Using PowerPoint to support Learning
We have all heard the phrase ‘Death by PowerPoint’ and some of our students are
telling us we may be guilty! PowerPoint is of course only a presentational aid and will
not in itself lead to learning. However, the way that PowerPoint is used in the planning
of learning sessions, and during them, can help our students learn. This leaflet provides
some guidelines for the best and most appropriate uses of PowerPoint.
What is the purpose of a PowerPoint slide show?
Good practice suggests that PowerPoint is used to structure the session to encourage
student learning and that the slides need to be a mixture of subject content and learning
activities. Examples of learning tasks are provided in the last section of this leaflet.
When do you give the slides to students?
Making your PowerPoint slides available before the session improves student engagement
and research shows that this does not generally affect attendance.
Advance availability of PowerPoint slides should:
1.
enable your students to come to the session prepared for the topic
2.
provide a framework for note taking
3.
allow time for more interesting learning activities, and thus ..
4.
make the learning session more productive
Why not make the PowerPoint slides ‘gapped’ in that not all bullet points are included in
their version or some slides are blank? This will focus concentration during any ‘lecture’
type activity.
What about use of images, media and web sites?
By including a variety of media in a PowerPoint slide show, video, images, animations,
diagrams, tables etc. a presentation can be made more engaging and assist with the
needs of those with different learning styles. Links to web sites can be effective and
easy to use. Use carefully selected copyright free images to enhance meaning and web
links to relevant sites. You could also link to WOLF and PebblePad to demonstrate useful
learning tasks and materials therein.
How is an effective PowerPoint slide set structured?
Remember PowerPoint is a presentational tool which needs to be used to structure a
learning session, and it is not a place to house all your notes.
As a very general ‘rule of thumb’ allow approximately 5 minutes per content / subject
matter slide. A learning activity, and thus the accompanying slide with the task
instructions on, should ideally be used to engage learners at 15 to 20 minute intervals.
This accounts for listening attention spans. Many teachers use one learning activity per
5 slides as a rough and ready rule of thumb.
The first slides should be:
(i) Title of the learning session, name and contact
(ii) Learning outcomes of the session
(iii) Optional, the third slide could contain a revision task based on previous work while late comers settle.
Then the last slides could be
(i) a summary of the session
(ii) references in correct format and lastly,
(iii) full information about what self study tasks need to be completed before the next learning session e.g., WOLF, PebblePAD and reading tasks.
Avoid putting too much detail on the slides, six bullet points per slide usually enough,
with 20 point font and dark text on a light background promotes clarity. Keep your
bullet points to the minimum of words because students will read these as they appear.
Bringin in one bullet point at a time is useful to focus student attention.
Here is a link to guidance on accessibility issues – click here.
Never, ever just read from your slides. The students can read, it is your expansion and
explanation of the points which is adding value.
Check also that the content and images of slides reflects the diversity our university
students.
What types of learning activities can I use?
The slide which contains the learning activity, may include a selection and a variety of
the learning tasks types below:
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Pair work - think and discuss questions
A problem for small groups to solve
Formative assessment questions to check learning
Write down one question to ask your partner about the session so far / you have not understood / you would like to know more about / which your partner won’t be able to answer
Give a short reading passage with questions
Compare your notes with your partner’s
Summarise the most important points of the session so far
A blank slide which stops the input and asks for any student questions
Write down three questions about what you have not understood and leave this behind after the class
How can I learn more about the technical aspects of PowerPoint?
IT Services run PowerPoint training sessions and full information on these can be found
by clicking here.
What does research tell us about the use of PowerPoint and learning?
Watch this overview from Professor Jim Hewitt from University of Toronto discuss
some of the findings of research and the implications of these findings for PowerPoint
presentations – click here
What the students think about the good, bad and the ugly of PowerPoint, based on
interviews conducted for a workshop by Dr. Carol Washburn – click here
An excellent website from the University of Minnesota which contains ideas and advice
on using PowerPoint can be found by clicking here.
For further details contact ILE reception on 01902 518540