Unit Plan

 

This unit consists of five, one hour, lessons.  After completing the lessons, the students will be prepared to publish a story of their own creation.

Content

Prior Knowledge of the Topic:   Most of the students have computers in their homes and use them to play games on.  None of the students had ever heard of “Power Point” before.  Their keyboarding and mouse skills vary widely.   The “Paws” program was used to help them learn how to type on the computer and use the mouse.

Introduction (conducted in the classroom, 45 min.):  To begin this unit, the instructor will read the presentation story to the class.  The class will discuss the story commenting on the enjoyment, the characters, the setting, the action, etc.  The instructor will then show the Power Point presentation of the story to the students.  The instructor will lead a discussion comparing the two versions of the story.  The instructor will inform the students that they will be learning how to create presentations using their own stories.

          The instructor will pass out copies of the scoring rubric to the students.  The instructor will discuss with the class the rubric components, what to look for, and the scoring system.  The class will view the presentation again, scoring it using the rubric.  The instructor will lead the class in a discussion of the scores the students gave the presentation and why they choose that score. 

          During the instructor-led lessons, which follow, the students will be creating their own presentation of the story used in the introduction.  When the instructor-led lessons are successfully completed, the students will begin to work on their own, creating presentations of their own works.

Unit Steps

 

1.               Opening Power Point

2.               Creating a new presentation

3.               Saving to the correct location

4.               Entering text

5.               Correcting spelling errors

6.               Formatting with backgrounds that compliment text color

7.               Inserting graphics

8.               Adding Animations

9.               Recording narration

Lesson One: (Computer Lab, 55 min.) The instructor will be using the projector connected to a laptop computer.  Each step will be presented to the students using the projection, and then the students will practice the step on their own with teacher or peer help, if needed.  They will practice each step at least three times, or until they can perform the step without help. 

1.  Open Power Point

A.    Introduce the Power Point icon

       a.  a white and orange icon on the desk top or in the programs files

B.    Double click on the icon

C.    The program boots and a new window opens

2.  Creating a New Presentation

A.    Click on “Create a new presentation”

B.    Click the OK button

C.    Choose the slide that shows one text box by clicking on it

D.    Click the OK button

E.    Create at least 10 blank slides

       a.   Introduce the New Slide icon

       b.   Press the Insert button, located on the tool bar, and then New Slide, located

                       on the drop down menu

       c.   Place cursor in the left pane after the number 1 and press Enter

3.   Saving to the Correct Location

A.   To save a new presentation that has not been saved before, click on the File menu

B.   Click Save As

C.   A window will open.  In the Save in: text box, click on the arrow, a drop down list will open.  Find the appropriate location in the list and click on it.  Teacher will direct students as to the directory where there work will be saved on the server.

D.  At the bottom of the window in the File name: text box, type the name of the presentation

E.   Click Save

F.   If you are re-saving a presentation, click on the File menu

G.   Click Save

4.   Entering Text

 A.   Click on slide number 1 in the left pane

 B.   Place cursor inside the text box and click

 C.   It is now ready for text to be entered

 D.   Decide on the style, size, and color of font

 E.   Add the appropriate text for slide one (This is the title page of the story)

 F.   Place cursor on the number 2 slide in the left pane

 G.   Place cursor inside the text box and click (This is the body of the story)

 H.   Continue this way until the story has been completed

 I.    The last slide will be the author’s page (a small introduction about the student     who wrote the story)

 J.    Move from slide to slide by clicking on the slide’s text in the left pane view

 

Lesson Two:  (Computer Lab, 55 min.)  The instructor will be using the projector connected to a laptop computer.  Each step will be presented to the students using the projection, and then the students will practice the step on their own with teacher or peer help, if needed.  They will practice each step at least three times, or until they can perform the step without help.  This lesson begins when the majority of students have the story text completed.

1.  Open Power Point

A.    Double click the Power Point icon

B.    Click on the Open an Existing Presentation radio button

C.    Click on the presentation title that you want to open.

2.   Correcting Spelling Errors

A.   Go back and click on slide 1

B.   Place cursor on any word, excluding names, that is underlined with red

C.   Right click

D.   A drop down menu appears with a list of possible spelling corrections

       a.   Click on the word of your choice and it will automatically change the word’s spelling

E.   Correct all misspelled words on slide 1

F.   Continue correcting spelling on all of the slides in the presentation

3.   Formatting with Backgrounds that Compliment Text Color

A.   Have students experiment with different patterns, textures, and color schemes while creating the presentation in the lab

B.   Make sure the text is easy to read on the background chosen

C.   Make sure the background does not detract from the content of the slide

 

Lesson Three:  (Computer Lab, 55 min.)  The instructor will be using the projector connected to a laptop computer.  Each step will be presented to the students using the projection, and then the students will practice the step on their own with teacher or peer help, if needed.  They will practice each step at least three times, or until they can perform the step without help.

1.  Open Power Point

A.    Double click the Power Point icon

B.    Click on the Open an Existing Presentation radio button

C.    Click on the presentation title that you want to open.

2.   Inserting Graphics

A.   Have students click on a slide that they want to place a picture on

B.   Go to the top tool bar and click on Insert

       a.  A drop down menu appears, move cursor onto Picture

b.  Another menu opens, click on Clip Art (note: in this lesson we will only be using clip art as is supported in the Office software, mainly, Microsoft Clip Art Gallery.  (In subsequent lessons we might import graphics from other sources.)

C.   In the search text box, type a keyword to locate an appropriate picture

       a.   Click the Search button

D.   A window opens, it is the gallery,  and has a wide variety of pictures

E.   Scroll down and look through the pictures until you find one that is appropriate for the slide

F.   Double click the picture you want, it is placed on the slide

G.   Close out of the gallery and the picture will be on the slide

H.   To reposition the picture

       a.   Click on the picture, a dash line will appear around the picture

b.   Allow the mouse arrow to hover over the clip art on the dashed line surrounding the clip art, then click and hold when the cursor becomes a 4 sided arrow, now drag the picture to the desired position on the slide.

       c.   Release the button

I.   To resize the picture

       a.   Click on the clip art, the dashed lines will appear

         b.   There are small circles or squares on the dashed line used for resizing, called

              resizing handles

       c.   Click and hold on one of the resizing handles and drag out for a bigger, or in

            for a smaller picture

d.   Warning!  By clicking on the vertical or horizontal resizing handles the clip

     art will be distorted.  Dragging the corner handles will maintain the aspect ratio of the clip art

J.   If you decide that you don’t want the clip art, click on it and then press the

       Delete key

K.   Make sure the clip art chosen matches the slide content and enhances the meaning of the story

 

Lesson Four:  (Computer Lab, 55 min.)  The instructor will be using the projector connected to a laptop computer in the lab as a teaching tool.  Each step will be presented to the students using the projector, and then the students will practice the step on their own with teacher or peer help, if needed.  They will practice each step at least three times, or until they can perform the step without help.

1.  Open Power Point

A.    Double click the Power Point icon

B.    Click on the Open an Existing Presentation radio button

C.    Click on the presentation title that you want to open.

2.   Adding Animations

A.   Demonstrate various animations

B.   Click on the slide that you want to add animation to

C.   On the Slide Show menu, click Animation

D.   In the Slide Design Pane, in the Apply to selected slides section, click one of the

       animation schemes to see a preview of it

E.   If you want to apply the scheme to the slide, click the Apply button

F.   Make sure animation enhances the slide content and does not distract from the story

 

Lesson Five:  (Computer Lab, 55 min.)  The instructor will be using the projector connected to a laptop computer.  Each step will be presented to the students using the projector, and then the students will practice the step on their own with teacher or peer help, if needed.  They will practice each step at least three times, or until they can perform the step without help.

1.  Open Power Point

A.    Double click the Power Point icon

B.    Click on the Open an Existing Presentation radio button

C.    Click on the presentation title that you want to open.

2.   Recording Narration

A.   On the Slide Show menu, on the tool bar, click Record Narration

B.   Click on the tab Set Microphone Level

C.   Read the text, into the microphone, that is shown in the Microphone Check box

D.   Your voice level should reach into the yellow area on the volume fill bar

       a.   If it doesn’t reach the yellow area you are talking too softly, press cancel and

            try setting the level again

b.   If it goes into the red area you are talking too loudly, press cancel and  try setting the level again, note: the program automatically adjusts the volume if it goes into the red area   

       c.   When you are satisfied with the level, press OK

E.   If you are on the first slide, the presentation will begin, read your narration into the microphone.

  a.   Wait for about 3 counts after you have finished reading the text on the slide,

       then click the mouse button

       b.   Continue the narration on all slides until the presentation finishes

F.   If you are not on the first slide, a box will appear and ask where you want the   narration to begin.  Click on the tab First Slide and begin your narration

G.   When you come to the black Exit screen, click once to end the narration

H.   A box will appear asking if you want to save the timings, click Save

3.  View Show

A.  On the toolbar, click Slide Show.  A new menu will open, click View Show.

B.  View the presentation, making sure everything looks and sounds the way you want.

C.   If there are corrections that need to be made, go back into the slide layout, make the corrections, then view the show again to check for completeness. 

 

Description of New Concepts and Terminology

Components of Power Point

 

 

 

1.          Point Icon:  Double click on this icon to open the Power Point program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.          Blank Presentation Radio:  Select this radio button if you are starting a new presentation.  This button will be selected during Lesson One.  This button will open the slide layout window.

3.          Open an Existing Presentation:  Select this radio button if you want to open a presentation that you have already started.  This button will be selected for all subsequent lessons.  This button will open a list of presentation from which you can choose the presentation you want to work on.

4.          OK:  Click this button after the correct radio button has been selected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.          Slide Layout:  Student will be instructed to choose this slide layout for this lesson by clicking right on top of the icon.

6.          OK:  After the slide layout has been selected click on this button to take you to the new presentation window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.          New Slide Icon:  Students will be instructed to click this button until they have at least 10 slides showing in the left pane.

8.          Left Pane:  This shows the slide layout of the presentation.

9.          Text Box:  By clicking inside this box, a blinking curser will appear.  Then you can start typing in the text.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.                        Blinking Cursor:  When this appears, you are ready to start typing in the text.

11.                        Move the Text Box:  By clicking on the dashed lines around the text box, a four arrowed curser will appear.  Click and hold, then move the box anywhere you want it on the slide.

12.                        Sizing the Text Box:  By clicking on one of the 6 circles that are located on the dashed line, you can resize the text box either larger or smaller. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.                        Font:  Click here for the font options, changing color, size, and styles.

14.                        Background:  This will insert and format backgrounds for the slides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.                        File:  Click this button to open the save options menu.

16.                        Save As:  Click this button when you are saving a presentation for the first time.  Clicking this button will open a new window.  This will be the button used for the first lesson.

Save:  Click this button when you have opened an existing presentation and want to save the new work.  This will be the button used for each subsequent lesson.  Clicking this button will not open a new window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.                        Save As/Open an Existing Presentation Window:  When saving a presentation for the first time or opening an existing presentation the Save As button is clicked, this window appears.  Students double click on their teacher’s name.  A new window will open. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18.                        Saving Window:  When saving for the first time, students will be instructed to save into either a folder or just onto the list.  When opening an existing presentation, double click on the title of the presentation you want to open.

19.                        Open/Save:  When opening an existing presentation, this button will say open.  When saving for the first time, this button will say save.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.                        Insert Button:  This button opens a menu of options.

21.                        Picture:  This is the button to click when looking for graphics to insert into the presentation.  A new menu will open.

22.                        Clip Art:  By clicking here, a new clip art window will open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.                        Search For Clips Field:  Type one or more words in this field to help find a clip art graphic that would fit in the presentation.

24.                        Window of Graphic Types:  By clicking on one of these icons, the search for an appropriate clip art graphic will be simplified. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.                        Graphic Sizing:  Click and hold on one of these sizing boxes to make the picture larger or smaller.  By clicking on the corner boxes, the picture will resize while keeping the aspect ratio the same.  By clicking the middle boxes, you can stretch the graphic and the aspect ratios will change. 

26.                        Picture Toolbar:  You can adjust the picture qualities using these tools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.                        Slide Show button:  Click this button to open the slide show options menu.

28.                        View Show:  Click this button if you want to view the presentation.

29.                        Record Narration:  Click this button when you are ready to record the narration of the presentation.

30.                        Preset and Custom Animation buttons:  These buttons will add animation to the graphics that have been inserted into the presentation.

31.                        Slide Transition:  This button will format how the slides change from one to another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.                        Slide Transition:  By clicking on this arrow, a menu will appear that lists choices of slide transitions. 

33.                        Transition Speed Radios:  You can select the slide transition speed by clicking one of these radio buttons.

34.                        Transition Advance:  You choose how you want the slide to advance. i.e., on click, after an amount of time, or automatically.

35.                        Transition Sounds:  You can choose to have a sound accompany the slide transition, if you want.

36.                        Transition Application:  Choices are: to cancel the action, apply to one slide, apply to all slides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37.                        Set Microphone Level:  This opens after you have clicked Record Narration.  It will adjust the microphone level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38.                        Microphone Check:  This box opens when you have clicked on the microphone level button.  You read the text into the microphone.  As you speak, you will see colors fill in the volume bar that tell how loud you are speaking.  Green means you are too soft.  Yellow is good.  Red is too loud. 

39.                        OK:  If you see yellow while you are speaking into the microphone, you will click this button.  Your Presentation will open and you may begin reading the text into the microphone.

40.                        Cancel:  If you only see green or it goes up to red, you click this button and then start all over with Record Narration. 

 

Practice Activities

Each step of each lesson will be presented to the students using the projector, and then the students will practice the step on their own with teacher or peer help, if needed.  They will practice each step at least three times, or until they can perform the step without help. 

 

Self-Directed Activity:  (Computer Lab, 55 min. per session) The instructor will direct the students to create a Power Point presentation of one of their own stories.  The presentations are due at the conclusion of the 5^th computer lab session.  The on-line checklist (Unit Support Materials) will be introduced to the students so they can monitor their own progress with their presentation.  Students will be reminded of the rubric requirements and will be given a copy of the rubric (Unit Support Materials) for their information.  Students will work independently, with some teacher or peer help if needed, to create the presentation.

Unit Culmination Activity:  (Computer lab, 55 min. per session)  Students will individually choose a story that they have previously written that is ready for publication.  They will create a Power Point presentation of this chosen story.  This activity will be due at the end of the 10^th computer lab session. 

 

Assessment Activities

            The teacher-directed lesson practice story (Unit Support Materials) will be assessed as completed or not completed. 

The student-directed activity will be assessed using the Presentation Checklist and will be reviewed by a peer and the instructor using the Presentation Rubric.  After the first review of the presentation, students will be directed to go back and make any corrections according to the rubric assessments.  The presentation will be viewed a second time after the student has made any corrections.  Again, the student will select a peer to assess the presentation using the same rubric as the first time, and the instructor will assess the presentation using the rubric.    

       The culmination activity will be assessed using the Presentation Checklist and the Presentation Rubric.  The culmination activity will be assessed through the same procedure as the student-directed activity. 

       The final assessment of this unit will be the on-line assessment (Unit Support Materials).  This will take place in the computer lab.  The students will be directed to the site where they will take the assessment.  The assessment results will be recorded by the instructor.