Rescuing PowerPoint

A Review of the Literature, and Strategies for Enlivening Our Lectures

Andy Jones
Coordinator, Computer-Aided Instruction
The Department of English
The University Writing Program
With help from Brad Henderson

The Two Camps

 

1) Opposition to PowerPoint

PowerPoint According to Kairos News

Includes articles in the press with names like "Is PowerPoint the Devil?" and "PowerPointless"

"PowerPoint is Evil" by Edward Tufte

See also Tufte's book The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint

"Death by PowerPoint" by Angela Garber

Common Mistakes:

Data Dumping

The Slide Slave

The Handout Handoff

The Dimmer Dilemma

 

"PowerPoint No, Cyberspace Yes" by Tom Creed

Note especially the focus on student-centered vs. teacher-centered activities and approaches to learning.

 

2) Using and Improving PowerPoint

General Course Development Tips

Note the many "rules" that Tufte ridicules

Creating an Effective PowerPoint Presentation
by Thomas Saylor

Saylor focuses on sound teaching practices

The Potential of PowerPoint
Bill Rozaitis and Paul Baepler

Part of a larger "Active Learning with PowerPoint" Module

Teaching Well with PowerPoint

Excellent resources, many in PDF Format

An Oral Presentation Rubric

Hold yourself to the same high expectations that you announce to students.