PowerPoint Tips:

ChaNgE case:
If you have text that is in the wrong case, select the text, and then click Shift+F3 (or fn-Shift+F3 on a laptop) until it changes to the case style that you like. Doing so toggles the text case between ALL CAPS, lower case, and Initial capital styles. This tip also works in other Microsoft Office applications.

Templates:
Tired of the same old templates that come with PowerPoint? There are many other templates available online. One place to find free templates is: http://websiteestates.com/free_education_powerpoint_templates.php

Play a Sound/Song for an Entire Presentation:
To insert a song that will continue playing on every slide of a presentation do the following:

1. On the slide that you want the sound to begin select Insert > Movies and Sounds > Sound from File… and browse to your sound file
2. When you insert the file a message will pop-up asking if you want the sound to automatically play when you enter the slide. Click Yes
3. A speaker icon will appear on the slide, click and drag this icon off the slide so it will not appear during your presentation. Do not delete this icon as it will delete the sound!
4. With the sound icon selected, choose Slide Show > Custom Animation and click Effect Options
5. Mac Users: In the window that appears click on the Media Options tab. Windows Users: click on the Effects tab.
6. In the Stop Playing section select After and enter 999 slides (the maximum value).

Use Different Slide Designs in the Same Presentation:
Although it is good practice to use the same design throughout one presentation, there are times when you need to change the design on only one slide.

1. Navigate to the slide you want to change
2. Select Format > Slide Design
3. Mac Users: Select the design you want to use, and change the option at the bottom of the window to Apply to current slide and click Apply
   Windows Users: Find the design you want to use and click the arrow that appears when you mouse over the design. Fromthe drop-down select Apply to Selected Slides

More Tips Online:
For more PowerPoint tips and tricks checkout the following website: http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpoint_tip.html

Database Spotlight:
Google is a top choice for many of our students looking for research information. Many of our students rely upon “keyword” searching, which may yield a number of results. However, the quality of the material that is yielded may be questionable and is rarely evaluated. The next time you are having students do a quick search for information, instead of asking them to Google it ask them to use NetTrekker. NetTrekker is also a search engine that works like Google, but educators have already evaluated the content of the sites.

Websites:
Mindomo:
Need help organizing your thoughts for a presentation, paper or other project? Visit www.Mindomo.com for an ‘Online Mind Mapping Tool’ much like Inspiration. You have to create an account, but the Basic Account is free.

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by students is online. By providing links necessary to complete the quest, the student is able to focus on the material rather than spend time looking for it. The five-part WebQuest (Introduction, Task, Process, Evaluation and Conclusion) promotes critical thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation (NETnet Distance Learning College Student Glossary (http://www.netnet.org/students/student%20glossary.htm).

Examples:
The Bridge Design Challenge – Don’t Burn, Build! A WebQuest for combining geometry and physics.
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/bridge/index.html

Other Webquest examples:
To Kill a Mockingbird http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/techtrac/plus/mcintosh/

The Modern and Post-Modern Periods
http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/techtrac/plus/eller/

Emerging Markets: Global Decision Making
http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/webquest/lytle/Intro.htm

To find more WebQuest ideas, Google (or search NetTrekker) the term “webquest” and you will soon discover thousands of WebQuests already constructed.