Powerpoints Presentation
Is an effective lecture model that aid picture learning/observation. students.
Albert,
Sounds like a good user tip. There are many features PPT presentations can provide. What I emphasize is that PPT is only a tool, and to avoid the tool becoming the focus.
Barry Westling
PPP is a very effective method to aid learning. One thing I do, is to emphasize certain points by reading a bullet item, sometimes repeating a word or phrase, or highlight lite a main point. I might even have a student read it and highlight it myself to drive the point home.
Brook,
PPT slides are not passé, and are among the more powerful tools an instructor can use. I believe students often get bombarded with lesson after lesson, hour after hour with slides - this is less that effective. For me, PPT slides are a tool. And like any tool, it has an appropriate purpose and use. Used with other tools, PPT (and Keynote, and Prezi) are effective when used in concert with other engaging activities to facilitate learning.
Barry Westling
I love Power Point presentations. I have taken a few classes on effective PP design. The PP allows me to introduce some information in a variety of ways. Animation can be included. Videos are sometimes a good distraction from my familiar voice.
I believe that many instructors have not taken the time to thoroughly investigate the abilities of PP to address many different learning styles at one time.
Since it is often difficult to invite or schedule guest speakers a PP of a particular snippet during a lecture is a good as a long conversation with only a few salient points.
I no longer use over-heads because I loose eye-contact with my students when I write. There is also less room to write.
Is the usage of PP for lecture becoming passé?
Romana,
I always use my own PPT slides. I may use an graphic from the publishers image library, but usually the publishers slides are just an outline of the text. My background, education, experience, and emphasis is often quite different from the way the publisher presents it.
Barry Westling
I agree with you. Many times instructors use power points provided by the bublisher and don't bother to look them over.They just read thru them, regardless of the fact. The content is often incorrect and not organized well. If that is the case, the lecture may not flow smoothly and the students are left confused and disoriented.
Yvonne,
I use PPT slides as a guide for my discussion. Sometimes I'll create a slide that contains hidden bullet points, each one revealed as the lecture moves along. The slide and bullet point provide an vehicle for me to expand and elaborate on a point, then I'll advance to the next (hidden) bullet point, and expand on that learning segment. All the while my "lecture" includes reference to handouts, pertinent portions of text, and worked examples or terminology displayed on the white board. This keeps the students interested, engaged and active participators, rather than passive listeners.
Barry Westling
Powerpoints presentations can be effective if used appropriately. It is important to keep the slides interesting, readable and organized. Often I have sat through powerpoint presentations where either there is way too much information on each slide or the presenter is only reading exactly what is on the slide. For those presenters I have to wonder why am I bothering to sit here and listen to them when I can read it myself. These are mistakes I strive not to do when I use powerpoint presentations in my class.
Sharita,
PPT is great, especially if used to enhance learning, which for me means briefer, less jazzy. Too often, PPT slides are so weighed down with "bells and whistles" that the message gets lost in the medium.
Barry Westling
I believe a PPT could be very powerful if it is worded and have correct information. If an instructor has the time they should review the information and make sure everything is there to help teach the class.
Afua,
It's important to remember that PPT is only a tool, for a specific purpose. There may be many other methods to better instruct our students. I only use PPT when I decide it is the absolute best way to convey my thoughts.
Barry Westling
