Tips for Using PowerPoint:  Don’t Kill Your Students with It!

Each chapter has a library of slides that cover all topics in the text.  Do not use all the slides, but choose the slides that you find helpful and personalize and adapt as needed.  Be careful not to kill your students with PowerPoint by overusing it!  If you would like to change any of the clipart, you can find a comprehensive collection from Microsoft at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/ 

PowerPoint slides can provide variety and appeal to visual learners.  It can be used effectively to introduce a topic, review a topic, provide clear directions or provide a topic for discussion.  For online courses, be sure to delete the slides that refer to classroom exercises. 

As a general rule, do not use PowerPoint for more than 10 minutes before asking students to interact with the material.  Here are some suggestions for the effective use of PowerPoint:

·    Do not read the entire contents of the slide; enhance the message.  Reading from the slides is deadly and will soon put your audience to sleep.  Pause and let your audience read the slides.  Discuss the highlights of the slides. 

·    The slides provide an outline for your presentation.  Expand on the outline by providing examples and sharing your personal experience.  You were successful in college.  Tell your students what you did to be successful.  If you are brave enough, share your failures too and how you learned from them.

·    Always have good contrast between the font color and background.  Use a light background and dark font or a dark background and light font. 

·    Make sure the font is large enough that it can be seen from the back of the room.  Test your presentation by viewing it from the farthest corner of your classroom.

·    Use spell check to check for errors. 

·    Do not put too much content on each slide.  Put in the major points and leave some blank space on the slide to emphasize your main point. 

·    Use PowerPoint to stimulate discussion or provide directions for your group activities.

·    Talk to your class, not the computer screen.

 

Using Color in PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint provides the opportunity to use color to enhance visual images.  Here is a little on the psychology of color:

• Red, orange and yellow are warm colors.  They are called warm colors because they are typically associated with hot things such as sun, heat and fire.  It is generally a good idea to use these colors sparingly.  Warm colors are good for emphasizing the main points. 
• Blue, green and violet are cool colors because they are associated with cool things such as water, sky and ice.  These colors are generally restful, peaceful and soothing.  They make good background colors.
• Here are some other specifics on colors:
  
  
  • White makes other colors stand out.  It provides contrast and clarity.
  • Red represents strength and dominance.  It is good for emphasis.
  • Pink portrays romance and femininity.
  • Orange attracts attention and adds brightness.
  • Yellow suggests cheerfulness and sunshine.
  • Green is soothing and restful.
  • Blue is peaceful, quiet and cool.
  • Purple is a combination of blue and red and can have the characteristics of both these colors depending on lighting and shade.