Frequently Asked Questions

1) There are many types of presentation programs. Why use Microsoft PowerPoint?

Many students and teachers already have access to Microsoft PowerPoint . It is, without a doubt, the most popular presentation program in business and education. Many teachers and college professors are already using it, and I believe it is important to have a standard so that we may share lessons with one another. I envision in the near future, a community of teachers writing and sharing lessons with one another over the Internet. These lessons could be downloaded by a teacher, easily adapted for use in his or her classroom, and delivered directly to students.

2) Why use MathType software instead of using the free Equation Editor that comes with Microsoft Office?

I began writing my lessons using Equation Editor because it was free. In time, I found out that there are many versions of Equation Editor that have been licensed out, and they are not all compatible. This causes problems when working cross platform (Mac to PC). PowerPoint presentations will work cross platform with no problem. However, not all the objects (symbols, equations, text, etc) created by Equation Editor on a Mac will open correctly on a PC or vice versa. MathType , which costs about $60, solves this problem. MathType 6 for the PC will open objects created by all versions of Equation Editor and MathType 5 for Mac. MathType 5 will open all objects created by the many versions of Equation Editor . I highly recommend the purchase of MathType because it simplifies the process of creating PowerPoint lessons. MathType also has more options than its free predecessor, Equation Editor . It can create symbols, text, and equations in color, has a larger selection of symbols, and offers greater flexibility in changing format, size, and spacing of symbols. As you will soon learn, creating lessons is extremely time-consuming. Anything that will save a significant amount of time and will offer you more options is worth the purchase.

Note: MathType 5 has recently become available for the Mac and will solve these compatibility issues when working cross-platform.  If you are having problems recognizing objects using MathType 3.7, an upgrade to MathType 5 will surely solve those problems.  MathType 6 for Mac should be available this summer from Design Science.

3) Why are your lessons black and white?

Changing backgrounds and adding color to PowerPoint presentations is incredibly easy to do. A few keystrokes is all it takes to add a colored background, add a textured background, or insert a template into all the slides in your presentation. I have kept these lessons simple in design because I wanted to focus on the content. I choose not to use too much color because I want it to mean something when I do use it. I also kept the flashy sounds to a minimum because I want students in my class focused on the progression of problems and concept development. This is the way I approach teaching in my class. The beautiful thing about teaching, as you know, is the freedom to do what you think is best for your students. If you want to add color and sounds to this collection of PowerPoint lessons, please do. Once you purchase the program, you are free to change anything you wish, including content. The purpose of this collection of lessons is to provide a solid base on which to build so that you may hit the ground running. Some teachers may decide not to change a thing, and that is fine too. I had great success last year using these lessons for the first time exactly as they are.

4) This collection seems like a lot of work. How long did this take you?

In the beginning lessons took me 2 to 3 hours to create. Three years later, I am able to create them in about half that time. I quickly learned to cut and paste. In all, this collection has taken close to 300 hours to create.

5) McDougal Littell offers a CD-ROM on Algebra electronic lesson presentations (PowerPoint-based) which I have. What is the difference between yours and the McDougal Littell?

Good question! If you have looked at the CD that comes with the McDougal Littell resources you know that there is only one PowerPoint presentation per chapter. My collection offers one lesson per section - that's nearly ten times as many. The McDougal Littell lessons are review in nature. They review rules and properties but do not show many examples and would not be appropriate for first time instruction. My collection is used for first time instruction much like you would use the overhead or chalkboard to introduce new concepts or problems. All of the guided practice examples in the PowerPoint lessons are similar to but different than those found in the book. This offers students twice the reference in completing their homework, and I have found that students actually prefer my PowerPoint lessons over the examples in the book. Whenever they leave for an extended absence, they always ask for a printout of the lessons they will miss. You can find all of the presentations in this collection on www.algebranotes.com This site shows pictures of every slide in all the lessons. I chose the URL for my students to use when they are absent or on vacation so that they may have access to the notes from anywhere. You and your students can too. Along with the CD (PC or Mac), customers receive a 164-page book which is a printout of all the lessons, six slides per page.

6) I like your algebra lessons. Do you have others available? I think my school would be interested in purchasing them.

Thanks alot! I just completed this set of algebra lessons last year, 2002-2003. It was the first time that I went all the way through the year using PowerPoint with students. What a difference! It makes teaching the same class five times a day tolerable,... fun even. It can take about 2-3 hours to write a good lesson, but once they are written you can use them forever. Unfortunately, this collection of algebra lessons is all I have written so far. I have given some thought to writing some for pre-algebra or geometry next, but I think I should be teaching the subject while I'm writing them in order to do an effective job. Currently, I teach five periods of Honors Algebra 1. I don't know why publishers haven't created materials like these for use with their textbooks. I think it would alleviate many of the problems that new teachers encounter. My district is purchasing this collection for 13 algebra teachers, who will use them next year. I think it will be great to see what they think and what kind of lessons they create. The beauty of this process is how easy it will be for teachers to share lessons with one another... If I can be of any assistance to you or your district, please let me know.

 7) Again, thanks for all of your help.  You were right about several things.  What was causing my error message was a problem with Windows 98 and PowerPoint.... Nevertheless, everything is working fine now.      I had to purchase an extension for my LCD because I didn't want the computer blocking the view of my students.  That was a real trial in itself and even had the technicians at the electronics shop stumped.  Together we discovered that it is important to purchase the heaviest cable because the signal will not be carried by a smaller wire.   Now, if I could just discover a way to view your program, which is outstanding by the way (even though I might have a few suggestions), simultaneously on my computer and the wall screen.   This would free me from having to switch cables from the computer and the LCD and then back again.    In the meantime, I'll let you know if the idea catches on with the other instructors.

Glad to hear things are up and running, and yes, I would like to hear some suggestions.  I have already made some improvements to the material since finishing it last May based on customer recommendations - so please let me know.  Its funny I had many of the questions and problems you are now experiencing. I purchased a 50 foot svga cable on Ebay that was good quality so I never had that problem but I do have a recommendation for your monitor-LCD projector issue.  You need a video splitter that will split the outbound video signal from your computer.  These can sell on Ebay from $50 to $100.  Here's the exact one I use that I found on Ebay and is currently only $15 with 15 hours to close [search for video monitor cable].  Have you purchased a remote presenter yet?  It is a hand held remote that allows you to advance or retard slides from anywhere in your classroom.  It comes with a USB receiver that is Radio Frequency so that you don't have to have a direct line of sight with the remote. This is the presenter I use [search for Interlink RemotePoint Presenter] which is the best on the market.  Keep in touch as you figure things out and don't be afraid to ask me questions on stuff.  I really should put more information on these types of issues on the web site.  Just another thing I have to do.  Have you told your students about www.algebranotes.com . This site bypasses all the sales info and goes straight to the lessons so your absent students can get the notes from home.  My students use it a lot.