PowerPoints in class
In the class that I teach I have recently incorporated a powerpoint presentation into my lecture for each week. I have found this really does help students grasp the information and accommodate different learning styles. They are listening to me give a lecture but also seeing the information in front of them. I use pictures, colors, different graphs as well and keep the slides to a minimum when it comes to information. This way I do not overwhelm the students.
Hi Mike:
PPT is just a tool. In your teaching environment, PPT may be the wholly wrong tool to use to teach your students or get your point across. Especially in the kitchen, you know thereare many tools used in cooking, but they are not all used for every meal or demonstration or class. Same for PPT, or any other media that might be appropriate just occassionally.
Regards, Barry
As a kitchen instructor in a classroom that has not been technology fitted, it is difficult to use powerpoints. If they do get used, they need to not have too much information on them, or be used as a substitute for lecture
Hi David:
All resources that contribute to meaningful instruction ought to be considered. PPT, like other media is just a tool, with it's place. Too often, it's probably overused, or used in lieu of a better media choice or delivery method.
What ever will get them to pass that exam, that's the tools that should be used, even if that's just reading the book and the exercises, and learning that darn code book!
Regards, Barry
Hi Joseph:
You're right, PPT (and other media) is only a tool. And the tool should not become the focus, but the means of providing instructional information.
I agree way too many slides are really awful, even though at first glance the may appear attractive. There are many subtleties to well prepared PPT slides, and oftenm these take time and effort to appear well and do the job they're intended for.
Regards, Barry
Hi Maria:
Sounds like a good balance. One creative slide could be illuminated on the screen for 30 minutes accompanied by a lecture or discussion point.
I have a two-slide PPT that by using the reveal function, allows me to talk about pulmonary rehabilitation for 2-hours, and it's effective because I'm supplementing it with information, stories, examples, and using the whiteborad, a separate handout, and the text book. Reveal is cool because it allows one bullet point at a time to appear at a time, in sequential order.
Regards, Barry
I teach a course in electrical technology and as much as I find the students engaged by power point I also fear that it takes them away from more traditional methods such as book based learning.In the electrical field the ultimate test of the students ability is the state license exam which is open book.Without students learning to navigate the code book there is almost no hope of success.
Students look forward to new technologies in communication and education. Power Point is one small way of doing this. However, i find that many instructors are as excited about playing with newer communication tools, they also forget the general guidelines of preparing effective presentations and choke the student learner with too much information on one slide.
