Don't overlook the overhead!

Some teaching strategies remain effective through the passage of time. Although the overhead projector was invented specifically for educational use in the 1960s, it is still used, though it has slowly lost popularity through the advancement of computer technology. Even though programs like PowerPoint may be a more exciting way of presenting information through bouncing images and animation, they may not always be the best technology for students with special needs.

Benefits of the Projector

To the special-needs student, sometimes simple is better. The overhead is designed to allow the lights to be dimmed and all attention focused at one place, with less distraction around the room. To students with attention deficit disorders, this is a huge benefit. By design, the overhead also allows all eyes to peer at one place rather than individual textbooks and handouts, with less opportunity to wander off task. Through this classic method, presenting information such as vocabulary words, charts, and even art reproductions can be accomplished on a large scale. Other benefits are many.

When students enter a room with the vocabulary words already projected on a screen, they can begin thinking about the lesson of the day. All students can practice listening, reading, and writing skills through the use of the overhead. This approach provides three different learning modes with one presentation to meet the needs of many students.

Use for Comparing Images

Seeing two famous paintings projected side-by-side, the students can better appreciate and contrast different styles and details they might not have otherwise noticed. Another advantage of using transparencies is being able to layer different stages of an art lesson on top of each other. This also allows the teacher to easily repeat, back-up, and review steps to meet individual needs.

Demonstrations such as color mixing can be done directly on the transparency, allowing the students to view changes as they occur. This approach also allows the students to view proper brush techniques.

The overhead projector allows the teacher to make numerous transparencies from nearly any source with only an idea and the use of a specific marker; unlike computer programs that are expensive, time consuming, and require extra software and hardware. Overhead transparencies can be printed directly from a computer or written on with a marker at the time of delivery.

As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke--don't fix it. New and improved isn't necessarily better for all students.

Marisa Jones Main is assistant professor of art education at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. [e-mail].