powerpointpalooza

=http://www.pptpalooza.net/= ||
 * =[[image:PPTPotpourri-title.gif width="280" height="61"]]= || =[| Power Point Palooza]=
 * Sponsoring Organization:** Historyteacher.net


 * Date of Last Update**:   June 13, 2009 for Historyteacher.net. Powerpoint palooza's specific site hasn't been updated since Nov. 15, 2008


 * Authority**:   Susan M. Pojer, High School teacher at Horace Greeley H.S. in Chappaqua, N.Y.


 * Content**: Over 200 power points sorted in a wide variety of history topics. Most power points seem oriented toward the high school or college student, but they are still useful for middle school teachers like myself.


 * Currency**:   Updated frequently


 * Purpose**: For teachers (or students) to view, use in class as is, or modify for their class


 * Organization**: History.net has had over four million hit. It has earned several web awards and is currently ranked as the #7 history website on the Best History websites page.


 * Strengths**: Excellent source for information and graphics. There are also some fancy power point transitions and other techniques for teacher's to "adopt" for their own use without having to have knowledge to create it themselves. A good time saver for teachers.


 * Weaknesses**: Some power points contain grammatical errors and possibly historical errors or inaccuracies. Some power points may be produced by people with credentials while others may not have professional credentials. One other concern is that just as teachers can use these power points, so can students. The potential exists that students could use any shared power point off the internet and present it as their own. It is difficult to find a power point that covers essential learning topics for my class without having it go into a topic deeper than I care to go with the 7th graders I teach. That is another reason why I view this site as a good place to grab items here and there rather than download and use an entire power point.


 * Instructional Uses:** I've used this site as a way to search for ideas on a topic as well as graphics. I have not used a power point directly off the site, but I have used elements from a power point. Ideally, an educator could pull slides or graphics off a power point, import it into GarageBand or Profcast, add audio, and instantly you have a recorded lecture. This would take half the time it would normally take, thus increasing your productivity as a teacher.

While this website is dedicated to history, I am sure there are other websites out there for other subjects.


 * Benefits to Students**: Students could view power points in class or they could be posted on a website to view outside of class. Students are more interested when technology is involved (although they would rather be on the creative side rather than passive viewing side). The benefit to students is greater if the power point covers essential learning that will be tested on rather than "nice to know" information that is essentially trivia.