Back from vacation

Well, I've been gone since last Saturday, so when I booted up and looked at my Gator, my jaw dropped. I think It was almost 200 new posts. Well, I'm trying not to let that intimidate me. I did post of few of this weeks topics last week as week 5 posts, but I need to respond to a few things. First, POWERPOINT. Well, well. I already new Doc didn't like it, but it was refreshing to here why and when it could be useful. I do agree with him that PowerPoint is basically outdone by web applications. Even a basic web page creator can make better presentation material then PowerPoint. But one line about eye candy did make me think.

How much are we into "eye candy" in the classroom. We have old traditional teachers that still just use chalk and board. Then we have "eye candy" teachers throwing every tech and visually stimulating thing they can find at the students. I don't think either are very good. Like Doc said, it isn't about what we are doing, but rather is it doing what we want it to do. If we want students to remember the noble gases, it doesn't matter if we use a jeopardy game, lecture, slide show, movie, or class project. What matters is in the end did the students learn what you wanted them to learn. Sometimes I feel we need to reflect on what we are doing. Don't do it just to be "creative" or untraditional. Do it to be effective.