicly or privately, download presentations, and embed them in your blog.

Most experts agree on guidelines to creating effect PowerPoint presentations:

• Use the rule of six (called by some "joy of six"): maximum 6 lines per slide and 6 words per line.
• Maintain unity of design elements, such as color, font, and graphics.
• Test readibility using the "floor test" by placing a printed copy of a slide on the floor and reading it while standing over it. If not, increase font size or style. In general, font size should range between 18 and 48 points.
• Avoid fancy fonts or all caps -- they are difficult to read.
• Include only essential text that is self-evident.
• Minimize special effects for they can be distracting.
• Graphics, such as clip art, should not overwhelm the text. They are used as support to the text message.
• For presentation timing, consider using three slides per minute maximum.

Copyright & Ed Tech

It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. I completed my UFL course on educational technology since my last post and I've started a new one -- about distance education. I've learned something new about copyright as it applies to education. Section 110(1) of the American copyright law has always provided educators with the right to display or play the materials of others in a formal classroom above and beyond fair use. The educator's world has changed since the act was introduced. Learning online through class wikis, blogs, and the like, is a big part of teaching today. To address how and what can be used for online transmission, section 110(2), or the TEACH Act, was created. I developed a PPT presentation about the TEACH act for my course and I'd like to share it with you: