Barry Westling

Hi Laurie:
Very true - in fact, there are whole texts and web pages dedicated to these types of tips. In addition to what you mentioned, other ideas might include using font colors and backgrounds that people can see, and only using so much information to digest per slide.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Noreen:
Good point! There must be a balance of how much reading and filling in of notes with an ample amount of discussion as well. If we just read information to the students, most would probably agree that would be less effective to enhance learning than combining that with a follow-up discussion on the main ideas.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Fonda:
Most pedagogy philosophy supports the use of multiple instructional methods to address every type of learning style.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Jamie:
Good point, the information on ANY presentation should not be so crammed with information (for example) that the main point is lost, or that the student is put to asleep because they are overwhelmed with information.

We're identifying the need for the right "balance".

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Hoang:
True - as long as there is a balance to the information and other techniques we use in any kind of presentation.

Too much supplemental information can distract from the primary material.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Walter:
True, any type of presentation media, be it lecture, power point, movie, audio file, etc. can come across boring.

What many feel is the most effective method to use is a combination of many different types of instructional media.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Nadine:
Powerpoints can be tricky if not prepared efficiently.

There are great resources that discuss what makes for an effective presentation. Using tips like not having too much information on one slide, using the best size font, etc.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Patricia:
Powerpoints are a great method of getting out information to your learners. One thing to consider with any presentation tool, is the balance of information being presented.

There are a number of great resources that discuss the dos and donts when using power points that illustrate this balance.

Regards, Barry

Laurie Lindsay

Being succinct on powerpoint slides is important. No more than 5 short bullet points are usually better than full sentences. Then, you can fill in a few more details. Keep things moving along.

Noreen Semanski

Barry, I agree with the statement that PP can be helpful or distracting. I believe that PP should be adjunct material to help reinforce classroom material, reading the PP slide is not effective. I use PP as a resource and have the student review the PP before or after class sessions to help reinforce the class material. I believe that PP should not override and that discussions points should be shown on the slide.

Noreen

Barry Westling

Hi Heidi-Jo:
PPT is good, but is better when mixed with other media such as the white board, flip chart, class exercises, lecture and discussion, or small group study. The more variety, the learning styles you're going to attract, and overall better lerarning outcomes will be the result.

Regards, Barry

Heidi-Jo Yohe

I've been teaching full-time for 5 months now and I've been inquiring power points in my class lecture material to make it more interesting

FONDA MCCLAIN

Yes, this is true, you need more besides powerpoints and just reading slides in a classroom. You want to grab all students attention.

Barry Westling

Hi Joshua:
I believe you have a succesful model there. It's like a lot of technology that about today. It's like the technology has exceeded it usefulness as a tool at times.

I like to use a tool analogy with PPT. Like a carpenter, the right tool for the right job gets the job done efficeintly and with craftsmanship. You would find a hammer used as the sole tool when there are hundreds of other tools.

Really, the key lies not so much in our preferences but in thoughtful consideration of how best to present the material, i.e., what tools will I need for this job. Once that's decided, then a good balance will surely become apparent.

Regards, Barry

Jamie Martin

Powerpoints are an awesome thing when used correctly I do powerpoints but i do not project them my students fall asleep so i just use them as handouts.

Joshua Schirmer

This is an excellent point, and one of my primary reasons for not utilizing PowerPoint (though many of my colleagues swear by it). In my eyes, there's too much of a risk of "automated lecturing" -- I fear that what should be a useful tool might quickly devolve into a crutch.

While I certainly recognize the benefits of PowerPoint, and while I certainly wouldn't dissaude anyone from using the program, I've found that a combination of worksheet handouts, simple whiteboard notes, and prepared lecture material tends to work very well. I prefer a more tactile approach, writing concepts on the board in front of the students; it's my hope that they might model my behavior and take notes themselves! :)

Barry Westling

Hi Fonda:
Side notes are essetial. Or discussion topics. Or whitboard. I can't imagine a teacher clicking slide after slide merely reading it. That's called "telling" not teaching.

For students to learn, they have to be active and engaged somehow. It would be better if the student read and discussed 5 slides, then a different student got up and read 5 slides, and so on. The teacher could correct, but the student would remember.

Regards, Barry

FONDA MCCLAIN

This is true. Power points are also effective with additional side notes verses just reading off a slide.

Barry Westling

Hi Teresa:
Students are visual, but their attention span is short too. I think the better use for PPT is a blend of PPT with whiteboard, (or flipchardt, class exercises, or small group discussions). This will allow the benefits of the PPT to be promoted, but add variety to the lesson.

Reegards, Barry