Unit 1 – Improving

Productivity.By Fiona Passco.

1.1Why did you use a computer? What other systems / resources could you have used?

Instead of using a computer to make my presentation I could have used a flip chart or a type writer but I used a computer to make it more interactive and more interesting and the audience would be more engaged. Also I used a computer so I can connect it to a projector and use a bigger screen so more people can see the PowerPoint at once rather than having to repeat it to loads of smaller groups so that they would all be able to see the screen. Although I could of also used paper to create posters and promote the school but it would cost loads of money to pay for the photocopying costs. Also information on paper may be missed by the audiences as not every would read it.

1.2What skills did you need to learn in order to use PowerPoint?

The skills I needed to learn to use were master slide, inserting hyperlinks, inserting images, inserting animations and text so the audience could engage better with the presentation rather then them being bored. I needed to learn how to use master slide so that they could use the hyperlinks to go to the page that they want to go to. I needed to know how to insert a hyperlink so that I could include a short cut to the Smiths Wood Sports College website so that parents will know if they have gone onto the right site when they want to access it at home. I needed to be able to insert images and animations so that the presentation looked attractive. Also I needed to be able to insert text so that I could include the information that the parents and their child(ren) would need about the school.

1.3What resources did you need to make the presentation successful?

The resources that I needed were animations, videos, sounds, text, photos and hyperlinks so that the presentation was interactive and the hyperlinks would allow the audience to go to the slide that they would like to access. I needed all of these resources so that the audience would be interested in the PowerPoint and would of engaged with it.I also needed college result information. I used this to represent my information in form of a chart and a table. This is to encourage more people to join our college by showing them how well we are doing.

1.4What factors might have affected how well you completed the presentation? (e.g. time / attendance / knowledge of software)

The factors that might have affected how well I completed the presentation would be if I had missed lessons. I would not have been able to finish the presentation to the standards that are required of me. I would have struggled making the presentation if I did not know how to use the software. Then the completed work would not have been to a high standard, as I would not have included everything that was required to be put in the presentation and I may not have passed the unit. Other factors that affected my presentation was not being able to fully use Powerpoint software at an expert level. This is because there were some tools such as master slide, hyperlink buttons and other tools that I had to learn to complete my presentation unit.

1.6Why did you use PowerPoint to make your presentation? What other software was available? Why did you choose not to use them?

I chose to use PowerPoint presentation as it is interactive and the audience can engage with it. Instead of using PowerPoint I could have used a word document but it is not as interactive as PowerPoint and PowerPoint is easier to use. I could have used Microsoft publisher but it would of took more time and it does not have a master slide that allows you to go straight to the slide that they would like to look at and it would take ages for them to get to the slide. Also it is not interactive therefore the audience would not have been able to engage with it.

2.2Which tools within PowerPoint made it appropriate for your presentation?

When using PowerPoint Presentation the tools that made PowerPoint appropriate were clip art, slide master, transitions, animation and text because they all make the PowerPoint presentation interactive and help to keep the audience interested and take in all of the information that has been given to them about the school. Also it make the presentation look attractive and it engages with the audience as it is interactive.

1.7Were there any legal constraints or local constraints that changed the way you created your presentation? (e.g. copyright, file sizes)

Copyright is a legal right to copy something that is not yours. It changed the way that I created my PowerPoint presentation because I asked for the teachers and pupils’ permission to use their photos. Therefore I had authorization to use the images so that people don’t complain and in extreme cases take me to court. Also images and animations that I took from the internet I referenced so I didn’t get the credit for somebody else's work. I also had to consider the file sizes for images and video. This is because we have a limited space on user area.

2.4What improvements do you think you could do to your presentation?

To improve my work next time I could have added more text when introducing the PowerPoint and Mrs Miller and Mrs Craig. I could have add more information about the other teachers instead of just their photo and their name. I could have added more colour to make it stand out more. Also I could have added in an Ofsted report to make parents want their child (ren) to come to our school. It would have persuaded parents that it is a good school and not just what is said by the co-principals, vice principals, teachers and students as it would have been a professional report from a school inspector.

3.2What improvements do you think you could have done to improve your work rate?

To improve my work rate I could have used shortcuts to save, copy and paste my work. Also I could have bookmarked the websites that I had visited whilst doing the research for my presentation. This would have saved me time and I would have finished my work faster instead of having to research and find all of my required information again. I could have attended touch and type courses which would have helped me to speed up my work rate. Also I could have motivated myself a bit more and improved the quality of my work.