Benefits of Multimedia in the Classroom

Resources

Multimedia in the Classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2018, from https://fcit.usf.edu/multimedia/overview/overviewa.html

Patterson, J. (2016, September 6). The 7 Most Important Benefits of Blended Learning. Retrieved February 19, 2018, from http://www.knowledgewave.com/blog/benefits-of-blended-learning

Team ISTE. (2015, October 8). ISTE | This is your brain on the ISTE Standards. Retrieved February 19, 2018, from https://www.iste.org/explore/articleDetail?articleid=565

Video Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2018, from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/ntti/resources/video1.html

The Basic Suite

Roybler discusses that "three of the most widely used software support tools are word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs." In the technologically developing time that we live in these applications are available not only as Microsoft Office tools which come as installed on most computers, but also now available online. One of the ways the Basic Suite is used in education is G Suite for Education through Google. The Google Suite allows for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations to be created and accessed by educators and students anywhere that Internet is available. Versions of created materials can also be downloaded and edited for offline use. 

Word Processing

Word processing is a common, and essential tool to be used in education. Word processing software allows for students to not only type text paragraphs, but also they can embed pictures and charts in their text-based information. Through the use of Google Applications a Google Document can be shared with multiple students. This would allow them to edit and comment on each other's work as well as collaborate on assignments from any location. Google documents can also be used by teachers to create hyperdocs. Hyperdocs are documents that are essentially like a scavenger hunt online. They scaffold information that they would like the students to complete and have videos or links embedded in them for students to access and use. These allow for a much deeper learning from the students as they can actually interact and discover the lesson at their own pace. 

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets in education can be used to store data and to calculate information using formulas. As a math teacher, spreadsheets can be very valuable. They can allow for students to input data, and complete complex calculations without having to do much mental math. It would also allow to give context to algebraic problems. Students could collect data and use it in a spreadsheet to create algebraic equations and best fit lines. 

Presentations

Presentations are at the core of direct instruction of many teacher's lessons. Even many lessons that engage the students still have an aspect of presentations which are used. When a teacher uses a presentation in their lesson, it allows for them to show pictures of their material, examples, and allows for the material to be pre-created as opposed to being written up on the board on the spot. In my math classes I use some form of presentation on a a daily basis. My lessons typically follow a pattern where students are given a theorem or steps to follow, then shown an example, and last given an example to try themselves. All of these problems are pre-created and arranged in a presentation software which allows for more time for questions, practice, and engagement.