Powerpoint Presentations
I really enjoy using this method. I am a skills instructor and this type of method is great for giving teaching skills and visuals needed to do specific techniques. After the theory part and the visual portion we then go to the bedside and perform the hands-on portion. This really seems to hit the auditory, visual and kinesthetic students all at once.
Hi Van:
One idea is to use a variety of presentation methods to address every learning style.
Another thing to keep in mind is that three slides per page may be difficult to read for some students. But on the whole, if there are no complaints, then it's a great technique!
Regards, Barry
Hi Ronald:
Good point - it is a bad idea to just "read" the slides to the students. Better to expound upon the information, and focus on key points. Students can always research the information more if they need to.
Regards, Barry
Hi Suzanne:
You're right of course. Many approaches are equally effective for imparting that knowledge. One thing instructors might think about is just using a variety of techniques to brek it up once in a while.
Regards, Barry
Hi Daniel:
Assuming you are comfortable with the material you are teaching, a good way to transition from the slide to the discussion is by asking the group, "so what are we talking about here? What's the main idea"?
Of course, you must be secure in your knowledge, otherwise, this technique might back fire on you, making it look like you don't know what you're talking about.
Regards, Barry
Hi Christopher:
What is important for every instructor to keep in mind is that there ideally needs to be a variety of teaching styles used to address every type of student learner.
Regards, Barry
Hi Danielle:
One thing to think about when using ANY presentation style is to mix it up in the exact way you're describing. By using a variety of teaching approaches, we are sure to address every type of learning style.
Regards, Barry
Hi Deborah:
One thought might be to let the students finish taking notes, and try to limit saying anything why they do so. Then, when the majority have finished writing, re-evaluating the information.
One way to do this might be to ask the class, "so what are we talking about on this slide, what's the main idea"?
Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen:
That's true - they can break it up a little. As long as we use a balance of teaching techniques, we will be sure to address every type of learning style, regardless of the presentation method we use.
Regards, Barry
Hi Dionne:
This is a great method to address every type of learner. As long as your students can stay motivated throughout, they almost HAVE to learn something!
Regards, Barry
Agree - you have probably phrased it better than I have. Being a subject expert and using a tool to help teach that subject are indeed different. Experience with both is the answer. Thanks.
Hi Tom:
Im'm not sure I fully understand your position. I think PPT is a very creative tool, but is more often misused as an effective tool unless good instruction along with good and bad examples that demonstrate how students relate to slides learn from them.
I think sometimes it's probably a case of a subject matter expert using a tool as an ametuer. Good slides can contain all kinds of great learning information when formatted and time is put into their planning. But for discussion, I don't think you need PPT if the student is to read all the needed information. Just give them a handout if that's the case.
Then you have educators very well versed in the power of PPT, and they can create a truely inspirational visual learning experience. I guess experience and training is the key.
Regrads, Barry
I would like to throw some cold water on this business of using PP presentations. (Full disclosure: I teach Office 2007 skills, including PowerPoint)I absolutely love PP! Having said that, I walk the hallways of my institution and see some of the worst examples of PP presentations that you can imagine. Clear backgrounds? No more than five points per slide? Not in your wildest dreams!! The general rule seems to be that a lecture can be put on a PP presentation. That means that one slide really can contain 1000 words...or more! And of course when a student sees that slide, they will read each and every word. I know, I need to chill on this. Any advice on an appropriate way to discuss this with my colleagues? Sorry, Barry, I just turned this into a Dear Abby column.
I have found that if I print the PPT slides three per page with lines for notes it allows them to listen more, and add what notes they need. This is much better than when I started and they had to copy what I wrote on the white board. The problem, I think, is that some students will see the printed slides as sufficient and will not take any notes.
PPT work well if you give more information than whats on the slides. Students tend to get very bored in classes where instructors just go over the slide information and dont interject other ideas and thoughts.
Using powerpoint to identify the main points within your presentation while supporting these points with additional information is the most effective way to use powerpoint. I stress this to my students when teaching the application.
Too many people want to put all the infoirmation into the slides and just read from them.
Hi Daniel:
Circulating around in a classroom while leturing, leading or facilitating a discussion, or q&a time works well. In a classic classroom set up, you're bound to be behind some students some of the time. Your PPT slide advancer is a great tool to untether you from your laptop. I've found that wherever I am in the room, most students (who are interested) will turn to face me. This method is far better than the ackward statue pose.
One variation is to seat yourself somewhere within the classroom, so that as you engage students, they feel like a normal conversation is occuring.
Regards, Barry
I agree that I like to see the students reactions and wouldn't want to always be behind them. My school gave me one of the classrooms with a ceiling mounted projector and the port for it is in the front of the room, so I have been seated in front with my laptop, playing statue. I just went out on ebay and for under $10 bought a clicker (USB connected PowerPoint advance/back and laser pointer) that should allow me to wander the room and move the slides. I'll try it tomorrow for the first time. The official name is Wireless Presentation Laser Pointer, and it doesn't require any special software.
I can related to that, however, I am the opposite. I am not comfortable with PP. I tend to consume class with lecture. Perhaps too much at certain points. I enjoy being in front of the class rather than the back of the room bc I can see the students reactions to the materials.
I am convinced I am using too many PowerPoint slides, and doing too little discussing in the class. I am still struggling to get comfortable with the casual interaction needed to check out student's understanding of the material and find the holes in the understanding that need more explanation. The book is at a little higher level than the associates degree candidates I have, and more research oriented, so I need to cut material that is not useful to our career college graduates at this time.
