Slow Learner
October 7th, 2011Hi everyone,
I have really enjoyed all your posts, and I have managed to comment on some of them, but finally, I found my way to log-in and then where the “add new” button was, so here goes. As I said in another post, I do have a hibernating blog (on hiatus) on Blogger, so the dashboard thing is different. I agree with the “stage fright” idea – wanting to be helpful if there is anything useful to share.
To explain my project here, I am updating and rebuilding an existing course for Technical Writing, one of the required WR II courses in the Bacc Core. I teach it on campus, but haven’t actually taught this one on Ecampus. I am constrained (or guided?) by the pre-determined outcomes from Bacc Core and from our shared WR 327 curriculum which has standard course objectives, outcomes, and assignment categories, but which also has instructor latitude for changing the assignments. That’s what is making it hard for me to decide how to set it up because not everyone will use the same assignments that I do.
Today I was trying to make a PPT that would summarize this basic overview, and I have to say that it is BORING. I will try to add a voice over narration with Jing (if I can get it under 5 minutes) or Adobe Articulate, if I can find a computer that has that. However, I did learn something in the process — how to get a new design template onto an existing PPT. I was wondering – Shannon and Karen you might know – whether Ecampus has preferred PPT designs that are easiest for students to read. Do any of you have preferred template designs? I really like the one with orange circles (very OSU), but I found one called RetroCircles, yellow and turquoise, but it might be too “cute” for Tech Writing.
I guess that this particular PPT is the kind of learning tool that shows students some alignment of outcomes to assignments, and maybe also guides new instructors to know the parameters of our shared curriculum. So, one challenge is to facilitate other instructors using the same material. Did someone say in the introductions that they were making a course for TAs to teach? How does that work for you? Well, I tried to insert the picture but this is not right and now I don’t know how to remove it. Hmm.. I used to know some basic HTML.. I’ll try switching. Hang on. YEP, I removed it… but darn, I wanted to share the image. So I tried again and got only the text but not the banner. Well… you know exactly the challenges about using the tools and resources.
Something more to work on tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great weekend – and thanks for the inspiration.
Sara
Tags: PPT
Hi Sara,
I’ve been toying around with the best way to create narrated powerpoints for my students too, and the suggestion from the FW Deparment Head, Dan Edge, was to actually just narrate them in powerpoint itself. I’m working out of the 2003 version (I know, old school!), but under the slideshow tab, there is an option to record narration. Dan recommended doing each slide individually, because it is easier to edit later on if you don’t like the narration on one of the slides.
This will allow you a little more flexibility than having to get it under 5 min (because I know keeping it brief is important, but sometimes having that extra minute to explain things is important!). I haven’t started on creating my lectures together – still getting my notes together on what I want to say, but I’ll let you know how it goes for me.’
Cheers,
Alana
Comment by alexaala - October 8th, 2011 @ 11:12 amAlana — this is wonderful news – I had no idea that there was a record option in PowerPoint – and yes, I have the old 2003 version on my home computer. I will hunt for the slideshow tab and try that right away. I like that I can record each slide individually. Thank you so much for the great idea!
Comment by Sara Jameson - October 8th, 2011 @ 3:46 pmAlana!! This worked very well – amazing – I had no idea. Thannk you so much. While practicing, I noticed changes I want to make to the PPT and I may need a better script (I just talked off the top of my head).
Important accessibility question: To hear the narration, students will need speakers or headphones, which I guess all Ecampus students would have. Do you know if this will this play on a Mac too?
Thanks, again!
Comment by Sara Jameson - October 8th, 2011 @ 4:09 pmHi Sara,
I’m glad that worked! It is probably the only technical solution I’ll be able to contribute for the entire 6 weeks, so I’m glad it was a good one. As to the playing on a mac – if you’d like to send me a copy I can try it on the mac in our lab. There are sometimes strange PC > Mac issues with PPT – nothing major, but images/animations being slightly out of kilter. I’m not sure whether this would extend to narration as well or not.
Comment by alexaala - October 9th, 2011 @ 11:45 amAdobe Presenter allows you to record in PPT and build quizzes in your presentations. I’ve used it a fair amount and like how it works. Unfortunately it’s expensive. Our dept has 1 computer with it that we pass around. They also let you download a 30 trial from the Adobe web site. I recorded a bunch of narrated presentations that way.
Comment by fingers - October 9th, 2011 @ 12:54 pmThanks – yes, the cost is why we don’t have Adobe Presenter. But good tip on the trial site possibility. I did use Alana’s point to narrate right in PPT – something I didn’t even know existed. She said I could send it to her to see if it plays OK on a Mac, so I did and I am eager to hear her answer. I think that Adobe allows the slides to show on the side for students to return and click through again. That’s a nice feature.
Comment by Sara Jameson - October 10th, 2011 @ 8:09 amEcampus also has Adobe Presenter available on several computers, so you can make an appointment with our staff if you’d like to reserve a time to record your presentation in one of our conference rooms.
As far as a recommended template for your PPT slides – Ecampus doesn’t have a particular design that we ask you to use. I tend to think the simpler designs are better. I also tend to avoid the dark backgrounds as I’ve had some students with more mature eyes complain in the past that these are more difficult for them to read online. Contrast is important between text and background.
Comment by Karen Watte - October 11th, 2011 @ 10:16 amThanks, Karen. The light text on dark background can be good in conferences where glare could be tiring, but if there is competing light in a room, then dark on light is better. Instead of busy backgrounds – too hard to read and rarely adding meaning to the presentation – add useful effective images to otherwise white slides.
Ecampus does have great resources to come use, and I have, thanks. But sometimes I’m building things at home or at the last minute… perhaps writing classes are a bit different from “content” classes (though I sort of disagree with this dichotomy anyway) because even with a pretty much pre-built class that I am teaching again, I am constantly adapting learning activities depending on my students’ needs, so I do need last minute items.
We are checking to see whether our department can get one more site license for Adobe for a laptop that could be checked out by instructors from the office along with a headset. I’m sorry to hear that the narrated PPT file is generally pretty large. I’ll work on that.
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