Year Level(s): Year 4

Number of Students: 34

Broad Aim: To explore how ICT can be used to enhance learning and teaching.

Specific Aim: To identify ways in which the use of ICT can help Raise Achievement for Maori, Pacific and other students in low decile schools.

Method: Construct PowerPoint presentations on space > Use PowerPoint show Geometry (quiz part) as an example of making an interactive learning resource.
Introduce steps to pairs of students: showing them the slide master, using animation and sound, how to set up basic structure first. Set up conditions whereby they construct resource fully first - with content, then at the end add animations and sounds to any objects.
These pairs will then buddy tutor other pairs, with occasional assistance from me where needed.
Have basic structure ready for expo, students can develop them on the day and there after.

Assessment: Skill> self assess their competency in using various PowerPoint tools and techniques effectively.
Knowledge> how well can students convey their information using PowerPoint?, how well have they understood the topic they have presented in their show? - self and peer assessment.
Communication> Can peer tutors effectively relate information to others?

Learning Areas for Project: Literacy, Topic

Essential Skills for Project: Communication, Information, Problem Solving, Self Management & Competitive, Social & Cooperative

Achievement Level(s): 2,

Specific Learning Outcomes: 1. Students will work co-operatively to design a PowerPoint presentation
2. Students will use peer teaching and the instruction/modeling sheets to help with the design process of the presentation
3. Students will present a slideshow about the sun and the moon
4. Students will become familiar and use a variety of tools in PowerPoint
5. Students will self assess their knowledge/skills in the use of PowerPoint

What Went On: I introduced the students to PowerPoint and showed them a slideshow I had made as a model to them. I then showed them how to select a template and save their work in the correct folder. Next I modeled how to access their saved work and how to exit out of the PowerPoint programme.
The students then used the instruction sheets to complete each page of their slideshow. Their slideshow had to consist of 5 pages in total. Each page had an instruction sheet to go with it. I taught the first student and then that student peer tutored another student in the class and so on. If any of the students got stuck they were able to ask someone else for help and if they were still have trouble they could come and ask me. For page 5 the students had to use the digital camera to take their buddies photo and then insert that photo from the disk and onto their slideshow.

The students then had to use the custom animation tool to add sound to their slideshow and use a range of effects. They also had to set the timing of each animation. They then used the slide transition tool to select how they wanted their slide to change.
The students used a range of clipart in their slideshow and downloaded clipart from the web as well.

When they finished they self assessed their knowledge/skills in PowerPoint and presented their slideshow to the class.

What Worked:
* The students really enjoyed using custom animation to make their slideshow more creative and interesting. They used a lot of sound and a range of effects.
* They really loved downloading clipart from the web as they had a lot more choice and there were also pictures that were animated.
* Most of the students enjoyed peer teaching and felt confident to ask for help when they were stuck
* The students were always really keen to continue with their slideshow.
* Using the digital camera was a really practical way to see how it can be used effectively and purposefully
* Presenting their slideshows to the rest of the class
* Completing 1 page at a time so students were fresh and enthusiastic each time it was their turn to work on their slideshow

What To Do Different:
*Get students to research a piece of information and then use PowerPoint to present their findings.
*Include an interactive part e.g. quiz in their slideshow.
*Complete their own slide master (note some of Room 11 who are in Computers for electives were able to do this!)
* Students to record and insert their own sounds.

The degree to which students achieved the specific learning outcomes for the action research project: Mostly

The degree to which ICT helped students achieve the specific learning outcomes for the action research project: Extremely helpful

Supporting Files: http://www.lea.co.nz/ictpd/Uploads/ieuan.ppt
http://www.lea.co.nz/ictpd/Uploads/Courtney.ppt
http://www.lea.co.nz/ictpd/Uploads/kieran.ppt