Powerpoint in the Classroom

Microsoft's Powerpoint program is a great presentation tool for students in any classroom. In addition to the usual Powerpoint slides that accompany a verbal presentation, the program can be used as a creative way to publish written works, create study aides, create educational games, and much more. A few ideas for using Powerpoint in the classroom (my focus is elementary) include: accordian books, mini books, paper chains, post-its, flip charts, Twenty Questions, Jeopardy, advertising tents, totem poles, WordArt poetry, greeting cards, and flash cards. In working with students in grades 2-5 on creating Powerpoint projects, it always amazes me how quickly and easily they are successful in mastering this program. In a short time they become experts at layering clip art and formatting slides in a creative way to showcase their knowledge on a given topic. Sometimes we are "Powerpointed" to death in the classroom and workplace, so it's important to provide different means for students to publish their work, even though Microsoft's Powerpoint continues to be a powerful tool.