Creating Effective PowerPoints (For Teaching)
PowerPoints for Teaching
- Using PowerPoint both teaching tools and study guides c the nature and amount of information presented.
- Use “notes” to keep PowerPoints clean and uncluttered.
- PowerPoints as teaching aids to facilitate discussion, class time management, and groupwork.
- PowerPoints have a psychological component — students feel that PowerPoint's are important and are more likely to take notes.
Student Engagement
- One of the challenges of PowerPoint as an instructional delivery system is that it can be a very passive learning environment.
- What strategies have you used to make your PowerPoints more engaging and encourage active learning?
|
Small Classes |
Large Classes |
|
Class discussions with questions embedded in PowerPoint material. |
Use of clickers, twitter feed, or other technology can aid in engagement. |
|
Group work (even short, 5 minutes discussion in pairs) portions. |
Short discussions among students with 3-4 groups reporting back (or all groups reporting to forum) |
|
The “think → pair share "strategy works strategy works (demonstrate a point, have them free write, have them pair, and discuss) |
Good delivery helps (more later on this)! |
Writing a Good PowerPoint
§ Use Bullet points to increase scan ability and readability.
§ Avoid too large blocks of text; create concise language (my favorite method for learning concise language is here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/635/01/)
§ Keep one idea to one slide rather than trying to cram (or add more slides for dense information)
§ Use parallel language (using the same verb tense at the beginning of each point, like in this slide)
§ Provide clear references for source material used (this helps students see the connections
Designing a Good PowerPoint
- Keep information straightforward.
- Include graphics and visuals, like “smart art” graphics, but don’t go overboard.
- Consider other multimedia elements, such as embedded short video clips, audio, etc.
- Break up large portions of lecture with activities, free writes, checks for understanding, short group work, discussions, etc.
Tricks and Tips: Smart Art in PPT
- “Smart Art” allows for visualization of lists, relationships, cycles, and more.
- Found under “Smart Art.” Very useful displaying information and relationships.
Tricks and Tips: Embedding Pictures & Video
- Microsoft’s Instructions for Embedding Photos/Clip Art: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/insert-a-picture-or-clip-art-HA010079409.aspx
- Microsoft’s Instructions for Embedding Video: http://office.microsoft.com/enus/powerpoint-help/insert-video-into-your-presentation-RZ102673174.aspx
- If you want to embed a YouTube video, the easiest way to do so is to either link to it or download it and embed directly. I prefer to link to the videos.
- Note that some versions of PPT (such as Office 2011 for Mac, the version I’m running, do not allow you to insert videos from the web.) You just have to link to them.
Tricks and Tips: Basic Design Principles, cont.
- Alignment = Everything should look well placed, everything is connected with an “invisible line” (e.g., bullet points on top of each other)
- Contrast = Difference, make elements that need to be different (through font choice, formatting, offsetting text, etc.)
Tips and Tricks: Basic Design Principles, cont.
- Repetition = Repetition is about unity, consistency, and creating cohesiveness (three slides with the same design and similar content)
- Proximity = where things are placed in relationship to one another; where does your eye move? What is the path it takes?
- *Information taken from Williams (2008) Non- Designer’s Design Book
Organizing PowerPoints
- Slide 1: Title
- Slide 2: Overview - Provide students with a roadmap of where you are going.
- For longer PowerPoints, provide SIGNPOSTS (slides that say, this is where we’ve been and here’s where we are going next)
- Use notes area to supplement material-dense slides.
- Use text formatting and graphics to draw attention.
Organization with Emphasis on Student Engagement (5o min class)
- Introduction/Overview of what we will cover (1-2 min)
- Short free write + class discussion of what students already know/prior experience (5-10 min)
- Presentation of material (10-20 min) includes 2-3 open-ended qoestion for students to break up presentation.
- group work on material to help solidify concepts (15 min) and final discussion or free write (15 min)
Delivery of a PowerPoint
- Part of an effective PowerPoint is how its delivered/presented in a classroom
- Students prefer faculty who are engaged and interested in the material (through enthusiasm in voice, engagement with subject, interesting stories)
- Students also want to see clear connections to future careers and real life (this is a good activity to do with students at the beginning or end of a class session)
Online Delivery of PPT
- PowerPoint does allow you to record a side show, which can be useful for flipped classes, online courses, or polar vortex snow days.
- You need a microphone (or use your computer’s built in mic) for recording.
- You can find the tools to record under Slide Show → Presenter Tools
Alternatives to PowerPoint
- Prezi (www.prezi.com)
- Haiku Deck (iPad/webapp) –
- Softmaker Presentations (Android App) – Allows you to edit and open PPTS on Android.
