Assessments and Practice Activities

Converting Your PowerPoint Content to Markdown

Author

Mr. John Jennings

Assessment Overview

These assessments help you practice converting your existing PowerPoint slides and Word documents to Markdown using your own teaching content.

Progressive Skill Building

Each assessment builds on the previous one, using your actual course materials as practice content:

  • Assessment 1: Basic conversion (headers, text)
  • Assessment 2: Lists and emphasis
  • Assessment 3: Visual content (images, links)
  • Assessment 4: Complex layouts (tables, callouts)
  • Assessment 5: Complete lesson publishing
  • Final Project: Full PowerPoint deck conversion

Assessment Philosophy

Why use YOUR content? - You know what the final result should look like - Builds confidence with familiar material - Creates actual course content you can use - Makes the learning immediately practical

Assessment Format: - Knowledge checks: Quick understanding verification - Hands-on conversion: Transform your existing slides - Peer review: Share and get feedback - Self-reflection: Compare before/after experiences

Assessment 1: Headers and Structure

After Step 2: Your First Markdown Document

Knowledge Check (2 minutes)

Question 1: Which Markdown syntax creates the equivalent of a PowerPoint slide title? - a) Title Text - b) # Title Text - c) Title Text - d) Title Text:

Question 2: How do you create a subtitle in Markdown? - a) Use ## before the text - b) Put it in parentheses - c) Use italic formatting - d) Add — underneath

Answer Key: 1-b, 2-a

Hands-On Conversion (15 minutes)

Your Task: Convert your PowerPoint title slide

  1. Find a PowerPoint presentation you use in class
  2. Identify the title slide (usually slide 1)
  3. Convert it to Markdown using this template:
---
title: "[Your slide title]"
subtitle: "[Your subtitle if you have one]"
---

# [Main heading from your slide]

[Any body text from your slide]

## [Any subheadings]

[Additional content]

Example Conversion:

Before (PowerPoint slide): - Title: “Essay Writing Guidelines” - Subtitle: “English 101 - Fall 2024” - Body: “Learning to write clear, compelling academic essays”

After (Markdown):

---
title: "Essay Writing Guidelines"
subtitle: "English 101 - Fall 2024"
---

# Essay Writing Guidelines

Learning to write clear, compelling academic essays

Self-Check Questions

  • Does your Markdown version contain all the text from your PowerPoint slide?
  • Are the headings in the right hierarchy?
  • Would a student get the same information from both versions?

Assessment 2: Lists and Emphasis

After Step 3: Lists and Emphasis Made Simple

Knowledge Check (3 minutes)

Question 1: To create a bulleted list in Markdown, you use: - a) * item or - item - b) • item - c) [item] - d) > item

Question 2: How do you make text bold in Markdown? - a) text - b) text - c) [text] - d) #text#

Question 3: For a numbered list, you write: - a) (1) item - b) 1) item - c) 1. item - d) #1 item

Answer Key: 1-a, 2-b, 3-c

Hands-On Conversion (20 minutes)

Your Task: Convert a bulleted PowerPoint slide

  1. Find a PowerPoint slide with bullet points from your course
  2. Convert the bullets to Markdown format
  3. Add emphasis where you had bold/italic in PowerPoint

Template:

# [Your slide title]

## [Subtitle if needed]

- [First bullet point]
- [Second bullet point]
  - [Sub-bullet if you have any]
- [Third bullet point with **bold text**]
- [Fourth bullet point with *emphasized text*]

### [Section heading if needed]

1. [First numbered item]
2. [Second numbered item]
3. [Third numbered item]

Real Example Conversion:

Before (PowerPoint slide): “Research Paper Requirements” • Minimum 5 pages, double-spaced • Must include thesis statement • At least 3 scholarly sources required • MLA format mandatory • Due date: November 15th (NO EXTENSIONS)

After (Markdown):

# Research Paper Requirements

- Minimum 5 pages, double-spaced
- Must include **thesis statement**
- At least 3 scholarly sources required
- MLA format mandatory
- Due date: November 15th (**NO EXTENSIONS**)

Reflection Questions

  1. Which formatting was easier to apply - PowerPoint or Markdown?
  2. How does the Markdown version look on different screen sizes?
  3. What would happen if you needed to change the formatting later?

Assessment 4: Tables and Advanced Layout

After Step 5: Structured Data Made Easy

Hands-On Conversion (30 minutes)

Your Task: Convert a complex PowerPoint slide with structured data

  1. Find a slide with a table, schedule, or structured information
  2. Convert it to Markdown table format
  3. Add callout boxes for important information

Table Template:

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Data 1   | Data 2   | Data 3   |
| Data 4   | Data 5   | Data 6   |

Callout Template:

:::{.callout-note}
## Important Note
This is important information for students
:::

:::{.callout-warning}
## Warning
This is something students should be careful about
:::

Real Example:

Before (PowerPoint table):

Assignment Schedule
Week 1: Reading Assignment - Chapter 1-3
Week 2: Discussion Post - Topic: Theories
Week 3: Quiz 1 - Covers chapters 1-3
Week 4: Essay Draft - 500 words minimum

After (Markdown):

# Assignment Schedule

| Week | Assignment Type | Details |
|------|----------------|----------|
| 1 | Reading | Chapters 1-3 |
| 2 | Discussion Post | Topic: Theories |
| 3 | Quiz 1 | Covers chapters 1-3 |
| 4 | Essay Draft | 500 words minimum |

:::{.callout-warning}
## Late Policy Reminder
All assignments are due by 11:59 PM on the specified date. Late submissions receive a 10% penalty per day.
:::

Final Assessment: Complete Conversion Project

After Step 6: Publishing Your First Lesson

The Challenge (45 minutes)

Convert an entire PowerPoint presentation (3-5 slides) to a complete CourseFoundry lesson

Requirements: 1. Choose a short PowerPoint from your course (3-5 slides max) 2. Convert ALL content to proper Markdown 3. Maintain the same information flow and structure 4. Publish the final result 5. Test it on mobile and desktop

Evaluation Criteria: - ✅ All text content preserved and properly formatted - ✅ Images display correctly with alt text - ✅ Links work and open appropriately - ✅ Structure is logical and easy to follow - ✅ Published version is accessible and professional

Reflection Essay (10 minutes)

Write a short reflection (200-300 words) addressing:

  1. What was easier about creating this content in Markdown vs. PowerPoint?
  2. What was more challenging, and how did you overcome it?
  3. How might this change your approach to creating course content?
  4. What would you tell a colleague who’s hesitant to try Markdown?

Peer Review Activity (Optional)

Share your converted lesson with a colleague and get feedback: - Is the content clear and well-organized? - Does it work well on mobile devices? - What would improve the student experience?

Self-Assessment Rubric

For each assessment, rate yourself:

Beginner (1-2): I can follow examples but struggle with my own content Developing (3-4): I can convert simple content but need help with complex elements
Proficient (5-6): I can convert most content independently Advanced (7-8): I can convert complex content and help others Expert (9-10): I can convert any content and see ways to improve it

Progress Tracking

Total Score: ___/50

Next Steps Based on Your Score: - 40-50: You’re ready to start converting your course content! - 30-39: Practice with a few more examples before diving into full conversion - 20-29: Review the lessons and try the assessments again - Below 20: Consider working through the course more slowly or with a colleague