Hi all: I'm still thinking through/processing the pros and cons of PowerPoint in the classroom.. However, Del's post reminded me of something.
Last semester was the first semester I have had easy access to a computer/projection system in the classroom. For presenting their final projects, many students decided to make computer-based presentations. Overall, they did an outstanding job using PowerPoint (and having worked in the govt sector for a decade, believe me, I had a LOT of bad uses to compare their work to). I also noted when reading their accompanying written final reports, I was surprised to see that they actually did a better job in some respects with their PowerPoint. Generally, their presentations were better organized, outlined, and flowed much better in PowerPoint than in their written work. I don't know if anyone else has had this experience or quite what it says for the classroom (maybe someone here can offer some suggestions), but I found it intriguing. Kathy Kathy Stolley, Ph.D. Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Virginia Wesleyan College 1584 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 757-233-8768 >From: Del Thomas Ph D <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Michael Johnston <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >CC: 'teachsoc' <[email protected]> >Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: Effectively using PowerPoint >Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:38:48 -0400 > > >If you have access to resources you may find that students working in >groups can greatly benefit from and learn from making their >own PP presentations. This can be particularly useful for students when >the content is difficulty or complex. As even small groups will have >students >with more than one learning style the struggle will force them to go >beyond being consumers and receivers. They collaborate become >producers, creators, >they have ownership. > >One of the challenges that they may encounter is most of the content is >complex, fuzzy, organic and abstract random PP forces them to put it >into a crisp mechanical >and linear "box." In some of the struggle the tapestry of social things >can emerge from what ..... may have been considered misunderstanding. > >Del > > > > >Michael Johnston wrote: > > > > Dear Jack, Marty, and others, > > > > > > > > Could you share some tips with us that you personally have found > > effective and a brief description of why? > > > > > > > > One tip that I have heard regularly is “Don’t put large sections of > > text into PowerPoint.” The argument is that the teacher then just > > ends up reading, which is even worse than lecturing. This is > > generally correct. BUT, this can be effective if used sparingly and > > appropriately. For example, I know an instructor who assigns text by > > Weber. What he does is to include a few slides with actual text, text > > that is very hard to understand, and then explains how to read this > > text. The benefits to this approach are multiple: (1) everyone is on > > the same page, even if they forgot their book; (2) it takes less time > > to get everyone at the right place in the text; (3) keywords can be > > highlighted and easily pointed out; (4) instruction is layered with > > additional anchors beyond books and the instructor’s voice – the > > PowerPoint Slide and the instructor’s body movement as they point to > > certain keywords, etc. (5) questions about particular sections of the > > text are more widely understood by the class because the instructor > > can quickly and easily point to the relevant text (6) more anchors > > facilitates the instructor to lecture at more abstract levels > > > > > > > > I’m looking forward to hearing more tips from others! > > > > > > > > Best wishes, > > > > Michael > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > *On Behalf Of *Jack Estes > > *Sent:* Monday, June 12, 2006 4:38 AM > > *To:* Marty Schwartz; teachsoc > > *Subject:* TEACHSOC: Re: lousy lecturing > > > > > > > > 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 ----- > > > > *From:* Marty Schwartz <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > *To:* teachsoc <mailto:[email protected]> > > > > *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) > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
