effectiveness of powerpoint presentations in teaching pdf

• Corpus ID: 109993366

PowerPoint Use in Teaching

• Published 2012
• Education, Computer Science

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Using ppt as an effective cutting edge tool for innovative teaching-learning, the effects of ms powerpoint on students at a malaysian university in the english for professionals (efp) classrooms.

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What does PowerPoint Mean to you? A Phenomenological Study

The effectiveness online learning medium in increasing vocational education student motivation, infographics: teaching and learning tool, teaching resources used by university tutors in teaching post graduate certificate in education (pgce) : teaching practice modules at a university in durban kwazulu-natal., the of using powerpoint toward teaching writing analytical exposition the effect of using powerpoint toward teaching writing analytical exposition at xi grade of sma negeri 3 jambi city academic year 2018/2019, a study on the development of an attitude scale towards the use of powerpoint in classroom, ppt-audio; the alternative audio-visual media for online learning during the corona pandemic, 13 references, points of view: powerpoint in the classroom powerpoint in the classroom, is it really necessary, the use and abuse of powerpoint in teaching and learning in the life sciences: a personal overview, better than bullet points: creating engaging e-learning with powerpoint, death by powerpoint, death by powerpoint, related papers.

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Empowering PowerPoint: Slides and Teaching Effectiveness

2011, Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, …

In order to examine the effectiveness of using PowerPoint slides as a teaching aid in the postsec-ondary classroom, this exploratory study compared the impact on teaching effectiveness of the number and density of slides, as well as the use of visuals and other non-textual ...

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Since the late 1990s, Microsoft PowerPoint has become the expected presentation genre. However, several studies have demonstrated its many faults, such as the pre-formatted construction of discourse leading to the abuse of bullet point presentations, the limited format and size of slides that support minimum content and the ever-present risk of overwhelming viewers with too much text or data (Alley 2003, 2004, Robertshaw 2004, Gottlieb 1985, Keller 2003, Tufte 2003). Taking into consideration how the linguistic and visual elements, as well as the design and text organizations found in PowerPoint presentations have evolved in the last 20 years, the present paper analyses the negative effects that the default slide structure provided by Microsoft PPT, consisting of topic-subtopics and bullet points, has on the audience. The paper will then demonstrate the positive learning effects that the assertion evidence structure has on readers. The different retaining degree of three groups of undergraduate students are tested, after having exposed them to PPTs applying phrase headlines, phrase headlines and images or the assertion evidence structure.

Hossein Nouri

In recent years, the uses of PowerPoint (a form of multimedia) presentations in classroom instruction have significantly increased globally without examination of their effects on student learning and attitudes. In this study, we test whether using PowerPoint in an accounting course enhances student short-term memory, long-term memory, and attitudes toward class presentation and the instructor. We conducted an experiment, which includes a treatment-control design, in a classroom setting throughout a semester. In one section of an accounting principles II(Managerial Accounting) course, PowerPoint was used as the delivery system, while the second section was taught using a traditional delivery system. The results show that PowerPoint presentation may improve student attitudes toward the instructor and class presentation. The results do not provide conclusive evidence that PowerPoint presentations improve short-term or long-term memory. The latter results are consistent with other medi...

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This study uses the participatory research approach to investigate how college instructors feel about the use of PowerPoint presentations when teaching an introductory course of computer information systems. Nine college instructors participated in this research project by exchanging their views through an online discussion forum. The findings revealed that the instructors' preferred teaching method was to combine PowerPoint presentations with other techniques; that there was a shared concern about the changing role of the instructor because of the use of PowerPoint presentations; that the instructors perceived that students' attention and participation is affected by the use of PowerPoint presentations, whereas their performance is not.

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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This study analyzes the performance and attitudes of technical writing students in PowerPoint-enhanced and in non- PowerPoint lectures. Four classes of upper-level undergraduates ( n = 84) at a mid-sized, Southern university taking a one-semester technical writing course were surveyed at the beginning and end of the course about their perceptions of PowerPoint. Of the four sections, two classes were instructed using traditional lecture materials (teacher at podium, chalkboard, handouts); the other two sections were instructed with PowerPoint presentations. All four classes were given the same pre- and post-test to measure performance over the course of the semester. Traditional lecture or PowerPoint presentations consisted of at least 50% of the course, with the remaining time spent on exercises and small group work. Results reveal that while most students say they preferred PowerPoint, performance scores were higher in the sections with the traditional lecture format.

Jonalou S Labor

PowerPoint presentations (PPT) are measures of the technological capacity of the teacher inside the classroom. Students even expect their teachers to be knowledgeable of the design and delivery of the said tool in order to better teach the students. However, there is a dearth of qualitative data to either support or disprove this belief. This study thus aims to describe the experiences of a select group of college students as they describe and discuss the pluses, minuses, and interests (PMI) of PowerPoint use of their teachers inside the classroom. Thirty out of ninety selected college students who have been exposed to and taught in their classes using PPT were the participants in this qualitative inquiry. Initially, the students were made to fill out forms for purposes of profiling their baseline characteristics. The students were divided into small groups and were asked to discuss both the positive and negative details of PPT use inside the classroom on two separate group discussion instances. On the third group discussion, the students were asked to discuss the suggestions that they could offer their teachers about PPT design and delivery. Data gathered were carefully analyzed via a repertory grid, thematized via a dendrogram, and a member-checking procedure during data explicitation. The study revealed a " see saw " model typifying the experiences of the respondents relative to the three variables. The respondents' PowerPoint experience surfaced three themes: Functions, Dysfunctions, and Accretions. Functions were facilitative and generative. Dysfunctions were divided into two faces: technical or human. Accretion challenge were either technical or about its continuity. On the whole, students who experienced being lectured with PPT feel that there are ups and downs in the constant use of the tool inside the classroom.

Journal of Education for Business

Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi

Abuobieda Abusharib , moawia A alshiek

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Najran University College of Medicine in Saudi Arabia. The aim was to find out some of the disadvantages of the PowerPoint presentations from the students’ points of views. Only undergraduate medical students were included in the study. A questionnaire was designed that includes demographic data along with other data about PowerPoint presentations. One hundred and ten students participated in this study voluntarily, data was collected and analyzed using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS Program). Result showed out of the total (n=110), 95(86%) of the students believed that PowerPoint presentations have a lot of pitfalls and limitations. Approximately half of the students 57(52%) reported that the most boring factor in the presentations was the large number of slides being presented. About 60 (54%) of the students considered that dim light was the first distracting factor. Whilst 28(25%) said that the flying text or slides during changing to the next one is the most distracting factors. Whereas, 74(67%) of the group reported that twenty to thirty slides per one hour presentation is quite suitable slides number in the presentations. Additionally, 73(66%) quoted that only six bullets in one slide were a quite suitable for effective presentation. Finally, 83(75%) of the whole group stated that mixing PowerPoint with conventional method of whiteboard chalks and talks is the most effective method of teaching. The authors concluded that most of the students believed that PowerPoint presentations have a lot of limitation which can make the presentation dull and boring. Also it is concluded that the use of integrated methods of chalks and talks in association with PowerPoint presentation is the most effective and satisfying tool for the students

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Making better powerpoint presentations.

Print Version

Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory.

Research about student preferences for powerpoint, resources for making better powerpoint presentations, bibliography.

We have all experienced the pain of a bad PowerPoint presentation. And even though we promise ourselves never to make the same mistakes, we can still fall prey to common design pitfalls.  The good news is that your PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have to be ordinary. By keeping in mind a few guidelines, your classroom presentations can stand above the crowd!

“It is easy to dismiss design – to relegate it to mere ornament, the prettifying of places and objects to disguise their banality. But that is a serious misunderstanding of what design is and why it matters.” Daniel Pink

One framework that can be useful when making design decisions about your PowerPoint slide design is Baddeley and Hitch’s model of working memory .

As illustrated in the diagram above, the Central Executive coordinates the work of three systems by organizing the information we hear, see, and store into working memory.

The Phonological Loop deals with any auditory information. Students in a classroom are potentially listening to a variety of things: the instructor, questions from their peers, sound effects or audio from the PowerPoint presentation, and their own “inner voice.”

The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad deals with information we see. This involves such aspects as form, color, size, space between objects, and their movement. For students this would include: the size and color of fonts, the relationship between images and text on the screen, the motion path of text animation and slide transitions, as well as any hand gestures, facial expressions, or classroom demonstrations made by the instructor.

The Episodic Buffer integrates the information across these sensory domains and communicates with long-term memory. All of these elements are being deposited into a holding tank called the “episodic buffer.” This buffer has a limited capacity and can become “overloaded” thereby, setting limits on how much information students can take in at once.

Laura Edelman and Kathleen Harring from Muhlenberg College , Allentown, Pennsylvania have developed an approach to PowerPoint design using Baddeley and Hitch’s model. During the course of their work, they conducted a survey of students at the college asking what they liked and didn’t like about their professor’s PowerPoint presentations. They discovered the following:

Characteristics students don’t like about professors’ PowerPoint slides

• Too many words on a slide
• Movement (slide transitions or word animations)
• Templates with too many colors

Characteristics students like like about professors’ PowerPoint slides

• Graphs increase understanding of content
• Bulleted lists help them organize ideas
• PowerPoint can help to structure lectures
• Verbal explanations of pictures/graphs help more than written clarifications

According to Edelman and Harring, some conclusions from the research at Muhlenberg are that students learn more when:

• material is presented in short phrases rather than full paragraphs.
• the professor talks about the information on the slide rather than having students read it on their own.
• relevant pictures are used. Irrelevant pictures decrease learning compared to PowerPoint slides with no picture
• they take notes (if the professor is not talking). But if the professor is lecturing, note-taking and listening decreased learning.
• they are given the PowerPoint slides before the class.

Advice from Edelman and Harring on leveraging the working memory with PowerPoint:

• Leverage the working memory by dividing the information between the visual and auditory modality.  Doing this reduces the likelihood of one system becoming overloaded. For instance, spoken words with pictures are better than pictures with text, as integrating an image and narration takes less cognitive effort than integrating an image and text.
• Minimize the opportunity for distraction by removing any irrelevant material such as music, sound effects, animations, and background images.
• Use simple cues to direct learners to important points or content. Using text size, bolding, italics, or placing content in a highlighted or shaded text box is all that is required to convey the significance of key ideas in your presentation.
• Don’t put every word you intend to speak on your PowerPoint slide. Instead, keep information displayed in short chunks that are easily read and comprehended.
• One of the mostly widely accessed websites about PowerPoint design is Garr Reynolds’ blog, Presentation Zen . In his blog entry:  “ What is Good PowerPoint Design? ” Reynolds explains how to keep the slide design simple, yet not simplistic, and includes a few slide examples that he has ‘made-over’ to demonstrate how to improve its readability and effectiveness. He also includes sample slides from his own presentation about PowerPoint slide design.
• Another presentation guru, David Paradi, author of “ The Visual Slide Revolution: Transforming Overloaded Text Slides into Persuasive Presentations ” maintains a video podcast series called “ Think Outside the Slide ” where he also demonstrates PowerPoint slide makeovers. Examples on this site are typically from the corporate perspective, but the process by which content decisions are made is still relevant for higher education. Paradi has also developed a five step method, called KWICK , that can be used as a simple guide when designing PowerPoint presentations.
• In the video clip below, Comedian Don McMillan talks about some of the common misuses of PowerPoint in his routine called “Life After Death by PowerPoint.”

• This article from The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights a blog moderated by Microsoft’s Doug Thomas that compiles practical PowerPoint advice gathered from presentation masters like Seth Godin , Guy Kawasaki , and Garr Reynolds .

Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story , by Jerry Weissman, Prentice Hall, 2006

Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery , by Garr Reynolds, New Riders Press, 2008

Solving the PowerPoint Predicament: using digital media for effective communication , by Tom Bunzel , Que, 2006

The Cognitive Style of Power Point , by Edward R. Tufte, Graphics Pr, 2003

The Visual Slide Revolution: Transforming Overloaded Text Slides into Persuasive Presentations , by Dave Paradi, Communications Skills Press, 2000

Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck: And How You Can Make Them Better , by Rick Altman, Harvest Books, 2007

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Teaching with PowerPoint

When effectively planned and used, PowerPoint (or similar tools, like Google Slides) can enhance instruction. People are divided on the effectiveness of this ubiquitous presentation program—some say that PowerPoint is wonderful while others bemoan its pervasiveness. No matter which side you take, PowerPoint does offer effective ways to enhance instruction when used and designed appropriately.

PowerPoint can be an effective tool to present material in the classroom and encourage student learning. You can use PowerPoint to project visuals that would otherwise be difficult to bring to class. For example, in an anthropology class, a single PowerPoint presentation could project images of an anthropological dig from a remote area, questions asking students about the topic, a chart of related statistics, and a mini quiz about what was just discussed that provides students with information that is visual, challenging, and engaging.

PowerPoint can be an effective tool to present material in the classroom and encourage student learning.

This section is organized in three major segments: Part I will help faculty identify and use basic but important design elements, Part II will cover ways to enhance teaching and learning with PowerPoint, and Part III will list ways to engage students with PowerPoint.

PART I: Designing the PowerPoint Presentation

Accessibility.

• Student accessibility—students with visual or hearing impairments may not be able to fully access a PowerPoint presentation, especially those with graphics, images, and sound.
• Use an accessible layout. Built-in slide template layouts were designed to be accessible: “the reading order is the same for people with vision and for people who use assistive technology such as screen readers” (University of Washington, n.d.). If you want to alter the layout of a theme, use the Slide Master; this will ensure your slides will retain accessibility.
• Use unique and specific slide titles so students can access the material they need.
• Consider how you display hyperlinks. Since screen readers read what is on the page, you may want to consider creating a hyperlink using a descriptive title instead of displaying the URL.
• All visuals and tables should include alt text. Alt text should describe the visual or table in detail so that students with visual impairments can “read” the images with their screen readers. Avoid using too many decorative visuals.
• All video and audio content should be captioned for students with hearing impairments. Transcripts can also be useful as an additional resource, but captioning ensures students can follow along with what is on the screen in real-time.
• Simplify your tables. If you use tables on your slides, ensure they are not overly complex and do not include blank cells. Screen readers may have difficulty providing information about the table if there are too many columns and rows, and they may “think” the table is complete if they come to a blank cell.
• Set a reading order for text on your slides. The order that text appears on the slide may not be the reading order of the text. Check that your reading order is correct by using the Selection Pane (organized bottom-up).
• Use Microsoft’s Accessibility Checker to identify potential accessibility issues in your completed PowerPoint. Use the feedback to improve your PowerPoint’s accessibility. You could also send your file to the Disability Resource Center to have them assess its accessibility (send it far in advance of when you will need to use it).
• Save your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file to distribute to students with visual impairments.

Preparing for the presentation

• Consider time and effort in preparing a PowerPoint presentation; give yourself plenty of lead time for design and development.
• PowerPoint is especially useful when providing course material online. Consider student technology compatibility with PowerPoint material put on the web; ensure images and graphics have been compressed for access by computers using dial-up connection.

PowerPoint is especially useful when providing course material online.

• Be aware of copyright law when displaying course materials, and properly cite source material. This is especially important when using visuals obtained from the internet or other sources. This also models proper citation for your students.
• Think about message interpretation for PowerPoint use online: will students be able to understand material in a PowerPoint presentation outside of the classroom? Will you need to provide notes and/or other material to help students understand complex information, data, or graphics?
• If you will be using your own laptop, make sure the classroom is equipped with the proper cables, drivers, and other means to display your presentation the way you have intended.

Slide content

• Avoid text-dense slides. It’s better to have more slides than trying to place too much text on one slide. Use brief points instead of long sentences or paragraphs and outline key points rather than transcribing your lecture. Use PowerPoint to cue and guide the presentation.
• Use the Notes feature to add content to your presentation that the audience will not see. You can access the Notes section for each slide by sliding the bottom of the slide window up to reveal the notes section or by clicking “View” and choosing “Notes Page” from the Presentation Views options.
• Relate PowerPoint material to course objectives to reinforce their purpose for students.

Number of slides

• As a rule of thumb, plan to show one slide per minute to account for discussion and time and for students to absorb the material.
• Reduce redundant or text-heavy sentences or bullets to ensure a more professional appearance.
• Incorporate active learning throughout the presentation to hold students’ interest and reinforce learning.

Emphasizing content

• Use italics, bold, and color for emphasizing content.
• Use of a light background (white, beige, yellow) with dark typeface or a dark background (blue, purple, brown) with a light typeface is easy to read in a large room.
• Avoid using too many colors or shifting colors too many times within the presentation, which can be distracting to students.
• Avoid using underlines for emphasis; underlining typically signifies hypertext in digital media.

Use of a light background with dark typeface or a dark background with a light typeface is easy to read in a large room.

• Limit the number of typeface styles to no more than two per slide. Try to keep typeface consistent throughout your presentation so it does not become a distraction.
• Avoid overly ornate or specialty fonts that may be harder for students to read. Stick to basic fonts so as not to distract students from the content.
• Ensure the typeface is large enough to read from anywhere in the room: titles and headings should be no less than 36-40-point font. The subtext should be no less than 32-point font.

Clip art and graphics

• Use clip art and graphics sparingly. Research shows that it’s best to use graphics only when they support the content. Irrelevant graphics and images have been proven to hinder student learning.
• Photographs can be used to add realism. Again, only use photographs that are relevant to the content and serve a pedagogical purpose. Images for decorative purposes are distracting.
• Size and place graphics appropriately on the slide—consider wrapping text around a graphic.
• Use two-dimensional pie and bar graphs rather than 3D styles which can interfere with the intended message.

Use clip art and graphics sparingly. Research shows that it’s best to use graphics only when they support the content.

Animation and sound

• Add motion, sound, or music only when necessary. When in doubt, do without.
• Avoid distracting animations and transitions. Excessive movement within or between slides can interfere with the message and students find them distracting. Avoid them or use only simple screen transitions.

Final check

• Check for spelling, correct word usage, flow of material, and overall appearance of the presentation.
• Colleagues can be helpful to check your presentation for accuracy and appeal. Note: Errors are more obvious when they are projected.
• Schedule at least one practice session to check for timing and flow.
• PowerPoint’s Slide Sorter View is especially helpful to check slides for proper sequencing as well as information gaps and redundancy. You can also use the preview pane on the left of the screen when you are editing the PowerPoint in “Normal” view.
• Prepare for plan “B” in case you have trouble with the technology in the classroom: how will you provide material located on your flash drive or computer? Have an alternate method of instruction ready (printing a copy of your PowerPoint with notes is one idea).

PowerPoint’s Slide Sorter View is especially helpful to check slides for proper sequencing and information gaps and redundancy.

PowerPoint Handouts

PowerPoint provides multiple options for print-based handouts that can be distributed at various points in the class.

Before class: students might like having materials available to help them prepare and formulate questions before the class period.

During class: you could distribute a handout with three slides and lines for notes to encourage students to take notes on the details of your lecture so they have notes alongside the slide material (and aren’t just taking notes on the slide content).

After class: some instructors wait to make the presentation available after the class period so that students concentrate on the presentation rather than reading ahead on the handout.

Never: Some instructors do not distribute the PowerPoint to students so that students don’t rely on access to the presentation and neglect to pay attention in class as a result.

• PowerPoint slides can be printed in the form of handouts—with one, two, three, four, six, or nine slides on a page—that can be given to students for reference during and after the presentation. The three-slides-per-page handout includes lined space to assist in note-taking.
• Notes Pages. Detailed notes can be printed and used during the presentation, or if they are notes intended for students, they can be distributed before the presentation.
• Outline View. PowerPoint presentations can be printed as an outline, which provides all the text from each slide. Outlines offer a welcome alternative to slide handouts and can be modified from the original presentation to provide more or less information than the projected presentation.

The Presentation

Alley, Schreiber, Ramsdell, and Muffo (2006) suggest that PowerPoint slide headline design “affects audience retention,” and they conclude that “succinct sentence headlines are more effective” in information recall than headlines of short phrases or single words (p. 233). In other words, create slide titles with as much information as is used for newspapers and journals to help students better understand the content of the slide.

• PowerPoint should provide key words, concepts, and images to enhance your presentation (but PowerPoint should not replace you as the presenter).
• Avoid reading from the slide—reading the material can be perceived as though you don’t know the material. If you must read the material, provide it in a handout instead of a projected PowerPoint slide.
• Avoid moving a laser pointer across the slide rapidly. If using a laser pointer, use one with a dot large enough to be seen from all areas of the room and move it slowly and intentionally.

Avoid reading from the slide—reading the material can be perceived as though you don’t know the material.

• Use a blank screen to allow students to reflect on what has just been discussed or to gain their attention (Press B for a black screen or W for a white screen while delivering your slide show; press these keys again to return to the live presentation). This pause can also be used for a break period or when transitioning to new content.
• Stand to one side of the screen and face the audience while presenting. Using Presenter View will display your slide notes to you on the computer monitor while projecting only the slides to students on the projector screen.
• Leave classroom lights on and turn off lights directly over the projection screen if possible. A completely dark or dim classroom will impede notetaking (and may encourage nap-taking).
• Learn to use PowerPoint efficiently and have a back-up plan in case of technical failure.
• Give yourself enough time to finish the presentation. Trying to rush through slides can give the impression of an unorganized presentation and may be difficult for students to follow or learn.

PART II: Enhancing Teaching and Learning with PowerPoint

Class preparation.

PowerPoint can be used to prepare lectures and presentations by helping instructors refine their material to salient points and content. Class lectures can be typed in outline format, which can then be refined as slides. Lecture notes can be printed as notes pages  (notes pages: Printed pages that display author notes beneath the slide that the notes accompany.) and could also be given as handouts to accompany the presentation.

Multimodal Learning

Using PowerPoint can help you present information in multiple ways (a multimodal approach) through the projection of color, images, and video for the visual mode; sound and music for the auditory mode; text and writing prompts for the reading/writing mode; and interactive slides that ask students to do something, e.g. a group or class activity in which students practice concepts, for the kinesthetic mode (see Part III: Engaging Students with PowerPoint for more details). Providing information in multiple modalities helps improve comprehension and recall for all students.

Providing information in multiple modalities helps improve comprehension and recall for all students.

Type-on Live Slides

PowerPoint allows users to type directly during the slide show, which provides another form of interaction. These write-on slides can be used to project students’ comments and ideas for the entire class to see. When the presentation is over, the new material can be saved to the original file and posted electronically. This feature requires advanced preparation in the PowerPoint file while creating your presentation. For instructions on how to set up your type-on slide text box, visit this tutorial from AddictiveTips .  

Write or Highlight on Slides

PowerPoint also allows users to use tools to highlight or write directly onto a presentation while it is live. When you are presenting your PowerPoint, move your cursor over the slide to reveal tools in the lower-left corner. One of the tools is a pen icon. Click this icon to choose either a laser pointer, pen, or highlighter. You can use your cursor for these options, or you can use the stylus for your smart podium computer monitor or touch-screen laptop monitor (if applicable).  

Just-In-Time Course Material

You can make your PowerPoint slides, outline, and/or notes pages available online 24/7 through Blackboard, OneDrive, other websites. Students can review the material before class, bring printouts to class, and better prepare themselves for listening rather than taking a lot of notes during the class period. They can also come to class prepared with questions about the material so you can address their comprehension of the concepts.

PART III: Engaging Students with PowerPoint

The following techniques can be incorporated into PowerPoint presentations to increase interactivity and engagement between students and between students and the instructor. Each technique can be projected as a separate PowerPoint slide.

Running Slide Show as Students Arrive in the Classroom

This technique provides visual interest and can include a series of questions for students to answer as they sit waiting for class to begin. These questions could be on future texts or quizzes.

• Opening Question : project an opening question, e.g. “Take a moment to reflect on ___.”
• Think of what you know about ___.
• Turn to a partner and share your knowledge about ___.
• Share with the class what you have discussed with your partner.
• Focused Listing helps with recall of pertinent information, e.g. “list as many characteristics of ___, or write down as many words related to ___ as you can think of.”
• Brainstorming stretches the mind and promotes deep thinking and recall of prior knowledge, e.g. “What do you know about ___? Start with your clearest thoughts and then move on to those what are kind of ‘out there.’”
• Questions : ask students if they have any questions roughly every 15 minutes. This technique provides time for students to reflect and is also a good time for a scheduled break or for the instructor to interact with students.
• Note Check : ask students to “take a few minutes to compare notes with a partner,” or “…summarize the most important information,” or “…identify and clarify any sticking points,” etc.
• Questions and Answer Pairs : have students “take a minute to come with one question then see if you can stump your partner!”
• The Two-Minute Paper allows the instructor to check the class progress, e.g. “summarize the most important points of today’s lecture.” Have students submit the paper at the end of class.
• “If You Could Ask One Last Question—What Would It Be?” This technique allows for students to think more deeply about the topic and apply what they have learned in a question format.
• A Classroom Opinion Poll provides a sense of where students stand on certain topics, e.g. “do you believe in ___,” or “what are your thoughts on ___?”
• Muddiest Point allows anonymous feedback to inform the instructor if changes and or additions need to be made to the class, e.g. “What parts of today’s material still confuse you?”
• Most Useful Point can tell the instructor where the course is on track, e.g. “What is the most useful point in today’s material, and how can you illustrate its use in a practical setting?”

Positive Features of PowerPoint

• PowerPoint saves time and energy—once the presentation has been created, it is easy to update or modify for other courses.
• PowerPoint is portable and can be shared easily with students and colleagues.
• PowerPoint supports multimedia, such as video, audio, images, and

PowerPoint supports multimedia, such as video, audio, images, and animation.

Potential Drawbacks of PowerPoint

• PowerPoint could reduce the opportunity for classroom interaction by being the primary method of information dissemination or designed without built-in opportunities for interaction.
• PowerPoint could lead to information overload, especially with the inclusion of long sentences and paragraphs or lecture-heavy presentations with little opportunity for practical application or active learning.
• PowerPoint could “drive” the instruction and minimize the opportunity for spontaneity and creative teaching unless the instructor incorporates the potential for ingenuity into the presentation. 

As with any technology, the way PowerPoint is used will determine its pedagogical effectiveness. By strategically using the points described above, PowerPoint can be used to enhance instruction and engage students.

Alley, M., Schreiber, M., Ramsdell, K., & Muffo, J. (2006). How the design of headlines in presentation slides affects audience retention. Technical Communication, 53 (2), 225-234. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/43090718

University of Washington, Accessible Technology. (n.d.). Creating accessible presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint. Retrieved from https://www.washington.edu/accessibility/documents/powerpoint/  

Selected Resources

Brill, F. (2016). PowerPoint for teachers: Creating interactive lessons. LinkedIn Learning . Retrieved from https://www.lynda.com/PowerPoint-tutorials/PowerPoint-Teachers-Create-Interactive-Lessons/472427-2.html

Huston, S. (2011). Active learning with PowerPoint [PDF file]. DE Oracle @ UMUC . Retrieved from http://contentdm.umuc.edu/digital/api/collection/p16240coll5/id/78/download

Microsoft Office Support. (n.d.). Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities. Retrieved from https://support.office.com/en-us/article/make-your-powerpoint-presentations-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities-6f7772b2-2f33-4bd2-8ca7-ae3b2b3ef25

Tufte, E. R. (2006). The cognitive style of PowerPoint: Pitching out corrupts within. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press LLC.

University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Medicine. (n.d.). Active Learning with a PowerPoint. Retrieved from https://www.unmc.edu/com/_documents/active-learning-ppt.pdf

University of Washington, Department of English. (n.d.). Teaching with PowerPoint. Retrieved from https://english.washington.edu/teaching/teaching-powerpoint

Vanderbilt University, Center for Teaching. (n.d.). Making better PowerPoint presentations. Retrieved from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/making-better-powerpoint-presentations/

Suggested citation

Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. (2020). Teaching with PowerPoint. In Instructional guide for university faculty and teaching assistants. Retrieved from https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide

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5 Best AI PowerPoint Generators in 2024

Having a creative flair is always a valuable asset, regardless of your profession. Even in fields that may seem more calculated and professional, like finance or accounting, creativity plays a crucial role. These professions often require creating presentations or reports to convey complex models and data effectively. Professionals in these areas might struggle with creating engaging and visually appealing presentations, which can impact how their work is perceived.

What they need is a good presentation maker that can handle the creative aspects for them. This allows them to focus on more critical tasks at hand while ensuring their presentations are both effective and engaging. And thus I will run you through 5 Best AI PowerPoint Generators in 2024 that will help you present your ideas more clearly and make a stronger impact with their work.

We’ve all experienced those overwhelming moments where burnout sets in, despite our best efforts. In 2024, WPS Office offers a compelling solution to this challenge, not just by motivating you but by enhancing the quality of your work. The WPS Office presentation tool stands out for its advanced AI capabilities, making it easier than ever to create professional-grade and academic presentations.

Advantages:

1. Generate Outlines from a Single Topic: Whenever I need to create a presentation, WPS Office helps me get started by generating a detailed outline from just a single topic. This feature streamlines the process, providing a structured approach and saving me valuable time.

2. Analyze Files and Create Slides: If I already have a file, such as a report, WPS Office can analyze it and generate slides based on the content. This capability is incredibly useful for turning complex documents into clear and concise presentations effortlessly.

3. Choose from Various Templates: WPS Office offers a wide range of templates to choose from. Whether I’m looking for something professional or creative, I can select a template that fits my needs. This diversity ensures that I find a style that complements my presentation’s purpose.

4. Change Themes with a Click: I can easily change the theme of my slides with just one click. This feature allows me to customize the look of my presentation quickly, ensuring that it aligns with my preferences or branding without having to manually adjust each slide.

5. Beautify Slides Instantly: With WPS Office, I can beautify my slides with a single click, altering the design patterns to enhance visual appeal. This is particularly helpful when I want to give my presentation a polished and professional look effortlessly.

6. Smart Graphics: Compared to other AI office suites like Microsoft Copilot, WPS Office’s Smart Graphics feature stands out. It provides more beautiful and fashionable graphics, offering a wider selection to choose from, which makes my presentations not only more engaging but also visually stunning.

7. Offline Version and Privacy: One of the major advantages of WPS Office is its offline functionality. I don’t have to worry about security issues or data breaches since my work remains private and secure. Additionally, WPS Office does not use data to train its AI, ensuring my content remains confidential.

Disadvantage

Although it offers powerful tools for editing and customization, it currently lacks the capability to generate images that perfectly match or illustrate the specific points in my presentation.

Plus AI offers a powerful and efficient tool for creating and editing presentations, particularly suited for those who need to produce content quickly and with minimal effort. Its integration with Google Slides, extensive template library, and AI editing capabilities make it a valuable asset for many users. However, occasional slowness, generic outputs, and the need for fact-checking are important considerations to keep in mind.

1. Efficient Slide Creation: Plus AI significantly speeds up the process of creating presentations. By simply describing what you want, the AI can generate an entire slideshow in just moments. This efficiency is perfect for busy professionals who need to produce high-quality presentations quickly.

2. Seamless Google Slides Integration: One of the features I appreciate the most is Plus AI’s integration with Google Slides. Once you’ve installed the extension and signed in, you can create and edit presentations directly within Google Slides. This eliminates the need to jump between different tools or windows, streamlining my workflow.

3. Variety of Templates: Plus AI offers a wide range of built-in templates, which has been a major plus. Whether crafting a pitch deck, preparing educational content, or designing a corporate presentation, the variety of templates available will help you ensure that your slides look polished and professional. The ability to choose from numerous pre-designed options means you can quickly find a template that suits my needs without starting from scratch.

4. AI Editing Features: Beyond creating new presentations, Plus AI also allows you to edit existing ones. The tool includes features like rewriting and remixing content, which are incredibly useful for refining slides that you’ve either created yourself or imported. This flexibility means you can enhance the presentations without needing to redo everything from the ground up, making it easier to update and improve my slides.

5. Language Translation: Another standout feature is Plus AI’s ability to translate presentations into various languages. This feature is particularly useful when you need to reach a broader audience or create multilingual content. The translation process is quick and simple, allowing you to adapt my presentations for different language speakers with just a few clicks.

Disadvantages:

1. Occasional Slowness: While Plus AI is generally efficient, I’ve noticed that the user interface can sometimes be slow, especially during the processes of generating outlines and creating slides. This delay can be a bit frustrating when I’m working under a tight deadline. The slowness can occasionally disrupt my workflow, making it essential to be patient during these times.

2. Generic Outputs: Although Plus AI excels in creating presentations quickly, the results can sometimes feel generic. The AI-generated slides might lack the unique, personalized touch that comes from custom-designed presentations. This can be an issue if I’m looking for something highly specific or creative. I often need to add my personal flair or make adjustments to ensure the presentation.

Beautiful AI

Beautiful.ai is an innovative AI presentation maker that aims to revolutionize how you create engaging presentations. The platform makes smart design recommendations through its intuitive interface and streamlines the creation process. You focus on your content while Beautiful.ai manages the aesthetics. Customizable templates, smart charts for data visualization, and analytics to track which slides get the most engagement from your audience are available.

1. Ease of Use: Creating presentations with Beautiful.ai was incredibly straightforward. The platform’s templates are designed to make slide creation almost effortless. I was able to build 30-40 slides within a few hours, which would have taken me at least a day and a half in PowerPoint. The automatic formatting features saved me from the usual hassle of aligning elements and resizing images.

2. Insightful Analytics: Beautiful.ai provides detailed analytics, giving you valuable insights into which slides in your presentation are making the most significant impact, whether in a professional or academic setting.

3. Secure Sharing: The secure sharing feature helps protect sensitive information while making it easy for key stakeholders to access the presentation.

4. Seamless Integration: You can design slides in Beautiful.ai and seamlessly edit them in PowerPoint, making it easy to switch between platforms as needed.

5. Professional Look: The final presentations were not only polished but also impressed others, including colleagues and clients. I’ve received compliments not just for the content, but for the overall design and flow of the slides.

Disadvantages

1 .Limited Customization: While the templates offer beautiful designs, some users, including myself, may find the customization options somewhat limited. There were moments when I wanted to tweak certain elements, but the platform didn’t allow for much flexibility.

2 .Performance Issues: I noticed some lag when working with larger presentations, especially when adding more complex animations. Additionally, the platform was a bit resource-heavy, slowing down my device at times.

Microsoft Copilot

Copilot for PowerPoint is Microsoft’s AI chatbot designed to assist in creating presentations directly within PowerPoint. With Copilot, you can generate presentations from a prompt, reorganize slides, and even summarize slide content into notes for your speech. I decided to test it out myself, and while the process was generally straightforward, I found some quality issues that required manual adjustments. What really stood out to me was that Copilot is a paid feature. Given that free options like WPS AI offer similar functionality without the cost, I felt that the value didn’t quite justify the expense.

1. Seamless Integration with PowerPoint: Copilot for PowerPoint is directly integrated within Microsoft PowerPoint, providing users with an AI-driven tool right where they’re already working. This integration eliminates the need to switch between different applications, allowing users to generate content within the familiar PowerPoint environment. The AI tool to  generate PowerPoint aims to streamline the process of creating presentations, making it convenient for users who regularly work with Microsoft Office.

2. Basic AI Content Generation: The AI tool offers some level of content generation, helping users quickly draft slides based on minimal input. For those who need to create presentations in a short amount of time, this feature provides a foundation, allowing users to fill in the gaps with their own knowledge and expertise.

3. Automated Slide Design: Copilot automatically generates slides with a consistent layout, focusing on simplicity and clarity. The tool standardizes the design across all slides, which might be beneficial for users who prefer uniformity in their presentations.

4. Easy-to-Use Chat-Based Interface: The AI operates through a chat-based interface where users can input commands or prompts. This conversational interaction is intended to simplify the process of requesting specific tasks from the AI, making it more accessible to users who might be new to AI tools.

1. Limited Content Generation Capabilities: One of the most significant limitations of Copilot is its basic content generation. The AI tends to produce very brief bullet points, often with only 3-4 words per point, leaving much to be desired in terms of depth and detail. This can result in presentations that lack substance, requiring users to heavily revise and expand on the AI-generated content.

2. Repetitive and Simplistic Design: Copilot’s automated design tends to follow a rigid format, usually consisting of three bullet points and an image on every slide. This uniformity can make presentations appear monotonous and uninspired, resembling elementary-level projects rather than professional or polished presentations. The lack of design variety is a significant drawback for users who value creativity and uniqueness in their work.

Gamma AI is an innovative platform designed to help you create polished presentations and documents from scratch, all with the power of artificial intelligence. I tested Gamma out, and I was amazed by how effortlessly it transformed my raw text into professional-quality content. Whether you’re crafting a business presentation, a marketing deck, or educational materials, Gamma’s AI-driven tools make the process quick and easy, without the need for design skills. The platform offers customizable templates, seamless media integration, and intuitive restyling options, making it a versatile tool for any content creation need.

1. AI-Generated Content: One of the standout features of Gamma is its ability to generate content almost instantly. I could type in a few lines of text, and within moments, Gamma would present me with a professional-looking document or presentation. This was a huge time-saver, especially when I needed to prepare something on short notice.

2. Customizable Templates: Gamma offers a wide range of templates that can be easily customized. Whether I was working on a business report or a creative project, there was always a template that fit my needs. The ability to tweak these templates to match my brand's colors and fonts added a personal touch to my presentations.

3. Drag and Drop Media Integration: Adding media to my presentations was incredibly easy with Gamma's drag-and-drop feature. I could seamlessly incorporate GIFs, videos, charts, and other media elements, which helped make my presentations more engaging.

4. One-Click Restyling: I loved Gamma's one-click restyling feature. If I ever felt that my presentation needed a fresh look, I could simply click a button, and Gamma would apply a new style across the entire document. This saved me from manually adjusting each slide or page.

5 .Collaboration and Analytics: Gamma's collaboration features allowed me to work effectively with my team. We could leave comments, make revisions, and even track engagement with built-in analytics. This was particularly useful for ensuring that our presentations resonated with the audience.

1 . Content Depth: While Gamma's AI-generated content is quick and visually appealing, I found it to be somewhat superficial. The content often lacked depth, requiring me to go back and add more detailed information. This was especially true for complex topics where a deeper explanation was necessary.

2. Limited Customization: Although Gamma offers customization options, I occasionally found them restrictive. There were times when I wanted to make more nuanced design adjustments, but the platform's capabilities didn't allow for the level of control I desired.

1. Is it really safe to use WPS AI to generate slides for My Company?

Using AI to create slides for your company involves significant considerations regarding data security. Many free or web-based AI tools pose risks due to potential information leaks, especially when handling sensitive corporate data. To address these risks, it’s crucial to select reliable and reputable software. WPS AI Slides is a robust choice, supported by WPS Office’s 35 years of experience and dedication to privacy. Their clear privacy policies further reassure you that your data is handled with the highest level of security.

2. What is the best AI PowerPoint Generator?

The best AI PowerPoint generator depends on your specific needs and preferences. WPS AI Slides stands out as an excellent option, particularly for those seeking a cost-effective yet high-quality solution. It offers a range of features that make creating professional presentations easier, such as customizable templates, intuitive design tools, and integration with other WPS Office applications. For users prioritizing both affordability and robust functionality, WPS AI Slides is a highly recommended choice.

Finding the Best Budget-Friendly Presentation Tools

With plenty of options of best AI PowerPoint Generators available for creating presentations, it can be challenging to find the perfect tool for yourself without breaking the bank. Many presentation makers require a subscription or one-time payment, which can add up. I explored several tools and found that while many offer impressive features, the cost can be a significant factor.

However, if you're looking for a great value, WPS Office stands out. The suite itself is free, and its AI features for creating presentations are also available at no additional cost. WPS Office provides a comprehensive solution with its built-in AI tools, making it a cost-effective alternative for crafting professional presentations without any extra expense. For those willing to invest, platforms like Gamma AI offer advanced features and customization, but it's important to weigh these options against your budget and needs.So, for an affordable and powerful tool, download WPS Office now and unlock its free AI features for creating stunning presentations with ease.

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15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.