With low quality photos, irritating colour combinations, and text swirling and darting across the screen, it can be painful to sit through a PowerPoint presentation. But done well, PowerPoint can be a very useful educational tool.
In Academic Foundations we started the Media Development Project to help instructors learn how to use PowerPoint effectively and educationally. In terms of design, there are three main concepts that need attention.
Instructional Design
Align to a specific learning outcome for a specific course
Limit the amount of information to be covered
Do more than present information - get learners thinking and applying skills
Ensure the sequence of slides is logical for the topic
Ensure all visuals are educational, not decorative
Visual Design
Choose colours for contrast that is easy on the eyes
Use a font that is easy to read
Be generous with white space
Be consistent in style and colour throughout the presentation
Use high-quality, high-resolution images
Keep images simple
Ensure that you have the right to use the images you choose
Use animation and images for effect, not decoration
Minimize text
Presentation Design
Have a beginning, middle, and end
Have only one idea per slide
Write clear and adequate notes in the Speaker Notes section
Understand that this is not a stand-alone resource; the presenter needs to be equally prepared
There is a lot to consider for each of these three concepts. Watch this blog for more detailed posts about each one.
For an entertaining overview of everything not to do, check out this video: Life After Death by PowerPoint.
Are you interested in new technology skills, but don’t have time for scheduled workshops? What if the lessons arrived in your inbox and you could do them at a time of your own choosing?
It’s not always easy to find time for professional development, but with a brand new curriculum there is a need for PD. Working with Andy and Marjorie in the Teaching and Learning Enhancement (TLE) department of the LLC, this term we are offering all AcPrep Reading instructors “PD in Your Inbox” opportunities. This PD is designed as mini-assignments that are aligned to specific learning outcomes in the new Reading curriculum. Each assignment comes with specific instructions, learning handouts, a marking rubric, and a deadline. Instructors have 1 - 2 weeks to fit in the 10-30 minutes necessary to complete the assignment and submit it to the TLE for feedback.
We have had three mini-assignments to date, allowing us to practice some the digital literacy skills that form part of the Reading 2, Reading 3 and the Reading 4 courses. The feedback from instructors has been positive so far, noting the importance of increasing students’ digital literacy skills, the flexibility of this form of PD, and the opportunity to learn skills beyond the boundaries of the mini-assignment.
TIP #1 - Naming Files
The TLE provided individual feedback and also let us know of overall trends in our abilities. Our number one error was not being specific enough when naming our files, which could lead to difficulties in finding our files later. This motivated us to look closer at our file naming habits and to implement file naming conventions for all AcPrep Reading course files. Following the conventions used in the Academic Upgrading courses, we took time on our meeting day in June to reorganize our files and folders on the P: drive. You can get an explanation of our system in this file.
Reading Curriculum Pilot
Since last September we have been working on redesigning the curriculum for all eight reading and writing classes in AcPrep, and we started the piloting of the new reading program this spring term. One of the new aspects of the curriculum is a dedicated part on Digital Literacy, which currently focuses on ensuring students have adequate technology skills and are able to use Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, use email, and effectively search the internet. A Digital Citizenship component, which focuses on skills beyond technology use, is to be added in the future.
Before we can require this from our learners, we need to ensure that instructors have confidence in their own skills and their ability to teach technology skills along with the reading and writing content skills. The “PD in Your Inbox” series is part of pilot phase for the new curriculum. The TLE has also provided one group workshop, a handout on Tips for Teaching and Troubleshooting in a Computer Lab, and has invited all AcPrep instructors to contact them for one-on-one help in any aspect of teaching technology.
