Day 3 - Powerpoint and pictures

Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for the end of the group session and the digital storytelling this afternoon, so I can only comment on the picture and powerpoint sessions but let's face it powerpoint has to be one of the programs that I use most - whether it be teaching, poster design or conference talks. I've been using powerpoint for such a long time, I think I had got set in my ways and use the same formats/functions, and the tips and tricks gave me a good push (or shuve rather) to look at how I present things with a fresh new perspective.

Picture editing is something I do all the time whether it's work related or not (actually at the moment not -family want to see pictures of the girls all the time)!! I really liked the picnik and picasa sites, they were so easy to use and the fact that you can link between the two of them is great - a real plus if you are working between home and the lab. I've previously used photoshop or picture manage but I don't really feel that these are user friendly or give me the features that I need. I teach the a lot of histology and so it is vital that I have good quality images as my classes are very visually oriented. In the "old" days the students would sit with sections and a microscope but now it is so much easier for them to have the images on a website to navigate through and they can work anytime of the day or night- although it's not the same as sitting with a microscope............  I've also been reflecting and asimulating the information I've got over the past few days beacuase we've got a lot and I really needed to think through how I could use it. I'm thinking it would be a great way for the students to work through their histology exercises as groups and setting up Wiki's for their projects........it would be a first small step.

Oh and I've finally got to grips with Twitter after spending a little time on it :-)