PPT 4 Teachers...Reviews

Check here for the latest in reviews of products, books, add-ons and other information/technology that's related to PowerPoint® software used for instruction in the classroom.

Camtasia's latest add-on for PowerPoint® from Techsmith is a wonderful utility. I've found that after I have presented a PowerPoint® in class, it often disappears from general view until the next time I teach the concept again. I'll usually spend time trying to re-explain concepts to students rather than using some other delivery method. Since it is reported that 98% of all computers have some version of Macromedia's Flash player installed, Techsmith's Camtasia add-on for PowerPoint® has made it extremely easy to convert your presentation from PowerPoint® to Flash. This way, put the Flash file on your website with a link to this file and...Viola...instant remediation. There are several PPT to Flash converters available on today's market. Many of these converters will convert the files but only produce the basics of Flash aniamtion. There are a few "high dollar" converters that are most definitely the cutting edge in conversion technology but are accompanied by a HUGE pricetag. For larger businesses, those applications fit clearly into their workflow needs. For the smaller business or individuals, Camtasia is the answer if you're looking for the end product/price combination. For more information, visit Techsmith.

http://www.techsmith.com/products/studio/default.asp

SnagIt is probably one of the most intuative programs to learn quickly. With the availability of instructional videos, anyone can be up in no time at all. I've been using SnagIt from Techsmith since version 5. Not only are you able to create screen captures extremely easily, there are various options that can be included into your capture. Do you need to include just an image, a window or an entire screen. Do you want to have the cursor included or perhaps a drop down menu needs to be in your final image. I know from my work in both web and
presentation design, SnagIt is very handy to have in your toolkit. Pound for pound, in relation to its price, you won't find a better product. For more information and additional features, make sure to visit Techsmith's SnagIt at:

http://www.techsmith.com/products/snagit/default.asp

Life is a Series of Presentations...Tony Jeary has certainly earned the title of "Mr. Presentation". Although not focusing on the aspect of concentration on PowerPoint® presentations to communicate your message,his book..."Life is a Series of Presentations" is a must read to any and all individuals who make some type of presentation. I've had the opportunity to be in one of Tony's workshops. Talk about an exhilerating presenter. His book takes off where he ends his presentations. Once we see that all interactions that we have in our daily lifes have a profound effect on the manner in which we present ourselves and our information, we are ready to couple our physical approach with a cutting edge PowerPoint® presentation to create the ultimate presentation. In addition to this book, I also recommend that you visit his website to check out other products that will help you in the presentation arena. Go to:

http://www.tonyjeary.com/

Thermometer for PowerPoint® from Geetesh Bajaj is a nice add-on to have in your arsenal of tools. I've found myself during the course of a lecture to forget just how many slides I have left in the presentation. Using this add-in allows me to be able to approximate how many slides I have to go. Even though this may be his first attempt at creating an add-on, I'm sure that he'll be creating many more that we will be
able to incorporate into our PowerPoint® toolkits. For further information on this FREE add-on, go to:

http://www.indezine.com/addin/thermometer/index.html

LiveWeb by Shyam Pillai is a wonderful solution to incorporating either static html files that are on your computer or including a site from the internet in "Real Time". I've been working on a simplified method of including interactive exams within my PowerPoint® instructional files. I've normally linked exam files to the internet and allowed students to complete the exams after viewings of instruction. Now I have a choice. Include the quiz files/html within the folder of the presentations, or if the computer is online, the quiz automatically is included within the presentation via the internet. Making the quizzes with WebQuiz is easy, but I've never thought of including them within the presentations. At this point, there is no link to WebQuiz on PowerPoint®4Teachers.This oversite will soon be corrected. LiveWeb now allows me a new method for testing coupled with PowerPoint®. With this in mind, the combination of PowerPoint®, LiveWeb and WebQuiz will definitely be explored in the future.

htt p://www.mvps.org/skp/liveweb.htm

Just Zip It from Avatarsoft is a great little FREE utility that allows you to compress your files for delivery via email or FTP. Decompress your files with just one click. Just Zip It is also available for quick use and accessed from your right click drop down menu. I realize that their are more well known programs currently on the market for file compression, but Just Zip It is a "great bang for the buck". I highly recommend
downloading and using this utility.

http://free-backup-software.net/index.htm

Quizmaker by Articulate is a wonderful exam generator. By using a smooth and easy interface to navigate, creating an exam is quick and easy. Quizmaker allows you to add images to your (or in place of) questions. Previewing your final product is simple. Quizmaker also allows you to fine tune some elements of the exam. You can choose a color template, send results to an email and format your exam to work with a content management system (both SCORM and AICC compliant) or export your exam to MS Word. UNDERLINE...quick and easy. This is the best way to term the program. You can be creating your exams within minutes of starting the program. Quizmaker generates the exams in Flash format, thereby using animations in the exam design. Students will also have the opportunity to review there work after it's been graded. All in all... I highly recommend this product as a quick and effective means of generating engaging and
interactive assessments. Besides...it's got a great price tag too!!! Make sure you download the demo today!!!

http://www.articulate.com/quizmaker.html

Gameshow Presenter is a great program that allows you a good "bang for your buck". Creating the questions for your gameshow is a simple matter of click and type. After that, all you have to do is choose the options that you want for the show and you're off and running. There are other programs with higher price tags that produce similar results. Play as individuals or teams...you decide. Although Gameshow Presenter may not come with all the "bells and whistles", it will engage your students and provide an interactive, competative environment for your students. Although this doesn't incorporate into PowerPoint®, Gameshow Presenter could be used as a simple way to cement the concepts learned and have fun at the same time. I couldn't think of a better way of using $79 for "fun" instruction and classroom gaming. Check into their educational discount. You might want some "Play Only" programs as well.

http://www.almorale.com/