Excuses!

Things here on my reading blog have gone quiet this week, and I think I ought to explain why. I AM reading, but the books are, well, a bit dry.

TEACH YOURSELF VISUALLY MICROSOFT POWERPOINT 2003, by Nancy Muir

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS IN EASY STEPS, by Nick Vandome

And let’s not forget the user manuals: for my digital camera, for my projector, and for my laptop. Not exactly blogging fodder, are they?

The exciting news, though, is that I have managed to take my school visit talk–which I usually present in small groups with lots of props–and turn it into a PowerPoint presentation that absolutely ROCKS. I have resisted this change for some time, because I love, Love, LOVE the feel of intimate school visits, where I can make eye contact with students and hand them props after I have finished with them. The challenge was to keep my presentation cozy and personal, but make it accessible to larger groups of kids. Two weeks of manuals, digital magic, and fine tuning and, POOF!, I’ve got it. At least I think I’ve got it. The proof will come in two weeks when I give the presentation for the first time in classrooms. I’ll keep you posted.

Now, back to the manuals …