Download The Use of PowerPoint as a Learning Tool within the Classroom

Beth G. Keith
ED503
Dr. Holden
9/28/09
The Use of PowerPoint as a Learning Tool within the Classroom
Ever wonder how classrooms of today’s schools would be without the added idea
of PowerPoint presentations for lectures, projects, displays, etc.? Both teachers and
students should be well aware of the pros and cons of this innovative technology to use
within the classrooms. There are many ways to use this type of technology for the
classroom environment, no matter what subject is being taught. For the following paper,
the topics of how to make presentations more powerful, the effectiveness of using
PowerPoint for business courses and the connection between the PowerPoint technology
and teaching will be discussed.
There are four main points to keeping a PowerPoint presentation on target
(Howell, 2008). The first point is to use the keyboard keys to navigate throughout the
presentation (2008). If for some reason a presenter does not have a hand-held remote,
they should be well diversed with the keyboard shortcuts to navigate within their show
(2008). When a presenter is not familiar with this technique, he or she may loose the
classroom’s attention. The second point for a powerful presentation is to remember to
pause to reflect. This can be used for two reasons, that of using a reflective pause (Jones,
2003) and for when the speaker wants to speak on the topic being presented without
leaving the slides up for the time being (Howell, 2008). Adding excitement to the
presentation is the third key for it to be powerful. By using the pen feature on the
PowerPoint system, it will help to keep the students involved with the lecture of the slides
(2008). The final fourth key to keep in mind when making a PowerPoint show powerful
would be to make the entrance and exit just as strong as the slides in between (2008).
Beth G. Keith
ED503
Dr. Holden
9/28/09
PowerPoint presentations can also be used within the business courses of a high school or
junior college level.
There are many courses that are based around the business disciplines, such as:
management, marketing, business law, accounting, economics, statistics, and finance
(Burke, 2009). All of those courses could benefit from the use of PowerPoint
presentations. However, from the instructional environment, teachers must be precautious
of not reading directly off the slides from the PowerPoint (2009). Although, in a study
conducted by Ahmadi, Dileepan, and Raiszadeh (2007), there was the idea that the
positive aspects of using PowerPoint were outweighed by the negative consequences.
There were a percentage of 73 students that believed that the slides of a PowerPoint
presentation were helpful to them in understanding the course material (Burke, 2009).
Out of the business disciplines listed above, PowerPoint presentations were the most
effective within the management, while marketing and economics were followed closely
behind (2009). On the lowest effectiveness rating, was the accounting discipline (2009).
So there is a difference between the business courses, as to whether the PowerPoint is
effective or not. This is based on what the students prefer for that course and what the
course content is based on (2009).
Finally, teachers must be aware of how to handle the use of the PowerPoint within
their classrooms. Teachers of any type of course must stay on target of the subject being
taught, even if using the PowerPoint program to delve more into the topic of discussion.
The PowerPoint presentations are becoming more of THE message rather than just a part
of what the teacher’s main topic is about (Craig, 2006). The teacher must not allow the
PowerPoint to be their “crutch” between them and their students (2006).
Beth G. Keith
ED503
Dr. Holden
9/28/09
In conclusion, like all other ways of teaching, PowerPoint presentations include
both positives and negatives of how they are used within the classrooms. However, if
teachers follow the right way of how to conduct the PowerPoint, then the students will
benefit from that type of teaching. The use of PowerPoint can play a tremendous role on
the short-term recall of a student’s learning of the academics within any classroom
discipline, not just the business disciplines. It is of importance that if teachers are going
to be using the PowerPoint as a learning tool, that they must stay within strict guidelines
of how to make the PowerPoint presentations a positive way for students to learn and be
involved with the topic of discussion in the classroom.
Beth G. Keith
ED503
Dr. Holden
9/28/09
References
Ahmadi, M., Dileepan, P., & Raiszadeh, F. (2007). Is PowerPoint evil? Students’
perceptions. Review of Business Research, VII (4), p15-19.
Burke, Lisa A.; James, Karen; Ahmadi, Mohammad. Journal of Education for Business,
Mar/Apr 2009, Vol.84, Issue 4, p246-251, 6p, 3charts. Retrieved August 24,
2009, from Academic Search Complete.
Craig, Russell; Amernic, Joel H. Innovative Higher Education, 2006, Vol.31 Issue3,
p147-160, 14p. Retrieved August 24, 2009, from Academic Search Complete.
Howell, Dusti D., TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning,
Nov2008, Vol.52, Issue 6, p44-46, 3p, 1chart. Retrieved August 24, 2009, from
Academic Search Complete.
Jones, A. M. (2003). The use and abuse of PowerPoint in teaching and learning in the
life sciences: A personal overview. Bioscience Eduation eJournal. Retrieved
August 10, 2008, from http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/journal/vol2/beej2-3.aspx.