Week Four - Powerpoint

Powerpoint presentations are digital programs that can be used in order to enhance the overall learning experience of students as well as easing the job of the instructor. Many powerpoint documents are quite simple, with only one or two fonts and few – if any – graphic representations. Aside from the main text, headers, footers and subheadings need to stand apart in order for students to understand the general topic or theme. One common technique is to use a larger font for any of those (headers, for example) so that students can clearly differentiate between topic and information. Definitions or key subjects can be represented in bold or italic form or even in a different color. Pictures might also be included to further emphasize a thought, such as a topographical map incorporated within a discussion of geography. Flashier presentations might also incorporate audio or even video features to go along with the text in an effort to be more engaging for the students, especially those who might have a bit of trouble understanding more advanced lessons, subjects or concepts. It is important to remember, however, that the foremost goal of using a powerpoint presentation in the classroom is to help students learn, not to provide a “lights & sounds” show. That being said, there is nothing wrong with simplicity. Lastly, keep with the subject at hand. The headers can be as useful to you as to the students; do not muddle the lesson.

The most important “feature” of powerpoint is the user, he who creates the presentation. Each user has their own personality, teaching style, etc. Some teachers might enjoy a more relaxed environment and use humor in their slides to break the monotony (How was the Roman Empire cut in half? With a pair of Caesars! Zing.) while others prefer a straightforward approach to the presentation itself and provide more in-depth commentary themselves. Also, the instructor must remind him- or herself not to make a powerpoint presentation the only means of unloading information onto the students nor the “answer key” for every assignment (i.e., do not put word for word questions with their accompanying answers on the powerpoint presentation and then use the exact same question in the same form on a test or quiz; I have witnessed this happen on several occasions).

For a sample powerpoint presentation, I have thought of a basic, five-slide introduction to the early years of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire. The first slide would be rather simplified summary of why the Roman Empire was split into two parts with an accompanying map. Second would come a timeline covering key events spanning the years 312-527 AD with a large, red heading entitled “Invasion!” helping to explain the transition of power from Western Europe to Eastern Europe. Third, a slide entitled “Byzantine Geography” which would help those students who think a bit more spatially understand the second slide. Several images would be in this slide, probably more prevalently than plain text. Fourth, we have a look at the institutional information (government, church, military and the fisc). The hypothetical limit of this example notwithstanding, the fourth slide might actually be split into multiple slides with sub-headers so that the information won’t be so condensed or muddled. The fifth and final slide would contain information about important individuals who lived towards the end of the time period covered, ca. 500-550 AD.