Beth Fisher, Ph.D.

Associate Director

The Teaching Center

bfisher@wustl.edu

ITeach 2010

Tips for Making PowerPoint a More Dynamic Teaching Tool

Tips for Making PPT a More Dynamic Teaching Tool

PowerPoint in the Classroom: Love it or Hate it?

Strategies for Teaching with PowerPoint

Design Tips that Can Make PowerPoint a More Dynamic Teaching Tool

Love It or Hate It?

Edward Tufte

“PowerPoint is Evil.”Wired Magazine, 9/03

“Power Corrupts. PowerPoint Corrupts

Absolutely. “

Revise Plan

Design slides to facilitate interaction

Decide whether and how PPT can help

students learn

Approach PPT as one tool among many

Design learning objectives and structure of class session before you

design slides

Before Class

During Class

Interact

Get students involved

Move around the room

Look at students, not at slides

Design Slides to Facilitate Interaction

Reduce Information Text: Apply 6/6 Rule

Make Connections and Show Relationships

Organize Information Visually

Incorporate Active

Learning

Allow for Non-Linear Movement

Create opportunities for students to • discuss an argument or issue• solve a problem• analyze a text, an image, or a data table• annotate or explain a diagram• answer a multiple-choice question

Incorporate Active Learning

Prepare “bare-bones” slides

Consider using chalkboard, document camera, SMART Board, or tablet PC

Group Discussion: 10 minutes1. Identify the predominant visual image in your group’s

assigned paragraph.

2. Underline key words or phrases.

3. What does this image contribute to the meaning of the paragraph? and to the larger themes of the novel? (Discuss more than one answer or possibility and be ready to explain your answers to the class.)

Biology 3191 See Teaching Commentaries

PowerPoint Design

3. Test slides in classroom before class:

Does projector display graphics and colors as desired?

1. Select Sans-Serif Fonts

2. Use 24-pts or larger

1: Outline of Topics A-D

Slide 5: Topic D Details

Slide 4: Topic C Details

Slide 3: Topic B Details

Slide 2: Topic A Details

Slide 1: OutlineTopic ATopic BTopic CTopic D

Slide 4: Topic C Details

Slide 5: Topic D Details

Slide 3: Topic B Details

Slide 2: Topic A Details

Create Flexibility

Topic D Details

Topic C Details

Topic B Details

Topic A Details

Create Menus

Preparing to Teach ≠ Preparing Slides

1. Use PowerPoint

• for specific purposes, including active learning.

• with other tools.

2. Reduce and organize information on slides.

3. Create flexibility with hyperlinks.

4. Stay engaged and interactive during class.

5. Consult with The Teaching Center.

Click “OK”

Select Destination Slide

Link to: “Place in this Document"

Right-click and select “Hyperlink”

Select text or shape

Insert text or shape

Create Internal Hyperlinks

PowerPoint Design

PowerPoint Design

Less is More

Select Sans-Serif Fonts

For example: Calibri, Arial, TahomaNOT Times New Roman

Use 24-pt or Larger

Can your text be read at the back of the room?

Color

Dark Background = Dark Room