Microsoft® Producer® is a powerful yet user-friendly PowerPoint companion tool for creating on-demand multimedia presentations. Instructors can easily distribute these presentations via compact disc or streaming media over the Internet. We describe the features of the software, system requirements, and other required hardware. We also describe 3 approaches to using the software to enhance teaching of graduate and undergraduate psychology courses, offer tips on effective use of Producer, list other similar software, and note some shortcomings. Producer can be a useful tool for the teaching of psychology via both traditional and online formats.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AppersonJ. M.LawsE. L.ScepanskyJ. A. (2006). The impact of presentation graphics on students' experience in the classroom. Computers & Education, 47, 116–126.
2.
BockovenJ. (2004). The pedagogical toolbox: Computergenerated visual displays, classroom demonstration, and lecture. Psychological Reports, 94, 967–975.
3.
BrewsterJ. (1996). Teaching abnormal psychology in a multimedia classroom. Teaching of Psychology, 23, 249–252.
4.
ChanlinL.-J.HuangR.-F. S.ChanJ.-C. (2003). Web-based instruction in learning nutrition. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30, 12–21.
5.
ChristieB.CollyerJ. (2005). Audiences' judgements of speakers who use multimedia as a presentation aid: A contribution to training and assessment. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36, 477–499.
6.
DeBordK. A.ArugueteM. S.MuhligJ. (2004). Are computer-assisted teaching methods effective?Teaching of Psychology, 31, 65–68.
7.
ErwinT. D.RieppiR. (2000). Comparing multimedia and traditional approaches in undergraduate psychology classes. Teaching of Psychology, 26, 58–61.
8.
SeamanM. A. (1998). Developing visual displays for lecture-based courses. Teaching of Psychology, 25, 141–145.
9.
SmithS. M.WoodyP. C. (2000). Interactive effect of multimedia instruction and learning styles. Teaching of Psychology, 27, 220–223.
10.
StoloffM. (1995). Teaching physiological psychology in a multimedia classroom. Teaching of Psychology, 22, 138–141.
11.
SusskindJ. E. (2005). PowerPoint's power in the classroom: Enhancing students' self-efficacy and attitudes. Computers & Education, 45, 203–215.
12.
WorthingtonE. L.Jr.WelshJ. A.ArcherC. R.MindesE. J.ForsythD. R. (1996). Computer-assisted instruction as a supplement to lectures in an introductory psychology class. Teaching of Psychology, 23, 175–181.
