Blog Journal 9

The “Flipped Classroom” model is when instructional material is often given outside of the classroom, especially online. Activities that would be usually homework like worksheets or reading textbook pages are done within the classroom, with much of the instruction outside the classroom. Students might watch videos, read novels, or listen to podcasts outside the classroom, that cover the material. A website for the exchange of instructional material –specifically videos– is TeacherTube.com.

“Open Education” refers to making education available to a wide range of students and teachers outside of your own classroom. A great example of open education is the website EdX.org, a source for free classes offered at a variety of colleges worldwide including MIT, Harvard, and Cal-Berkeley. These courses can be taken for no cost or for a fee, you can receive a certificate at the completion of the course. “Open Content” refers to the free interchange of educational materials, primarily through the internet. A great example of open content is the Getty’s Open Content Program, which opens all digital images of the Getty that are in the public domain for use. “Open Source” is the push for greater access to codes and software for educational purposes. One can learn further on the subject through the site OpenSource.org.

From these two assignments focusing on using PowerPoint as a teaching tool, I have learned how to create a narrated presentation, divide my presentations into sections, create slide templates, and how to create a quiz using PowerPoint. On the first assignment, I found it redundant to narrate the presentation. Although, I can see that by narrating you can teach a class even if you’re away. I enjoyed using and creating new templates to make the construction of the PowerPoint swifter and more fluid. On the second assignment, I enjoyed learning to create quizzes and games through PowerPoint. This is a vital tool to creating engaging presentations and keeping student interest up in class. My only gripe with the assignment is the redundancy of building the PowerPoint, but that’s to be expected.