Interactive Text Boxes in PowerPoint

The aims of this learning module are to:1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘interactive text boxes’

2. Explain the Pedagogical reasons for using them.

3. Demonstrate how to create interactive text boxes

4. Consider accessibility issues

By the end of this module you will be able to:

1. State what is meant by Interactive Text Boxes

2. Provide 2 pedagogical reasons for using interactive text boxes

3. Be able to create interactive text boxes in a learning resource of your own.

4. Adapt a resource containing interactive text boxes for a learner with one type of learning difficulty or disability

What are Interactive Text Boxes?

Interactive text boxes allow you to enter information into a PowerPoint presentation.

Try it yourself, make sure you are in slideshow mode first by selecting:

and then type into the box below -

What are the pedagogical reasons for using interactive text boxes?

• They allow the learner to become actively involved in their learning experience.

• They allow assessment of learning and can be saved as part of a learner’s e-portfolio.

• They can be used with individuals or can encourage group work (small groups or even whole groups) with learners providing input following discussions and/or research.

How to Create Interactive Text Boxes

• Step 1

Open up the Control Toolbox by selecting:

View/Toolbars/Control Toolbox

How to Create Interactive Text Boxes

• Step 2

You will now see the menu

Select Text Box

Your mouse pointer will become a cross +. Use the mouse to click and drag a rectangular box to the required size. This will give you a box which appears to be 3D with only two of its sides showing -

How to Create Interactive Text Boxes

• Step 3

With the circles still surrounding your text box

Select Properties option from the Control Toolbox Menu

How to Create Interactive Text Boxes

•Step 4

By selecting properties a new box will open. You need to do two things:

1. Click on False next to Enterkeybehaviour and change it from false to true. This will allow the Enter key to work within your text box.

2. Click on False next to MultiLine and change it from false to true. This will allow word wrap to happen automatically when you reach the edge of the text box.

You can then close the Properties box.

How to Create Interactive Text Boxes

• Step 5

Your interactive text box is created. Now all you need to do is check to make sure it works properly by going into slideshow mode and trying it out.

Remember to delete anything you type before saving it for use with learners.

Note: You will have to repeat all steps for each interactive text box that you create within a presentation.

Accessibility

The size of the font can be changed for learners with visual impairment.

The style of the font can be changed for to make text easier to read for dyslexic learners e.g. comic sans

This will open a dialogue box which will allow you to change both font style and font size.

AccessibilityBeing able to change the background colour of the text box and the font colour will help some learners with visual impairments or dyslexia.

Select ForeColor or BackColor and then the Palette tab to change the colours

Make sure there is a good contrast in background colour and text. With a light background colour use a dark text and vice versa.

Note: Red/pink and green combinations can cause confusion for colour-blind learners, as can red and black combinations.

Accessibility

Small interactive text boxes can be hard to manipulate for motor impaired learners. Mouse emulator software can replicate mouse movements.

See http://www.techdis.ac.uk or

http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/mywayfor more accessibility information.

Assessment of Learning

What is an interactive text box?

Give two pedagogical reasons for using interactive text boxes:

Reflective Practice• Consider how you might use interactive text boxes with

the learners you teach.• Consider how their use might enhance the learning

experience.

Note your thoughts in the interactive text box below:

Put into Practice

• Take one of your ideas for the use of interactive text boxes with your learners and produce the resource.

• Use it with your learners

• Evaluate its effectiveness

• Make changes if applicable

• Add to the resource bank at http://www.portsmouthlearning.net Select the Contributions tab and complete the form provided

Summary

Within this module you have:

1. Learnt what is meant by the term ‘interactive text boxes’

2. Explored the pedagogical reasons for using them

3. Learnt how to create interactive text boxes

4. Considered accessibility issues