Frances Guerra

Kris,

I used to be that person that loved powerpoints and I noticed my students had brain fog. I switched it up and kept it simple, neat and very clean on white board and some handouts. It worked wonders! No more sleeping in my class!

Christopher Jacobs

Kris,

You make some good points concerning PP. I have also seen the dread when students see the presentation loaded and ready-to-go. I have found that embedding video is a good way to keep attention and underscore learning points at the same time.

Regards,
Christopher

Mike Kalanty, CEPC, CCE,

AMEN TO YOU I SAY!!! I have a 1/20/3 rule about powerpoint presentations. One powerpoint for 20 minutes for every 3-week course that I teach. My younger students constantly tell me that the powerpoint is OLD SCHOOL. With questioning, I have come to learn that younger students find powerpoint to be too linear and too structured. By the very nature opf pre-determined slide sequence, students feel they are being talked to through a series of visuals. Their own sense of hey how can I get involved and learn this is weakened. Of course they are feeling self-directed and think they know what and how they need to learn best. So when I do powerpoint--and I do use it, especially for intricate systems like how sourdough bread systems are built--i love this medium. But I never have more than ONE point per slide. ONE.

But that's me, I'm a baker, so I don't always know the best way to do things. Just ways that work when I teach folks how to bake.

mIKE kALANTY
aRTISAN bAKER
cALIFORNIA cULINARY aCADEMY

Barry Westling

Hi Laurie:
Sometimes, having the students break into groups, each group prepare a portion of the lesson, then present to the entire class can be helpful. The instructor can always fill in the blank or missing content if need be. But the students, as teachers, will learn, demonstrate their knowledge, and they're using their time productively and effectively. Probably can't do this all the time, but planning it occassionaly might work out for you.

Regards, Barry

Laurie Ellis

Also experience helps get the job done. I am teaching for the 1st time ever and am finding it a real challenge to creatively add different media to my classes...and that are also relevant to dental hygiene. There is so much factual information in some of the courses that I find it hard to incorporate fun things AND cover all of the critical material.

Barry Westling

Hi Christina:
Everything in small pieces is always better than a whole bunch of information for a sustained period. I agree even the best and most inyteresting PPT's can be ho-hum after too much time viewing slide after slide.

Regards, Barry

Christina Rutherford

Remember that not all students are visual in terms of reading material but visual in terms of seeing a thing being done. Power Points put me to sleep every time!

Barry Westling

Hi Estella:
Right! It really takes care and planning to pull off providing a lot of information via PPT. By mixing it up using alternative media, or taking breaks, or involving the students in the PPT delivery are simple methods that help create a better learning environment.

Regards, Barry

Estella Kelly CHEP

I agree, the variety makes my students sit up and take notice, rather than dismiss the information by judging in the first 3 seconds that it will be just "another power point" the variety keeps them guessing and interested to see what I will come up with next.

Barry Westling

Hi Jeff:
I try to think what I'm subjecting my students to and would it be something I would be intered in, or bored with. You're right about there being many ways to deliver a message or lesson. Variety and preparation help get the job done.

Regards, Barry

Jeff Haines

I agree....Power points are a useful way to present information, but they are only useful if they can be understood. There are other ways to convey information. I try to use a variety of media while I move around the room. I have learned that moving around the room keeps the students focused on the lesson at hand.

Barry Westling

Hi Mr. or Ms. Fink: (First name?):
PPT can be effective but can also be way overused to the point it becomes a distraction to students. We want to blend a mixture of media choices that augment the delivery of the lesson. Too much of any media choice is probably not going to be received very well with students.

Regards, Barry

G. Fink, RDA CHEP

i agree pwer pointing is an effective way to teach and present a topic

Barry Westling

Hi David:
Yes, variety with media choices and resources does help break up the (unwanted)effect of seemingly uninteresting information. Unfortunately, much of that information may be valuable - even essential for student use. Instructors need to be creative when choosing media to avoid the PPT overload.

Regards, Barry

David Back CHEP

I very much agree that power point overload puts the students to sleep.

It's been discussed that 20 minutes is the saturation point of any presentation. If the schedule allows, mixing the powerpoint with a hands on activity keeps students engaged and awake.

There are times I wish we had projectors in the lab so we could discuss a topic and then immediately perform the procedure.

Nonetheless, using all our equipment, white board, overheads, sample parts and games are great ways to avoid PPT Overload.

Dave Back
Exton, PA

Barry Westling

Hi Kris:
Like a well balanced meal, variety and presentation can determine how well it is recieved. PPT, like the meal analogy, consisting of the same kind of meal day after day is going to get old pretty quick. Even when I go to professional multi-day conferences, with speaker after speaker, and PPT after PPT, I can lose ineterest in even exciting and otherwise interesting speaker presentations. I think you've made a good point.

Regards, Barry