In the NYT article, a General H. R. McMaster states that “[PowerPoint is] dangerous because it can create the illusion of understanding and the illusion of control. Some problems in the world are not bullet-izable.” What’s behind General McMaster’s argument – that is, the idea that one should not oversimplify in certain circumstances – is logical. However, his argument is not entirely so. He says that some issues cannot be put into bullet points – and that’s not something I’m about to argue. What’s important, however, is recognizing what should and shouldn’t be, as he would say, “bullet-ized”. PowerPoint is treated as a tool designed for scrap-booking, or perhaps Grade 6 geography presentations, and nothing else. PowerPoint is a particularly powerful tool (see what I did there?) for the imparting of information as it offers both visual aid and step-by-step progression, two concepts identified as important learning techniques. General McMaster and others who doubt PowerPoint need to recognize this benefit, but also the fact that slides cannot stand alone. General McMaster makes, as I said, a very good point about the over-simplification of important information, and the answer to this dilemma is simple: don’t over-simplify. Nothing is stopping you from including full paragraphs in your presentations. Not only that, but PowerPoint has always been intended for use as “extra support”, a tool to help, but not to take over. Any slideshow should be accompanied by an involved presenter, something I’ll bring up a bit later.

General McMaster takes his argument a step further, however, by implying that PowerPoint lacks the ability to accurately convey complex information:

In General McMaster’s view, PowerPoint’s worst offense is not a chart like the spaghetti graphic, … but rigid lists of bullet points (in, say, a presentation on a conflict’s causes) that take no account of interconnected political, economic and ethnic forces.

This is obviously a rather short-sighted point-of-view, as it disregards the fact that  PowerPoint isn’t, as I mentioned, just for bullet points. PowerPoint can be especially useful for displaying chunks of text at a time, a technique which would allow the incorporation of “interconnected political, economic and ethnic forces,” and for presenting graphs, charts, and other visual means of communication.

At this point, no doubt, someone might bring up the “spaghetti graphic” showcased in the New York Times article, but remember: that’s an exception. And for what it’s worth, it would be informative to someone knowledgeable in the field.

Now in the classroom, PowerPoint has many practical applications in various subjects. In what I like to call “hard” subjects, that is to say subjects whose teachings are based on facts (Science, Math, etc.), PowerPoint comes in handy for presenting bite-sized factual information. In classes based less on “facts”, like English, it helps present guidelines, like the format of an essay, for example. In both categories, PowerPoint offers a nice option for both teachers and students: the ability for the slides to be used as notes. PowerPoint’s inherent step-by-step structure is not only good for learning, but it matches a format ideal for remembering.

In a post on the National Teaching and Learning Forum, Tom Creed discusses technology’s transformation of teaching. While I’m amused by his point-by-point comparison of email and PowerPoint (yes – email. As a teaching tool), he puts forward a couple of interesting arguments against the use of PowerPoint in class. Keep in mind: I’m arguing in the context of highschool; in university or primary, PowerPoint may not be nearly as effective or efficient.

Firstly, he states that “PowerPoint is teacher-centered. It puts the instructor at the center of the action, promoting passivity on the part of students.” Once again, the participation of the teacher is key in this situation. When a teacher engages the students, talking them through each slide, deviating a bit from the course, perhaps asking questions, this issue of student involvement is eliminated.

Secondly, he makes the point that PowerPoint lectures are teacher-controlled:

Ready or not, here it comes. The instructor controls how much time is spent with the course material and the pace of interaction. If a student didn’t get a particular point when the slide was up, he’s left foundering. It’s gone. This can be particularly problematic if later points of the lecture depend on understanding earlier points. Too fast? Too slow? Too bad. Didn’t get your hand up in time? There’s always the next class meeting.

The flaw in this argument is two-fold; One, it assumes the teacher doesn’t have control of time in other types of classes, and that the teacher is using PowerPoint in a class designed for student interaction and a loose-fitting schedule. Remember the different types of subjects I was talking about? Classes best suited for discussion are generally those subjects like English, which allow tangents and various topics. These classes aren’t, as I said, as suited for PowerPoint presentations as subjects like Math and Science are. The teacher is responsible for choosing when to use a slideshow and when not to.

And two, it assumes that the teacher is sitting back passively, without talking or asking questions. Once again, this is a flaw in the teacher, not the technology.

Creed goes on to mention student interaction in PowerPoint presentations, but it’s nothing I haven’t already discussed here.

All in all, it’s obvious that PowerPoint lectures and presentations can be very useful and, well, powerful. But any or all of this can be negated by poor usage of the technology. An active speaker is important, and interaction should be encouraged. In the end, it’s just a matter of learning to use PowerPoint in the right fashion. After all, isn’t that what any new technology is about?

A PowerPoint version of this post can be downloaded here.

(click for larger version)’

(download the wallpaper here)

As you can see, I opted for a refreshing change in configs, mostly because I wanted them to fit in with the wallpaper. I am, as usual, running Rainmeter v1.1.

In the top left-hand corner, I’ve got iTunes White, by r3ginald.  While it leaves a little to be desired, it’s handy skin and looks great. For more of my thoughts on it, check out last week’s post. In addition to iTunes White, I’ve got the iTunes toolbar in my taskbar. Just right click the taskbar and navigate over to Toolbars and check “iTunes”, and then whenever you minimize iTunes it’ll show up in your taskbar.

In the middle, I’ve got the HUD.Vision White Clock.Vision skin. It provides a nice compromise between simplicity and futurism, and it fits well into the landscape.

Sandwiching it, I’ve got the Simple Sentence Sun and Weather skins, the latter being modified slightly to fit in between the clouds and the sun. They’ve got a nice, calming quality to them, mostly due to the simple prose and font, and they fit in well with the sunset and beach.

Underneath them, I’ve got the Simple Sentence Date config which seemed the perfect missing piece for the setup.

In the end, I’m quite happy with this setup. It’s nice and calming, and the choice of skins sets new priorities for the summer; less about the tech info, more about the casual stuff. I also like the organization; the time and date are together, the sun rise/set information is near the sun, and the weather skin is near the clouds and sky. It’s subtle, but nice.

(click for larger version)

(download the wallpaper here)

Before I start, for those of you unfamiliar with the drill, I’m running Rainmeter v1.1.

You’ll notice many of the same elements as last time. In the top left corner, you’ll see my tweaked version of Enigma’s Sidebar Systems skin. All the essential information in one box. Handy.

Below it is Enigma’s Arcs beautifully futuristic yet informative clock, and to the right, I’ve got Cal-Week and Clock. Small but visible, they’re the perfect compliment to Arcs.

To the right of them, I’ve got HUD.Vision’s White Network.upload and Network.download skins, for a quick check up on my connection.

In the top right corner, I’ve got HUD.Vision’s White CPU skin which gives me a quick look at the system information and usage as well as the most-demanding process, so I don’t need to open up Task Manager.

And in the bottom left corner, the iTunes White skin by R3ginald. While it’s style may not be of the highest calibre (there is both a pause and play button; the volume is not controlled by dragging but rather by repeatedly clicking the two speaker icons), it’s extremely handy and fits in well with the background and other skins. It should be noted I tried to install Multi-Plugin v2.1 for iTunes so that I could install a black skin and use the mini player, but my efforts resulted in my having to reinstall iTunes (due to compatibility issues) and both help and updated versions are difficult to find online. I will persist, though.

I also changed the window colour to “Graphite” for a slightly darker look, and changed my Firefox persona to “Dark Cityscape”. That’s all up to you, but I find it’s a nice addition.

Thanks for reading! If you’ve got any questions, please leave a comment. See you next time.

The Schwa Was Here tells the story of a grade eight Italian, Antsy (Anthony) Bonano, who meets Calvin Schwa, the invisible kid. Well, not invisible. Just observationally challenged, as Antsy and his friends call him. If you don’t focus too hard, you’ll be able to see through him. His clothes always match his surroundings, and it’s pretty damn hard to keep him in your head.

It is not long after Antsy’s discovery of the phenomenon that he finds a way to profit from it. He and The Schwa set up a business, offering the services of an invisible kid. Sneak papers into teachers’ briefcases, spy on girls, The Schwa can do it all. However, when they agree to sneak into Mr. Crawley’s apartment and steal one of his fourteen dogs’ food bowls, they may have bargained for too much, and they’re going to lose more than the $54 they bet. Soon, they’re roped into dog walking for Mr. Crawley. Free of charge. Complain, and their parents will be fired. Coming from the man who started an egg shortage in all of Brooklyn, it’s not a threat to be taken lightly.

Antsy’s new job comes with many consequences, both good and bad, and he soon finds himself gaining a new perspective on his life and the people around him. Events surrounding his family and his friends let him take an uncomfortable outsider’s point of view and realize that he may in fact be the real invisible kid.

The Schwa Was Here is a heart-warming story about the perception of others and personal relationships in general. It begins as just another funky young adult story but soon becomes appealing as a thought-provoking and emotionally compelling story, while keeping a classy sense of humour. It’s a fantastic novel, and I highly recommend it.

[taken from Gizmodo]

The Greenbox (click for an explanatory video) is, like all things I love, a well-needed redesign. It’s environmentally friendly and makes great use of the features of the ordinary pizza box. I think “crotchfire”, one of the commenters on YouTube, put it best:

You don’t have to use paper plates, or waste water washing dishes. You also don’t have to use an extra box to store the pizza. Cardboard that is soiled by food can’t be recycled, thus they are making use of something you are going to have to throw away anyways. It is also made of 100% recycled material, so no trees are being chopped down to produce the box.

If you want more information you can check out their website, greenboxny.com. The Greenbox is what this blog is all about: intelligent design. So spread the word!

A few months ago, under the username “pogobat”, the YouTube-popular vlogger Dan Brown posted a video entitled “An Open Letter to Educators“. His “introduction” to the video, which you might want to watch before viewing the actual video, is here. The reason I say this is because the video has generated an enormous response from YouTube users. Many people are supporting him and applauding him for being so bold, whereas others are scolding him as uneducated and ignorant.

I was surprised to read the amount of negative feedback on the comment page, but it made me rethink the video and what Dan said. I think he’s right, to an extent. Anyone who knows me knows I advocate the education system evolving with us, and I’ve mentioned it a few times here on this blog. I think that certain changes should be made to reflect the age of technology as well as the value of information and what this does for the meaning of education, because it is changing. Education should be (in certain fields) less based on facts and more based on skills and talents that will help us in the real world. I could spend hours giving examples but that’s not what I’m here for (maybe some other time). I suggest you watch all the video responses and follow the debate; the link to the video above sends you to the playlist (on the right, you’ll see “Next in An Open Letter to Educators”. Just click that video, and keep on going). I haven’t actually watched any of the responses, so I’m going to go do that, and keep you filled in if I change my mind or get any new ideas.

Oh, and do take a lot at Dan Brown’s channel. He’s a cool guy and posts some very thought-provoking videos. Check him out.

Until next time, I’m Zack.

As for the lateness of this post, I apologize. I’ve been thinking about the future of this site and got distracted with other things I had to do. Thanks for reading.

First of all, I feel a connection to the readers. I don’t have many, but I see a fair number of hits per day and I read a comment from a stranger every now and then, and it’s a wonderful experience. I’m meeting people, conversing with people, influencing people. All through something I’ve produced, miles away. It’s incredible. I would feel like I was letting you down if I didn’t post. But more importantly, I would feel left out. It would be the first step to disconnection from you. And, as cheesy and romantic-movie-ish it may sound, I don’t want that.

Secondly, I’d be letting myself down. I made a commitment. This blog is many things to me, and one of those things is a challenge. To see if I can come up with something new and original, twice a week. And sure, it was once three times a week, but hey. I’m not perfect or anything. But this is a dedication, and not posting would be the first step to letting go of the blog altogether, and that would be giving up.

And thirdly, this is an exercise. If I stop posting to this blog, I won’t be forced to produce new “content” every week. And while this would be a relief, it would also mean that I wouldn’t be thinking as much. I’ve written about so much interesting stuff I would never had thought about had it not been for this blog. And I’ve put ideas to words with it. It has forced me to think and produce, and that’s amazing.

So thank you. Thank you for sticking with me, but more importantly, thank you for understanding when I put up a crummy post. I’m just trying to keep a schedule, because it means a lot to me. And maybe one day I’ll stop the blog, because this is tough. But I’ll only do it when I feel it’s right.

The Moustache Mug(s)

Classy, is it not? You can have one for every day of the week (the work week, that is). The only problem is that you have to be continuously drinking.

The On/Off Mug

I know what you’re thinking. And yes, it does. It changes from Off to On when a hot drink is poured into it. Perfect for those who need a cup of coffee in the morning to wake up.

The Pac-Man Mugs

Drink while Ms. Pac-Man gobbles up some monsters. I especially like the “YUM YUM YUM YUM WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA…” on the bottom. Really gives it that extra touch.

On a similar note,

Another mug that changes depending on temperature.

The Camera Lens Mug

This is just awesome. Meant for the photographer, but I would buy it. Just look at it! This thing is a designer’s dream! Unfortunately, this is only a conceptual image made up in Photoshop. Damn.

The R2-D2 Mug

It’s currently only available in Japan, but I’m sure it’ll come to the States and Canada soon. I’m not entirely sure how it opens and what it’s made of (looks like plastic, unfortunately) but it’s still pretty cool. Now all we need is for it to make noises…

Well, there you have it. You are fully prepared to rock out with a nice tie and a cool mug. You mean I’m the only one who wants to do that? Really? Damn. Oh well. See you Wednesday.