Abstract
Projectors and the Microsoft Office software are typically available to music educators in the public schools. Here are a few ways to enhance PowerPoint presentations to allow for even more content interaction in the music classroom.
Keywords
Technological equipment available in music classrooms can vary widely. Available technology typically includes computer access—complete with Internet access and Microsoft Office—and a projector. Although PowerPoint is typically associated with bullet point–guided lectures, it has many interactive features that can provide student interactions with content rather than guided talking points. By using PowerPoint to its full potential, it is possible to guide student interactions while still allowing student choice and multiple examples. Below are three possible ways describing how to use PowerPoint to enhance content presentation in the music classroom.
Number 1. Revealing Content in Stages
One feature possible in PowerPoint is to cover already prepared content using shapes and the “Motion Paths” animation tools. This will hide content from the students’ view until the teacher is ready to show the content. Insert a block to hide the content that should be visible later. Animate the block using the “Lines” tool on the Animation tab to move the block down in a line. Adjust the “Effect Options” to have the block “Hide After Animation” (see Figure 1). The next layer of content will appear. For unveiling multiple layers of content or for further clarification of this process, please see the video in the supplemental materials titled “PowerPoint Cover” (in the online version of the journal).
The Animation tab and the Effect Options window.
Number 2. Making Objects Appear and Disappear Into Other Objects
PowerPoint has the capability to move an object when clicked to an area where it can “disappear” into another object. It appears as if the object has been put into the other object, which is perfect when completing a sort activity. In the example, the sort will be vocabulary terms associated with either tempo or dynamics (see Figure 2). The terms will “disappear” into the baskets provided. Select the object to be moved. Using the “Motion Paths” on the Animation tab, choose how the object—in this case, the text box—will move to the basket. Adjust the path so that the text box makes it all the way to the basket. Adjust the “Effect Options” to have the object “Hide After Animation” to make it look like it went into the basket. Also adjust the “Trigger” so that the object will animate when it is clicked as opposed to moving in a sequence. That will allow the flexibility to move objects as chosen by students rather than selecting the objects in a specific order. Although this is one example of using an object as a “Trigger,” this same process could easily be used to make game boards, such as a Jeopardy board. To see this process from beginning to end, please see video in the supplemental materials titled “PowerPoint Sort Activity.”
Example of a sort activity.
Number 3. Embedding Hyperlinks to Move Between Slides
Using hyperlinks in PowerPoint allows movement between slides, but the slides do not have to be selected in a specific order. This allows for student choice and randomization of the content used in a lesson. In the example, the shapes are connected to different rhythm patterns (see Figure 3). The key to connecting PowerPoint slides via hyperlinks is the Transitions tab. PowerPoint will automatically switch slides when the mouse button is clicked. Click the check box “On Mouse Click” in the “Advance Slide” section to ensure this feature is turned off for all slides that will be connected using hyperlinks. Once this setting is off, slides will be shown only when the links are clicked. Each shape is connected to a unique rhythm pattern in the example. Using the Insert tab, click on “Hyperlink.” Another smaller window will open (see Figure 4); to connect to another slide in the PowerPoint, click on “Place in This Document.” Then select the target slide. The PowerPoint example has the same shape on the slide with the rhythmic example. This shape is also hyperlinked by to the first slide containing multiple shapes. This process is repeated for each shape, with each rhythmic example connecting back to the first slide. An “Exit” arrow is used on the first slide to connect to a slide that is not in the hyperlinked slides. This will allow the PowerPoint to advance on mouse clicks as is typical. To see this process from beginning to end, please see the video in the supplemental materials titled “PowerPoint Hyperlink Demo.”
Hyperlink example showing the Transitions tab.
Inserting hyperlinks.
The Power of PowerPoint
The amount of technology available in a music classroom is not standard across school districts. Fortunately, music teachers typically have access to a projector, to a computer or device, and to Microsoft Office. PowerPoint can also be used on an iPad; having students touch the screen already set to animate while projected would allow for even more hands-on interaction. Much can be done with PowerPoint in addition to guiding students through a discussion.
Footnotes
Supplemental Material
The supplementary videos are available in the online version of the journal.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Author Biography
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
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