Powerpoints Really Do Work!
I have found the students retain more and are more willing to contribute to the learning by powerpoint. The feel less rushed and become excited about being able to express their point of view on the topic.
Hi Kristin:
Any presentation can be effective, be it powerpoint, or something else - as long as we incorporate the use of variety. By doing so, we are sure to address every type of learning style as much as possible.
Regards, Barry
Hi Joseph:
Powerpoints can be an effective method to impart information.
There are many guides that exist that help individuals prepare efficient and organized presentations. These tools offer guidelines like not using too much information on one slide, or using appropriate size fonts, etc.
Regards, Barry
In addition to the lecture, a power point presentations of illustrations works for us great.
I agree. I think Powerpopint serves as a great guide to faciliate conversation. Putting the opening topic and some key info on the slide really stimulates conversation in the classroom.
Hi Hoang:
Many teachers will use notes to supplement their PPT lectures. Some choose to wait until after the lesson so the student will pay attention during the lecture - then refer back to the notes for refrence.
I think it depends on the kind of class, information being shared, and how much material is on a slide. Ideally, with one slide, there should be discussion, perhaps exercises or worksheets, reference to pertinent hyperlinks, and Q&A that compares and contrasts. I don't know you get that on notes.
Lessons should be interactice, involve students, engage their thinking and get them thinking and answering.
Regards, Barry
We can also provide them with a copy of the powerpoint so they can listen and process the information rather then having to rush and write down notes.
I have found the students retain more and are more willing to contribute to the learning by powerpoint. They feel less rushed and become excited about being able to express their point of view on the topic.
Hi Roger:
Great! Used correctly is a key bit of advice. Too much of anything can egin to tune out students. A 1 and 1/2 hour PPT, with slide after slide is not going to keep the interest, attention, and learning is going o suffer.
But as you suggest, combining one slide with, say 5 minutes of related discussion along with dry earse, teaching aids, or discussion and Q&A would make a class interesting, enjoyable, and memorable.
Regards, Barry
I agree that ppt is a really good tool. I use it and can adjust the slides to better suit the class personality.
I use the slides to focus on specific aspects of the class material. Depending on the feedback I get from students I can speed up or slow down too.
I like to use a combination of mediums instead of relying solely on one like ppt. I'll use slides, handouts and the dry marker board. I like to use the board to 'flesh out' the slides and to add supplmental information.
PPT is very handy and an effective tool if used correctly.
Hi Deandra:
For me, PPT works best when used with summarized lists of points on a slide. This allows me to expand and eleaborate on the material in the way and depth I feel is appropriate. With PPT, it's really not possible to be as complete other media (textbook, articles, handouts) anyway.
I also like to use the reveal function with PPT so each bullet point appears alone before the next point is revealed. This way students are more apt to follow what I'm talking about at the time, rather than look ahead.
Regards, Barry
Hi Maria:
PPT can be a dramatic method to express important ideas. The flip side is too much PPT can actually distract and turn off students from paying attention or engaging with the instructor in an active manner.
You're right, PPT can emphasize. I think some teachers make a common error to try to put toom much information into a set of slides, or worse, too much information on a single slide.
For me, the best use of PPT is to mix it up with other media (whiteboard, discussion, CD/DVD, wworksheets, etc), and to try bto limit the PPT slide to summarized points that allow me to elaborate on key points, rather than the slide containing all of the information. In reality, that's virtually impossible to do (at least in a way that's interesting).
PPT is a tool. The focus should be on the information, not the tool that provides it.
Regards, Barry
I agree but you have to use it only as an highlighting aid and not a learning tool. Student's will not utilize their book material or pay attention to lectures if they feel they can short cut and wait for a power point with all the information and a solution to not studying but relying on the power point.
Hi Tornetta:
I'm a little unsure of your meaning.
I think when students prepare PPT's for presentation to the class, that would be a great instructional strategy, and beneficial to the student learning and retainhg information.
When teacher-made PPT's are used, these can be good learning tools as well as long as students arn't flooded with too much information. A good example of my point is sustituting PPT for overhead slides. Imagine the same slides as overheads. Would the inforamation be brief, colorful, summarized?
Or might the slide look more like an enlarged handout? If that is the case, there's probably too much information, and students can take just so much of that form of information.
I think PPT is terrific, especially when used in conjunction with other learning media and delivery methods.
Regards, Barry
Hi Denise:
PPT is dramatic and powerful, but even with good information, can also be dry and boring.
One key is PPT is merely a tool. I think some teachers make PPT as the focus of the lesson, rather than the informatin contained. It's a tool. A carpeters hammer is a tool, and it gets a job done. but it'sd the job that's important, not the hammer.
And using the same example, a carpenter doesn't use only one tool, they use many in order to perform their craft with integrity and beauty.
So it is with PPT. Use it with care and it will help facilitate learning. Too much, and you'll lose students, even if the content is excellent.
Regards, Barry
Use power point a lot in all my lectures for I can include things that I emphasize and are very important.
I love using power point slides as well. I believe the students retain the information easier if they actually "see" your points and presentation comes across more clearly.
Hi Holly:
PPT is a dynamic learning tool. Novice teachers tend to have the "tool" dominate the lesson, rather than the information contained.
Reading slides is really awaste of student time. For me better PPT's have general bullet oints that allow meto elaborate based on my experience and the particular spin I feel I need to give. I'll use the reveal function more with these kind of slides so onlt the current point I'm making is visible.
Handouts are good. Different ways to use them. One set of notes the students get that are different from what the instructor is using is one alternative.
Or giving out the notes after the lesson. I like students to listen and participate. The hndouts can supplement their own notes for study after the lesson.
Probably the best use of PPT is when it is combined with other media: whiteboard, flip chart, discussion, poster sheets(large post-it notes), demo equipment, workbook exercises, etc.). Variety will contribute to memorable and meaningful lessons.
Regards, Barry
I have used powerpoint presentations alot in teaching my students. It can be very effective, especially if you have alot of information to cover. Powerpoints with too much information or extreme grafics can really be distracting and can hinder learning. It took me a long time to really learn how to use powerpoint effectively and to not just read the slides. Giving out the slides as handouts helps, because it lessens the rush of students trying to copy the slides and not listen to what your saying as long as you give more information than what is on the slides. I also found that if I include a review of material and a discussion students retain the information better.
