In the last week we have been focusing quite a bit on training for stores in the Des Moines area. We got to do some one-on-one training face-to-face which was really nice. They could ask us any questions right away and have direct communication with a person. Unfornately, this probably isn't practical for training stores outside of the centra Iowa radius. We have been considering ways to train stores that are a considerable distance away by using different technology tools available to us. I enjoy using Power Point, so yesterday I created a power point that we might be able to turn into a short video to use to train hundreds of stores in the next few months.
While I was making the power point, I was just "doing my thing," but as I started to process it on my drive home I realized that, with each slide I had to consider what I wanted to emphasize, how much information was enough and how much would be too much on one slide, what information would benefit from visuals, what information went together, how to introduce my information, how to structure my presentation, and how to use animations and graphics to make it easy to read and understand, so that the audience could quickly get the important information. This could be an easy assignment for me to give my kids that would not only allow them to use technology, but to be the mathematical authority in the classroom by coming up with their own presentations for different topics, and then sharing them with the class. It could be something they work on outside of class or when they have any extra time in class. It would be naturally differentiated if I allowed students to choose from a selection of different topics. If I know certain students struggle with different mathematical concepts, I could recommend that they choose certain topics that I think will lend to their strengths. I could also provide a list of more challenging topics to keep my upper students engaged and challenged. You know you have learned something if you can teach it. The kids like listening to each other, as well. As they create their presentations, I think they will want to do it in a way that will allow them to understand it as they present it so they will naturally work to make it easy to understand and follow. This will help all the students in the class. It also incorporates the same idea as making a concept map. A power point is kind of like a linear concept map. They have to figure out what information goes together and make connections.
While I was making the power point, I was just "doing my thing," but as I started to process it on my drive home I realized that, with each slide I had to consider what I wanted to emphasize, how much information was enough and how much would be too much on one slide, what information would benefit from visuals, what information went together, how to introduce my information, how to structure my presentation, and how to use animations and graphics to make it easy to read and understand, so that the audience could quickly get the important information. This could be an easy assignment for me to give my kids that would not only allow them to use technology, but to be the mathematical authority in the classroom by coming up with their own presentations for different topics, and then sharing them with the class. It could be something they work on outside of class or when they have any extra time in class. It would be naturally differentiated if I allowed students to choose from a selection of different topics. If I know certain students struggle with different mathematical concepts, I could recommend that they choose certain topics that I think will lend to their strengths. I could also provide a list of more challenging topics to keep my upper students engaged and challenged. You know you have learned something if you can teach it. The kids like listening to each other, as well. As they create their presentations, I think they will want to do it in a way that will allow them to understand it as they present it so they will naturally work to make it easy to understand and follow. This will help all the students in the class. It also incorporates the same idea as making a concept map. A power point is kind of like a linear concept map. They have to figure out what information goes together and make connections.
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