Sunday, December 18, 2011

Final Project

For my project I chose a How To presentation titled “How to make a no-sew blanket”. If I was teaching a class and every student had their own material to work with, they could follow along and create their own just by following my directions and the PowerPoint presentation that shows how to make it.
The multiple intelligences that are involved in this How To are:
1. Logical-mathematical – people need to know how big of a blanket they want to create to fit whatever they will be using the blanket to cover or lay on, and they also need to know how to measure so they know where to place the pins in order to cut.
2. Spatial – Once again you need to be able to judge how big you want the blanket taking into consideration that each side will be cut in strips and tied so realizing that you will be losing some of the solid coverage of the blanket needs to be thought about. Also, each strip that you cut is not marked out so being able to judge capably to make each strip equal is important.
3. Linguistic – My presentation had a few words on a slide and the rest of the directions were spoken by me. I also had a sample of what I was explaining so it was easy to understand what I was instructing.
4. Bodily-kinesthetic – Being able to place the material in the proper position and lay it out so the cutting can take place uses control of one’s body and this also deals with being able to cut with scissors.
The ADDIE process is shown in this presentation in the following ways:
1. Analysis – The goals and objectives are decided before and during the purchasing of the fleece used in the project. For example, do you want to make a pillow cover? Do you want to make a lap blanket? Or are you interested in making a blanket to cover a bed? Once defined, then the learning can begin.
2. Design Phase – the goal is to end up with finished fleece project best suited for the learner’s needs. There are specific ways to handle the material and these are shown in the PowerPoint and described by the teacher as the project is being talked about and mentally planned.
3. Development Phase - The material purchased is now taking shape according to the PowerPoint and the instructions given by the teacher.
4. Implementation Phase – The learners are creating a finished project step by step. Once completed the learner should be able to continue to make more of the same.
Andragogy is the act of learning strategies focused on adults. All of the above methods and steps are focused on adult learning. This is a project for adults due to the planning, purchasing, assembling, and tool usage. The way the project is explained is also in terms that suit an adult’s way of learning.
I used a gray background because I thought it made the photos stand out and also the lettering seemed to stand out better that way. I only used one line of typing and placed it at the top of each page. The rest of the instructions were verbal so as to keep the pages easy to follow and not have too much to read. People should not be reading the writing on the PowerPoint while I am explaining what to do next. I used photos that cover the rest of the slide so they are easy to be seen. I announced the last step so people have an idea that it is almost over. I also had a finished product to pass around so the learners could get a hands on idea of what I had just taught them.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Final Project

For my project I chose a How To presentation titled “How to make a no-sew blanket”. If I was teaching a class and every student had their own material to work with, they could follow along and create their own just by following my directions and the PowerPoint presentation that shows how to make it.
The multiple intelligences that are involved in this How To are:
1. Logical-mathematical – people need to know how big of a blanket they want to create to fit whatever they will be using the blanket to cover or lay on, and they also need to know how to measure so they know where to place the pins in order to cut.
2. Spatial – Once again you need to be able to judge how big you want the blanket taking into consideration that each side will be cut in strips and tied so realizing that you will be losing some of the solid coverage of the blanket needs to be thought about. Also, each strip that you cut is not marked out so being able to judge capably to make each strip equal is important.
3. Bodily-kinesthetic – Being able to place the material in the proper position and lay it out so the cutting can take place uses control of one’s body and this also deals with being able to cut with scissors.
The ADDIE process is shown in this presentation in the following ways:
1. Analysis – The goals and objectives are decided before and during the purchasing of the fleece used in the project. For example, do you want to make a pillow cover? Do you want to make a lap blanket? Or are you interested in making a blanket to cover a bed? Once defined, then the learning can begin.
2. Design Phase – the goal is to end up with finished fleece project best suited for the learner’s needs. There are specific ways to handle the material and these are shown in the PowerPoint and described by the teacher as the project is being talked about and mentally planned.
3. Development Phase - The material purchased is now taking shape according to the PowerPoint and the instructions given by the teacher.
4. Implementation Phase – The learners are creating a finished project step by step. Once completed the learner should be able to continue to make more of the same.
Andragogy is the act of learning strategies focused on adults. All of the above methods and steps are focused on adult learning. This is a project for adults due to the planning, purchasing, assembling, and tool usage. The way the project is explained is also in terms that suit an adult’s way of learning.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Chapter Six, The Presenter's Fieldbook

Chapter Six, The Presenter’s Fieldbook
To See Is to Retain
This chapter discusses using visuals for better retention and “PowerPoint is a visual medium as well” (Garmston). When visuals are used in a discussion, the rate of the effect was far greater than when not using visuals. Visuals enhance understanding and learning. Also a help are art and music when used in conjunction with visuals.
When using visuals it’s important to keep them simple. Most of us can recognize a simple form and understand the meaning without being told what it is. The book used an example of a clock where it was just a circle and had the two hands pointing to the time – it’s just as effective as a clock with numbers on it. You do need to take heed of where you are though and what may not be such a universal sign or you can find out what the audience is more used to seeing and use some of those signs.
One trick to printing on your chart in a straight line is to draw lightly with pencil beforehand. This way you don’t have to worry about how it will look and you can focus on your message. Mixed case lettering should be used as it is the easiest to read.
There may be some in the audience who are colorblind so using colors to print with is not a good idea. Black lettering on white is the standard and the easiest to read.
You can get free clipart for your use. There is something called ChartArt that is actually clipart that you can put under your pages and trace. It’s a way to look good for sure!
Garmston, Robert J., and Michael Buckley. The Presenter's Fieldbook: a Practical Guide. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon, 2005. Print.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Chapter Five, The Presenter's Fieldbook

Chapter Five, The Presenter’s Fieldbook
How to work with special situations
Music is a nice touch when it’s the right kind of music for the situation. You can play welcoming music, opening music, break music, transition music, and closing music. The energy in the music should convey itself to the crowd.
The way you look, and remember that all eyes will be on you, makes a huge statement about your credibility. “Dressing up” is the way to go. Always dress to impress from your head to your feet.
Although you may be nervous when you first start speaking, speak slowly so as not to appear nervous. Take three deep breaths before you begin speaking also.
Practice your speech over and over again before your presentation. You can write notes on what you will be saying. Keep the notes simple with just enough written on them to jog your memory so you know what you are supposed to be saying. Mentally rehearsing is said to be a great way to get ready. You close your eyes and picture yourself getting ready to present.
The book also mentions how to act, or how not to act, in diverse situations. Choose your words wisely and think before you speak.
Co-presenting sounds like a great way to go. As a presenting team, one can rescue the other in a tough situation. There is more diversity during co-presenting also. One presenter can be monitoring the reaction of the audience also and help guide the presentation in the best way to move forward.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Three Presentations

I wanted three presentations/talks on www.ted.com and I purposely chose three different types so I could compare them. One was informative, one was inspirational, and one was jaw dropping. The first one, the informational talk was by Daniel Wolpert: The Real Reason for Brains. Wolpert stood front stage during his talk with a screen behind and above him. He used visuals to enhance his speech and he added bits of easy humor.
The second talk was by Matt Cutts: Try Something New For 30 Days. Cutts talk was about the same as the previous one although he also added examples for clarity.
The third talk was Arthur Benjamin Does Mathemagic. This was my favorite not only due to the manner in which it was presented but also the content. Benjamin was very animated and moved across the stage engaging the audience with his “wow” factor of mathemagic. He used humor effortlessly and it was clear that he has performed in this manner often. He announced when he would be wrapping up, which is recommended when presenting.

Assignment Six ppt

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Presentation Zen, Chapters 7-10

High quality graphics are a must to have in your presentation and make sure they are clear visions of the message you are trying to convey.  Something that is not an easy task but must be achieved is the “art of mindfulness” (Reynolds). This means that you need to put yourself in the here and now and only focus on what you are doing at this minute. 
Audiences can tell when your heart and soul are not in your presentation.  If you are preoccupied, you will lose them.  “Just telling someone to yell doesn’t solve the problem of projection. Similarly, just speaking louder doesn’t create a powerful voice” (Six minutes). 
You cannot worry about your presentation and how it is coming along, only about how you are making a contribution to the audience.  “Every presentation needs two major components -- life and energy”  (About.com). 

A great line in Reynolds book, Presentation Zen, is “Only through mistakes can you see where you’re lacking…”  If you make a mistake, keep on moving forward and worry about it later!  “Don't sweat minor mishaps” (BusinessWeek).  A good presentation is about the message, not about you.  Practice your presentation until you’ve got it as good as you can possibly get it before presenting.
Ending before the time set for your closing has never been a bad thing. According to The Presentation Coaching Institute, “The final words you say will be the most remembered”.

"Deliver a Business Presentation - 12 Tips for Delivering an Knockout Business Presentation." How to Use PowerPoint - Business Presentations - Free PowerPoint Tutorials - Use Presentation Software. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/powerpointinbusiness/p/bus_delivery.htm>.
"Deliver a Presentation like Steve Jobs - BusinessWeek." Businessweek - Business News, Stock Market & Financial Advice. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jan2008/sb20080125_269732_page_2.htm>.
"Delivery Techniques | Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Articles." Six Minutes: Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Blog. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/category/delivery-techniques/>.
Reynolds, Garr. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2008. Print.