In Teaching and Learning with Multimedia, a class at Lesley University, I was required to create a multimedia presentation that was persuasive in showing/teaching your selected topic of choice. It had to include a title, table of contents, body, credits and/or bibliography references. This multimedia project was to be clear in communicating the idea, to have a clear and easy navigation, and to have a clean consistent look and feel.

The following artifact is a multimedia presentation, which was done using MS PowerPoint.

This project includes audio and requires an Internet connection for parts of the presentation if you have it available.

I have learned that the integration of curriculum and technology can be very beneficial for multiple intelligence learners as well as a tool to advance the learning process within the classroom. In this project I chose a science topic for a second grade classroom that takes students through the process of butterfly growth. I included audio with clear directions about the navigation of the media whose path is user driven (non-linear) with access back to the main page throughout. The presentation is clean and the text selected is at an appropriate size and color. The lesson is supported with video, graphics representation, Internet hyperlinks, and even a section of fun facts to maintain interest and excitement in the students learning.

Even though I had previously used MS PowerPoint, I had never used it to this magnitude for teaching in a classroom. I found this project to be rather fun and exhilarating, so I can only imagine what students would think if they were to use this media in their learning. I liked the choice that I made to use audio and graphics. It really enhanced the presentation, which I feel would address the other types of learners like spatial, linguistic, and interpersonal learners. This is not like the typical classroom where the teacher is doing all the talking and students are taking notes or watching him or her write on a whiteboard. It really addresses the other types of learners in the classroom.

Many teachers may think that technology is too hard to learn, but it has many great benefits in the classroom, such as presented. It is up to us as teachers to create ways to help children take control of their own learning and to also reach out to all types of learners. There are many ways of teaching, rather than standing in front of a classroom and lecturing. Teachers or students can use technology, plus students are motivated to learn in that way. Allow students to explore and make mistakes, but through those mistakes learn.

Teachers have to find the time to stay up to date because it is always changing, but also to commit to helping others learn. Technology has so many creative aspects that can enhance the classroom learning style. Technology doesn't have to be expensive, but it's what you make of it with what you have. Simple adaptations to pencil and paper projects can be replaced with technology. Projects can be created with just a word processor and an Internet connection. When we as teachers are motivated to learn and explore new things this attitude can only be contagious.

Here is another multimedia project that was part of a collaboration that exemplifies additional uses for technology in the classroom.