Week 3: Multimedia in the classroom

Today our lesson was based on the focus of multimedia and its impact on teaching and learning in the Early Years and Primary classroom. Not only did it provide an insight on how to professionally use them in promoting good practice but it we also discussed about issues such as developing an awareness of audience and the ability to present researched information in an appropriate manner to the intended audience. 

What is multimedia?
According to BBC (2014)a multimedia product uses a combination of images, words and sounds to present information. Multimedia is increasingly being used in education, advertising and entertainment.



Getting bored with PowerPoints? Why not try using Prezi, it is FREE and more fun to create. If you haven't signed up yet, just log in with your Facebook account details and you will be able to create the most magnificent presentations that will appeal to your classroom. You can still incorporate videos, sounds and pictures to it and the kids will love it. Try it!

Using Prezi, I have created a presentation on the place where I live. It was really simple to start with as I used my Facebook login details and began by choosing a design whilst choosing a few pictures from my locality. Once I have chosen the canvas design, I began to personalise my text font with the desired size, shape and colour.  I was also able to edit the zooming preferences and rehearsed my presentation before saving it.

BBC Active (2010) pints out that On the educational scene, Prezi is fast becoming the new kid on the block. Prezi’s unique slick “zooming” function offers an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional PowerPoint presentations in education and business alike. Prezi is an online, Flash-based presentation creator who shares similar functionalities with other information presentation programmes such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynotes. It is a visual learning tool which allows you to create maps of texts, images, videos, graphics, etc… and present them in a nonlinear way. The menu for adding elements has a very unique navigational approach and is easy to master. 

It also allows the children to stay focused as it is visually stimulating.

                        

Afterwards, we were introduced to some multimedia programs that are suitable for EYFS and Key Stage 1 pupils. This includes:

• Active Studio (Promethean IWB)
• Notebook (Smart IWB)
• Photostory
• Clicker 6
• Storymaker

We have used Clicker 6 to retell a story to the classroom by using images and sound, you can even record your own voice! This is a fantastic programme and I will definitely be using it in the Early years and Key Stage 1 settings. Crick (2015) points out that Clicker 6 will read any on-screen text in a clear, human-sounding voice, highlighting each word as it is spoken. This support enables many pupils to access a broader range of texts than they would ordinarily be able to read. It also helps children to vocalise their thought and unleash their creativity skills when it comes to writing their own stories with the use of a software.

Akilah........