Powerpoints and pitfalls!
Although PPT have a place in the classroom, we must always remember that they are a tool, not the teacher! PPTs can be educational and engaging, but many instructors do not have training in how to create one or how to teach from one. I certainly made my share of mistakes in the beginning. It is amazing what you can do with type of presentation, but like the lecture said, you have to be comfortable and know what is beneficial and what is not. Curriculum should be designed by a team of teachers so that the best of the best is obtained and not something that is too wordy, no pictures and minimal engagement. Pictures or inserting video clips keep the slides interesting. I think putting in scenarios is also effective, it takes the attention away from the PPT and creates conversation.
Patricia,
If I use PPT at all it is to demonstrate information that is interesting and useful to the students.
Barry Westling
John,
This is a very rational approach to course delivery!
Barry Westling
I use as many available resources as possible to help develop powerpoint presentations. I expound on key points within the powerpoints to keep it interesting for the students.I don't want to be a boring instructor that reads from the powerpoints only in class. You lose student's attention very quickly that way.
PPT's should not lead the student, but lead the teacher in the direction of what material should be presented. In other words, the information the student receives should not come from a slide, it should come from the instructor.
Darlene,
Terrific! When we think how we would evaluate the learning methods we give our students, we usually come up with better ways to deliver our message.
Barry Westling
I will definitely make use of the tutorial for developing good powerpoint presentations. I don't want to be the like some instructors I remember that put everything on powerpoints and just read them in class. They should be used as a summary of major points only and a guideline for the instructor discussion.
Reshona,
I think one answer is to use the PPT slides only for your guide for discussion. For instance, if this post was the lesson, [PowerPoint's and pitfalls], the slide might just give key bullet points you want to talk about. The instruction comes from you, not the slides. The bullet points only provide an organized way to present the material.
Barry Westling
I love to use PP but I find that students either spend way to much time copying exactly what is on each slide and not listening to the lecture that goes with it. I've tried printing the PP out and giving handouts but then I'm faced with the problem of students not paying attention at all. It's a fine line to walk and what works for one class doesn't work for all.
Cathy,
I think there's almost always an alternative action, activity, or assignment that can be done to liven things up. Even with math!
Barry Westling
Karyn,
Sometimes, the publisher PPT slides merely follow the text and are similar to using another's lesson -- it usually is a a bad idea. I create my own for how I want to deliver my information.
Barry Westling
I agree. Math can be very dry if the instructor doesn't use something visually interesting. My ppt slides are informative but also interesting by my use of color and a bit of animation.
I agree with you, William. Publishers' PP presentations are often limited in what they cover and I found that my students relied on them far too much when I first started out. I would give them a quiz and if they didn't do well the first complaint was, "That wasn't in the presentations!" It took awhile for them to realize that when I gave them reading assignments I really wanted them to read and comprehend what was in the book. I got the problem under control by telling them that while they were doing their reading assignments they should take notes and have questions about what they had read ready for discussion in the next class. We review this material at the beginning of every class with students offering answers to their classmates' questions and discussing any problems in detail.
Johnnie,
PPT is a great way to display photo's, especially if they convey a specific message or teaching point.
Barry Westling
Elizabeth,
I've found a good method to reengage students is to share a story -- something interesting, unusual, or humorous that occurred sometime in my past. Students like stories. And I always make sure it pertains to the overarching topic.
Barry Westling
I've given up on publishers' pre-packaged PPs. They abbreviate the issues to save space, but often what remains are overly general or simply incorrect statements. And how can I insist on good English when I'm using PPs that have grammatical errors? Whom do they hire to write these things? Ours is a do-it-yourself line of work.
I make power points all the time.
I find a few bullet points (sometimes more detailed in what I teach)
Pictures. Pictures are huge.
I remember when I was a student. I now what classes I looked forward to going to and which ones I didn't. I try to make sure I also read my students. If I see them drifting I turn the focus on something else then go back.
Michael,
PPT can be a great resource, if used in appropriate doses, which of course will vary depending on the situation and content. Too often, instructors try to make "fancy looking" slides, sometimes actually distracting students from the message. Also, bombarding students with non-stop PPT slides for hours stretches most minds beyond learning capacities.
Barry Westling
I think that with a good education of Powerpoint. It can be very useful tool. In addition to in class presentation allowing the students to have access to the presentation prior to class will allow them to see the the topic of the day. They can also print them out prior to the lecture in a "note" format and take handwritten notes next to the slides as being presented.
