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PowerPoint/Technology in the Classroom
Anita Blakney
Instructional Technology ED 498
Dr. Richard Holden
February 22, 2010
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PowerPoint/Technology in the Classroom
Research indicates that when used correctly PowerPoint presentations can be an
effective tool in the classroom. Like any other tool it should not be the focal point, but
the result of accomplishing the goal of enriching and reaching more students with
content. PowerPoint offers the flexibility and adaptable formats that make it easy for
teachers to adapt lessons. Slides can be enhanced with multimedia to increase interest
and keep students’ actively involved in the learning process.
Teachers today are required to “differentiate instruction in the classroom” (p. 30)
in order to meet the diverse cognitive styles of students. Schools are looking to
technology to help teachers meet this requirement. The problem with this possible
solution is that teachers are not skilled in the use technology.
“The National Center for Education (NCES; 2000) found in a national survey that
99% of full time public school teachers reported having access to computers or
the Internet somewhere in their schools, and 84% reported having at least one
computer in their classrooms. However, only 20% of teachers reported feeling
well prepared to integrate technology into their teaching (NCES).” (p. 30)
Teachers are now being immersed in training and emphasis then moves to
technology instead of the curriculum. Educational objectives should remain the priority
when using technology in the classroom with less consideration to the amount of
technology used by teachers. The Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) project
offers some helpful advice for teachers. Teachers should “move through five-stage
process of instructional evolution as they work to integrate technology into their
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classroom instruction” (p. 32). The stages begin with entry, which involves basic
technology training. Teachers can move through the other four stages when they are
given technical support and they find a compatible technology/software that not only
coincides with the curriculum, but it works well with their teaching styles. In turn the
teacher is more apt to adopt, adapt, appropriate with gained experience, and with this
the teacher starts “inventing new applications and uses of the technology” (p. 32). At
this point teachers are able to better utilize the program and the purpose for using it.
PowerPoint can be used to display outlines for units, review for test; introduce
new content, enrichment, and assessment to name a few. Planning is crucial to the
creating a presentation/lesson. “Topic, learning goals, specific learning objectives, and
logical flow of the content material” (p. 35) should be the initial step in preparing an
effective presentation/lesson.
The next step involves the actual design of the slides. There are several things
to keep in mind when designing. The text in the presentation should be limited with “no
more than five lines of text” (p. 37) and the sentences should be short. Capitalization of
letters should be limited to the first letter in each bullet or line. Fonts should be limited to
“no more than two or three different fonts and font sizes on one slide” (p. 37) and font
size should be “at least 28-point type” (p. 37). Each slide should use at least three
colors and no more than six. In a prior study of college students the preference for lightcolored backgrounds was preferred. Color should also be used to “highlight important
information,” (p. 38) and “separate concepts.” (p. 38) It is also a good idea to keep
slides “unified and harmonious” (p. 37) as well as “balanced” (p. 37). Tools used to
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attract attention to important information should be limited to “10% of the slide content”
(p. 38). Design is another crucial tool to preparing an effective presentation/lesson.
In my opinion PowerPoint is a good instructional tool. The article included useful
information for teachers that are trying to incorporate technology into their classroom. I
think that PowerPoint presentations are helpful in keeping students’ attention and
interest during a lesson. When students become interested they are more likely to
become involved in the learning process and therefore; more likely to become active
learners.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
de Wet, Catharina F. (2006). Beyond Presentations: Using PowerPoint as an Effective
Instructional Tool. Gifted Child Today, 29 (4), 29-39.