It is common to see a series of PowerPoint slides filled with bullet points and no visuals.  However, people learn better from pictures and words than from words alone.  It is possible to select photographs and clip art from various online sources or to build diagrams or charts yourself from within PowerPoint or other software applications.

Digital photographs, movies and sounds can be added judiciously to enhance multimedia presentations.

References:

Atkinson, C., & Mayer, R.E. (2004). Five ways to reduce PowerPoint overload.  http://www.sociablemedia.com/PDF/atkinson_mayer_powerpoint_4_23_04.pdf (Retrieved March 23, 2009)

Links to Resources

Digital Images

Digital Imaging Basics

This online tutorial reviews the basic concepts of digital imaging, including digital image production, resolution and file size, image editing and file management.

http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/technology/tutorials/graphics/digital/ (Retrieved March 26, 2009)

Pictures, Clipart and Other Images

This word document provides tips on how to incorporate pictures into existing documents. It also includes a list of links to picture websites.

http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/departments/special_ed/teacher_resources/assistive_technology/handouts/images_handout.doc (Retrieved March 26, 2009)

Google Image Search

This website provides links to an incredible array of images.   Simply type a descriptor of the image that you would like in the dialogue box then click on the ‘Search Images’ button.

http://images.google.com.au/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi (retrieved March 5, 2009)

Istockphoto and Gettyimages

These two websites are recommended by Vilma Fyfe as “really great … for some fabulous images”.  She notes that the watermarks can be removed from the Getty photos but not the Istockphoto images.

http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php (retrieved March 5, 2009)

https://secure.gettyimages.com/register/ (retrieved March 5, 2009)

Corbis

This is one of the commercial websites recommended by Atkinson and Mayer (2004) in “Five ways to reduce PowerPoint overload” as a source for photographs to turn your words into pictures.  Images can be copied for free but will retain the company’s watermark.

http://pro.corbis.com/ (retrieved March 23, 2009)

Flickr

Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application.  Contributors can post their favourite photos and videos to share with a world-wide audience.

http://www.flickr.com/  (retrieved April 30, 2009)

Digital Images and Sounds

Edumall. Teaching and Learning.  Digital Resources.

This website has been developed by the Ministry of Education, Singapore. This digital resources repository offers video and audio clips, animations, graphics and photographs as resources that teachers can download for use in teaching and learning. Resources are organised under subject areas, e.g. arts, biology, chemistry, etc., and a description for each resource is provided.

http://moeuxwp03.moe.gov.sg/edumall/tl/digital_resources.htm (retrieved March 5, 2009)

Pictures and Sounds and Movies – Oh My! Multimedia Resources

The page on this website funded by the U.S. Department of Education provides links to an extensive number of graphics, sounds, animation and movies that can be incorporated into multi-media presentations.

http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/tutorials/multimedia.html (retrieved March 26, 2009)

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