I agree that PowerPoint can be a powerful
tool in the classroom if it's not abused. We have workshops all the time in
EFFECTIVE use of PowerPoint, not only for business classes but for anyone. I
think they're good. They often include a 'best practices' aspect in which
various profs bring in what works for them. I wonder how many schools do this?
Our workshops are partially paid for by some big grant.
Jack Estes
BMCC/CUNY
NYC
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 11:40
AM
Subject: TEACHSOC: lousy lecturing
Gerry said:
<snip> And again, I would put forth for
argument the idea that the
problem isn't the lecture hall, but lousy
lecturers. (One more bad
Powerpoint presentation, and I will
trash someone's computer for sure.)<snip>
Gerry - as a friendly
request -- with all of the Del's name calling, Del obfuscation, Del
gobbledegook, etc. I seem to have lost track of what is going
on. Of course, being reduced to tears seems to me a perfectly
normal reaction. But, in your sentences above, what exactly IS the
problem to which we are all referring? Maybe I live in some kind of
la-la land, but while I certainly know a few irresponsible teachers, I find
myself mostly surrounded by very hard working people who do fantastic jobs
teaching. Maybe it is who I talk to, but I go to national
conferences and am always inspired by what others do in their teaching (I am
running a little nickel and dime workshop at ASA featuring the noted
teachsocer Angus Vail, for example). Often the community college
people tend to be even more dedicated and better at their task than we are
(even those paid at the same level as cafeteria
workers). Personally, I have won a stack of teaching awards, but as
someone who is primarily a publishing researcher I am always in total awe of
the teachers I meet (including, of course, Profs. McKinney and
Ballentine!).
As to PowerPoint, which I love, I agree that
too few people know how to use it. Perhaps a positive note might be
to start getting our regional and national associations, and our graduate
schools, to start teaching people how to use it? Management
schools, PR schools and others now do this regularly. But in
Sociology I've never met anyone who took a lesson, or even had access to a
lesson, in the style and design of PowerPoint (as opposed to the
mechanics).
Cheers.
Martin D. Schwartz
Professor
of Sociology
Ohio University
119 Bentley Annex
Athens, OH
45701
740.593.1366 (voice)
740.593.1365 (fax)
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