PowerPoint Slides and chalk/board
The combination of powerpoint slides with just a few bullet points on them and the employment of chalk and board seem to be very effective
Silviu,
Good presentations keep student interest. It is rare that a PPT presentation can capture attention for a longer period, so I agree it's best to break up what we present into digestible bits, perhaps involving slides, then discussion, then whiteboard, then independent work (worksheets), or a interactive combination of all of these. Just as students minds begin to wander, we're off to a different activity. Keeping students engaged is due in part to keeping their interest.
Barry Westling
I think powerpoint is a great tool but we must also be very careful not to abuse it. It's way too tempting to create a powerpoint presentation and dimply run down the slides but often times other activities/tools may be more effective.
Hello K, absolutely but one thing I've found with limited rehearsal is to quickly run through the presentation in the instructional setting due to poor lighting, color scheme, etc. Sometimes it just comes off bad unless you have time to rehearse and correct.
ATUL,
I agree we have to mix things up to keep attention and full engagement. We can have the best material and awesome delivery, but that is fruitless if students are not engaged.
Barry Westling
Power point slides presentation is an effective tools of teaching however students loose attention after 30 minutes of PP slides presentation.
If instructors combine PP presentation with chalk & board then effectiveness of learning process will increase twice.
Michelle,
You've described a good, balanced approach to using PPT slides. Keeping information on the slides minimized also helps facilitate more discussion, thinking, questioning, reasoning, ect.
Barry Westling
I agree. PowerPoint is effective if it is not over used. I have sat in a class with way to many PP presentations and been overwhelmed. The idea of the chalk board with the PP is a good one. That way there are two different types of media along with the material.
Angela ,
The 7X7 rule works too (no more than 7 words on a line, no more than 7 bullets). I think the slides should just a toll to convey information or facilitate discussion. PPT slides should never be the focus of attention.
Barry Westling
I agree. I use powerpoint slides weekly to introduce new material. I discovered that slides with more than four bullets can be overwhelming to the students.
Yvonne,
I think PPT slides are a tool, a tool to enhance or amplify what I want to say. The 7X7 or 5X5 rule is a good one: No line more than 5 or 7 words, and no more than 5 or 7 lines. Simple contrasting colors to highlight background vs. text. The exceptions are when graphics, photos, illustrations, charts, diagrams, or images are pertinent. I'd agree that some variety makes slides more interesting. But in general "less is more", meaning less elaborate brings more clarity to a slide.
Barry Westling
I agree, a lot of information on a slide tends to be confusing. When I use PP slides, I like to use a separate color text on the important points. Funny graphics break up what could be a not so interesting lecture.
Kenneth,
I think this particular combination is effective in that it allows predetermined topic or subject matter points to be displayed and discussed, while providing an opprotunity for the teacher and student to elaborate, expand, amplfify, or display discussed concepts at the whiteboard (or chalkboard). This dynamic learning tool provides for creativity, spontaneity, and proposeing critical thinking opportunity for the students. Getting students involved in this activity is key to making it an engaging and interactive learning experience.
Barry Westling
Yes power point is just one way to getting the information to the students, and the other is the way the teacher responds and reinforces to the students on how to use this knowledge. There are many ways to reach students, for all students do not learn the same so it is the teachers job no responsiblity to find other ways to reinforce and get the knowlege to the students.
Kenneth,
Right. I like that..."juicy bites". Summarized points that can be the outline for discussion by the teacher and/or student. Too much information on a slide could probably be better handled either by a handout or read directly from the text source. Discussion, discussion groups, or other collaborative learning work well in conjunction with PPT, rather than PPT being the focus and source of the information.
Barry Westling
Power points are very effective if you take the material and narrow it down to the juicy bites in which the students need to know. Anymore chalk boards are outdated and to some a health hazard so using the dry erase board serves the same purpose. You can actually use the board to reinforce the material in the power point to obtain your desired goal. I also feel since I am a science teacher to peform a lab to back up the material as well.
Srey,
In business they use the WIIFM method (what's in it for me?). When students recognize or value information you share they will pay attention, listen, and remain engaged. Sometimes prefacing your lesson with an interesting or practical work settting situation my get attention. Often, tying as much as possible to the work setting they're being prepared for is enough. When not enough, questioning students or involving them in work-related situations usually keeps students interested and engaged.
Barry Westling
I'm teaching lab classes where there are plenty of hands on days and only one day of lecture every week. My students' dread it. I use powerpoint, ad lib, and have videos etc. inbetween and I just don't know how else to get the information to them on lecture days. Help?
Hi Kundukisa,
Right. I think the best use of PPT slides is as a guide for me to facilitate discussion. Too much information on a slide can be distracting, is not that beneficial to learning, and if reading information is important, there are better ways to get that (such as the textbook, handouts, websites, workbooks, etc.).
Barry Westling
