 Why use PowerPoint?
 Amount of information
 Font
 Color
 Extras
 Examples

 Reach different learning styles
 Reinforce key information
 Give clear prompts for assignments
 Move presentation directly to your web site
 Keeps instructor organized and on task
 Serves as Ockham’s razor

 Ockham’s razor: “entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity”

Less is more A good rule of thumb:
No more than 6 words per line.
No more than 6 lines per slide.
 What do I really want them to know?
 What can they see / read / take in?

 PowerPoint allows me to reach students of different learning styles because it adds a visual element to my oral presentation.
This is especially important because today’s students seem to be more visual than other generations.
 It helps reinforce the key information in my presentation and keeps student interest focused on the front of the room.
 It allows me to give students clear prompts for their assignments, especially in-class assignments. They can always look up to refocus their attention to the assigned task.
 A PowerPoint presentation can be moved directly to your web site so that students can look at it again after class and as many times as they want.


PowerPoint forces an instructor to organize his or her lecture and presentation material and keeps them on track and focused.
It serves as Ockham’s razor by helping me structure my thoughts.

 Reach different learning styles
 Reinforce key information
 Give clear prompts for assignments
 Move presentation directly to your web site
 Keeps instructor organized and on task
 Serves as Ockham’s razor

 Choose font size and type for your particular context.
 Use same font for continuity.
 Use 2 contrasting fonts to organize information, for emphasis
.
--
Comic Sans &
Arial --

 ALL CAPS vs.
Upper & Lower case

 Serif
Which of these is easier to read?
(Times New Roman 36)
 Sans Serif
Which of these is easier to read?
(Arial 32)




12: Read this.
20: Read this.
32: Read this.
 36: Read this.
 40: Read this.
 44: Read this.


 Uses: contrast, emphasis , interest
 Contrast between text & background
-- computer projection: dark background, light text
-- overhead projector: light background, dark text
 With newer computer projectors, this difference is minimal

 Uses: contrast, emphasis, interest
 Contrast between text & background
-- computer projection: dark background, light text
-- overhead projector: light background, dark text light background, dark text

 Use a consistent color scheme for continuity.
 Avoid reds & greens .
 Use color sparingly for emphasis.
 Don’t get carried away!

 Chose one transition and use for all sides
 Transition should be (almost) transparent
 Used to draw viewer to the next slide

Pictures & Animation

Group Discussion
How do maps influence our thinking about the world?

50
40
30
20
10
0
A B C D F
16 41 49 43 22
C
D
A
B
F


Generate interest

Illustrate points

Decorate

Visual Literacy
Font Color
Content
Amount Extras

Russia:
From Empire to Federation

Russia:
From Empire to Federation

Russia:
From Empire to Federation

Russia:
From Empire to Federation

It is a period of peace,
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
‘ nirvana ’ there.

 With your group, list things in the picture that help us determine the location of this picture.
 What does this scene suggest?

 Create your own presentation on one of the articles from the Learning section of your notebook or your class material
--a minimum of 2 slides
--design for this room