Chapter 7 synopsis

EDTC 6340.60

Marivel Correa

Chapter 7

Starting with images

This chapter provides us with a depth description and several reasons to include colorful and illustrative visual elements into the slides of our educational presentations. Burmark (2011) explains how research demonstrates that students improve their performance, and retain the information being taught in the classroom if, the teacher uses visual elements to illustrate the point he/she is making.
The suggested activities in this chapter are very interesting. These types of activities will help students to work on, and to improve their high order thinking skills. Students take a minute to look at the pictures/images and they will be requested to imagine the story behind it. It is fascinating how their imagination will go on. They will discuss the picture and will share with their classmates three things they observed, two things they could infer and one question they would like to ask. I can see myself totally doing this with my future students.
In order to set the stage of your presentation, you just need to add a colorful, full slide image on the first and last slide so they know the importance of the point you are making. According to Burmark (2011), we just need image-filled, text free slides because full images are what captivate the most. The following slides of your presentation should contain only essential information, since slides are there to support what you are going to describe/explain. So if you have any overwhelming slides, you need to highlight the keywords on it, delete the rest of the text, and incorporate an illustrative visual. Another recommendation is to add short and legible quotes to our visuals so you can go to the next topic or, to support your point. In most of my past courses, Professors always ask us not to read from the presentation. When presenting you need to know what you are talking about, and those keywords are there for you to explain their meaning in depth while you deliver the content. In addition, Burmark (2011) shares some techniques on how to modify the percentage of the image to make it fit perfectly on the slide, since the sizing and placement of the pictures is very important and makes a big impact on the audience. She continues talking about the importance of color. Color grabs students’ attention and makes a huge difference on a presentation because, as we read before, color visuals increase willingness to read by up to 80%, increase motivation and participation. Also, if we use color purposefully it will enhance students´ learning and will improve their retention. So they remember the colorful visual and it is easier to go back and recall on it. For Burmark (2011), an image plus a narration is the "best combination". In this reading, I also learned about the “Rapid Fire” activity, which I will definitely use with my students once I get a job.

References

Burmark, L. (2011). They Snooze You Lose: The educator´s guide to succesful presentations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass