Power Point Presentation
I use power Point Presentation as one way of media, it is important to have a well build PP to ensure that it will draw attention from the students. I have seen too many boring PP's in my career!
What are some of the ideas that you can provide to enhance a PP?
Alwyn,
Great. More variety adds flavor and contributes to a more interesting learning session.
Barry Westling
Using Powerpoint presentations during lecture helps the student to better understand the information being presented, I always add a video link to the PP which helps to enhance the lecture.
Aimee,
Creative use of PPT would be welcomed by most students. Instructors seem to think they can convey needed information with slides, while in most cases, at best, PPT slides can only augment discussion and other instructional information. PPT is a tool, and every tool has a specific purpose (and like tools can be used inappropriately or misused).
Barry Westling
I have found ppt to be rather boring to most students but I like the ideas of inserting games and challenging questions throughout. I think I'll try that. I can't do away with them altogether as they do keep me on track and make sure I cover all of the little details I would sometimes neglect.
Corliss,
I think PPT is great especially coupled with other media or learning activities such as discussion, white board, demo, pair-share, etc. Getting the student to participate rather than passively sitting and listening makes for more engaged and focused students.
Barry Westling
I love Power Point Presentations. It allows the students to focus more. Students don't need to ask for the spelling of certain terms and usually I can cover more material with the group.
Love It!
Steven,
You're quite creative with your use of PPT, and seems you've used it as a tool to make the class both fun and instructional. Good job.
Barry Westling
I use PPTs in many of my didactic classes. I begin by learning objectives, followed by the lecture material, but then i follow it all up with games made on the same presentation. I may do a multiple choice, true/false, or a case study depending on the course, and the students give their answers. The games allow for use of what was taught. Also, I put some one the same types of questions within my lecture to keep them on their toes. I can see the students straighten up in their chairs and focus on teh slides as the challange questions pop up.
Guy,
Great! PPT slides are a great tool, and can add a touch of "bling" to an otherwise plain presentation. I think it helps when we have charts, graphs, figures, tables, photo's, diagrams, or conceptual word art - images that convey a message. If there is too much written, there are better ways for students to receive this material. A few points that can augment discussion seem to be a good use.
Barry Westling
I use the Power point presentations to summarize and add substance to things I have gone over that day in lecture, also highlighting things that may be needed as review for testing or homework assignments.
Daniel,
Experts say less is more. Although PPT has many amazing features, using them when they're not needed only creates unneeded busyness and perhaps can even be distracting. Adding hyperlinks that take the viewer to another "professionally prepared" resource is one simple enhancement. For discussion I believe simple bullet points that allow the teacher to facilitate a lengthier discussion are fine for many lessons. If the students have to rely on the PPT to read something, there are better resources available to do that. I also think PPT is probably best used to illustrate photo's, charts, graphs, tables, schematics, diagrams - things that are more conceptual, that are best said visually (vs. using words).
Barry Westling
