disadvantages of powerpoint presentation in teaching

17 Advantages And Disadvantages Of PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a versatile and user-friendly multimedia presentation program compatible with most devices. It lets you make and share limitless presentations with ease. However, it comes with a fair share of disadvantages, like the complex features and tools, issues with performance on less powerful computers, and its price.

1. Available for All Major Operating Systems

2. abundant features, 3. widely accepted, 4. lots of themes and templates, 5. versatile interface, 6. relatively easy to use, 7. support various formats, 8. smooth integration with other office programs, 9. support add-in, 10. compare documents, 11. relatively easy to collaborate, 12. available mobile version, 13. password protection, 14. lack of innovation, 15. a bit complex to learn, 16. some performance issues on weak systems, 17. it’s relatively expensive, advantages and disadvantages of powerpoint – at a glance.

• PowerPoint is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android , and the web.
• PowerPoint has a rich set of features , including templates and themes.
• Even for beginners, PowerPoint is relatively easy to use .
• PowerPoint enables customization through a wide range of add-ins .
• PowerPoint simplifies collaboration with others by allowing easy sharing and editing of presentations.
• PowerPoint has limited innovation over its three-decade history, potentially making presentations feel dated.
• Learning to use PowerPoint’s features and tools can be complex for some users.
• PowerPoint may have performance issues on less powerful computers.
• Compared to alternatives, PowerPoint can be relatively pricey if purchased outright.

Advantages Of PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is an excellent tool for presentations and more. Here are some of its key advantages:

PowerPoint is available for both Windows and macOS , as well as for mobile devices running iOS and Android. This makes it a convenient tool for creating presentations, regardless of what type of device you are using. You can also use PowerPoint for the Web in a web browser, making it even more accessible. Not a lot of presentation software offers such flexibility.

PowerPoint is the most feature-rich presentation software out there. It has everything you need to create a professional-looking presentation, including built-in templates, themes, and much more. Other presentation software simply cannot compete with PowerPoint in this regard.

PowerPoint is the most widely used presentation software, and it’s the industry standard tool for preparing presentations. People are generally familiar with how PowerPoint works, which makes it easy to use when giving presentations. It is also the most compatible presentation software , meaning that it can be opened and viewed on just about any device.

PowerPoint comes with a variety of built-in themes and templates that you can use to make your presentation look more professional. If you’re not a design expert, these templates can be a lifesaver. With just a few clicks, you can make your presentation look great without spending hours on design.

The interface of PowerPoint is also quite versatile. You can easily access all the needed features by using the toolbar options. Its interface is also customizable , so you can change it to suit your needs better.

PowerPoint is relatively easy to use , even if you’ve never used it before. Of course, it takes some time to learn all the features and how to use them effectively. However, you should be able to start creating basic presentations without much trouble.

You can open and edit presentations saved in various formats with PowerPoint. Some of the supported formats include pptx, ppt, gif, mp4, jpeg , and more. This is a convenient feature if you need to import or export presentations in variable programs. Other presentation software supports only a limited number of formats.

PowerPoint also integrates smoothly with other Microsoft Office programs, such as Word and Excel. This makes it easy to create presentations that include data from other Office programs. Moreover, PowerPoint files are supported by most online storage services, such as Google Drive and Dropbox, for seamless sharing.

PowerPoint also supports add-ins , which are small programs that add additional features to the software. There are a large number of add-ins available for PowerPoint that you can use to customize your presentations further.

The Review feature in PowerPoint allows you to compare two presentations side-by-side . This is a handy feature if you need to spot the differences between two versions of a presentation. It’s especially useful when you want to review the changes to your presentation made by someone else.

PowerPoint makes it relatively easy to collaborate with others on a presentation. You can easily share your presentation with others and allow them to view it or make changes by sharing a link. This is a convenient feature if you are working on a team project.

PowerPoint is also available in a mobile version , which allows you to create and edit presentations on the go. You can download the PowerPoint app for free from the App Store or Google Play to use on iOS or Android devices. This is a handy feature if you need to make last-minute changes to your presentation.

One of the features of the PowerPoint software that most users find useful is the password protection feature. This allows you to set a password for your presentation so that only those who know the password can open and view it. Most other presentation software does not include this component.

Disadvantages of PowerPoint

Now that we’ve looked at the advantages of PowerPoint, let’s take a look at some of its disadvantages:

It’s been around three decades since PowerPoint was first released, and in that time, it hasn’t seen a whole lot of innovation. This lack of innovation can make it feel dated compared to some of the newer presentation software options on the market. Some users find PowerPoint slides boring, as there is not much scope to create creative or interactive presentations.

The features and tools of PowerPoint can be a bit complex to learn , especially if you’ve never used the software before. It can take some time to get a grasp on how to use all the features effectively. And if you want to create more complex presentations, it may take even longer.

PowerPoint can also have some performance issues, especially on weak systems. The software can be a bit resource-intensive, so it may run slowly on older computers . Additionally, large or complex presentations may take longer to load and may not run as smoothly as you’d like.

If you want to purchase PowerPoint outright, it’s relatively expensive compared to some of the other presentation software options on the market. Google Slides offers many of the same features as PowerPoint, but it’s free to use.

PowerPoint is a widely used presentation software that is available for all major operating systems. It offers a large number of features and is widely accepted.  However, it can be a bit complex to learn and is relatively expensive. Despite these disadvantages, PowerPoint is still a popular choice for creating presentations.

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What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint

Explore the Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint in our latest blog. Discover how this popular presentation tool can enhance communication and engagement while also exploring potential pitfalls. Gain insights on harnessing its power for effective presentations and navigating its limitations for more impactful business and educational content.

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The average salary of a PowerPoint expert in the UK is £40,000 GBP per year, according to Talent.com . In this blog, you will get to know about the Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint. Let's dive in deeper to learn how it can impact your presentations!  

Table of Contents        

1) Advantages of PowerPoint  

2) Visual appeal and aesthetic design  

    a) Easy to use and accessible  

    b) Efficient information organisation  

    c) Disadvantages of PowerPoint  

3) Conclusion       

Advantages of PowerPoint   

PowerPoint is a powerful software tool developed by Microsoft that enables users to create visually appealing and engaging presentations. It offers various functionalities and features that make it a popular choice for individuals and professionals who want to convey information effectively. Here, we will explore the Advantages of PowerPoint and how it can enhance your presentations. Let's dive into the benefits it offers:  

Visual appeal and aesthetic design   

One of the primary Advantages of PowerPoint is its ability to create visually appealing presentations. With a vast array of design templates, colour schemes, and graphical elements, PowerPoint allows you to add visual appeal to your slides. This visual enhancement can captivate your audience's attention and make your presentation more engaging.

Easy to use and accessible   

PowerPoint is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users of any level. Its intuitive design and straightforward navigation enable users to create presentations quickly and efficiently. Moreover, PowerPoint is compatible with various operating systems, ensuring broad accessibility across different devices.  

Efficient information organisation   

One of the significant Advantages of PowerPoint is its capability to organise information effectively. With features like bullet points, numbered lists, and hierarchical structures, you can present your ideas in a logical and organised manner. This helps your audience understand and retain the information more easily. 

Enhanced audience engagement   

PowerPoint offers various features to enhance audience engagement during presentations. Animations, transitions, and multimedia elements can make your slides dynamic and captivating. Additionally, interactive features like hyperlinks and embedded videos can encourage audience participation, making your presentation more memorable.  

Time-saving and convenience   

These templates offer professionally designed layouts and graphics, allowing you to focus on the content rather than spending hours on design. Furthermore, PowerPoint's autosave feature automatically saves your work, providing convenience and peace of mind. 

Versatility and compatibility   

PowerPoint's versatility is another key advantage that sets it apart as a presentation tool. It offers broad features and compatibility options that make it highly adaptable to different content formats and sharing platforms.  

a) Support for various media formats:  

PowerPoint provides support for a diverse range of media formats, allowing you to incorporate different types of content into your presentations. You can seamlessly integrate images, videos, audio clips, and charts, enhancing your slides' visual appeal and interactivity. You can create engaging and immersive presentations that resonate with your audience by leveraging these multimedia elements.   

The ability to incorporate various media formats in PowerPoint allows you to leverage different modes of communication. Visual elements, such as images and charts, can help illustrate complex concepts or data, making them more understandable and memorable. Videos and audio clips, on the other hand, can add a dynamic and interactive element to your presentation, allowing you to deliver information in a more engaging and captivating way.  

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b) File conversion and sharing options:  

Powerpoint Presentations can be easily converted to different file formats, offering flexibility in sharing and distribution. Whether you need to share your presentation with colleagues, clients, or a wider audience, PowerPoint enables you to save your slides in formats such as PDFs, video files, or even images. This versatility ensures that your presentation can be accessed and viewed on various devices and platforms, making it convenient for your audience to engage with your content.  

Converting your presentation to PDF format can be particularly useful when you want to share a finalised version of your slides while preserving the formatting and layout. PDF files are widely compatible, allowing anyone to view them using a PDF reader without the need for specific presentation software.  

In addition to PDF, Powerpoint Presentations can also be saved as video files. This format is ideal for situations where you want to share your presentation online, embed it on a website, or upload it to video-sharing platforms. By converting your presentation to a video, you can ensure a consistent playback experience across different devices and platforms.  

Furthermore, Powerpoint Presentations can be easily shared through various online platforms and cloud storage services. Whether you choose to use email, file-sharing platforms, or cloud storage solutions like OneDrive or Google Drive, PowerPoint's compatibility allows you to collaborate with others and share your presentations effortlessly.  

Collaboration and sharing options   

Collaboration is made easy with PowerPoint's sharing and collaboration features. Multiple users can work on a presentation at the same time, making it ideal for team projects or group presentations. With cloud storage and sharing platforms, such as OneDrive or SharePoint, you can share your Powerpoint Presentations with others, enabling seamless collaboration and feedback exchange.  

Professionalism and credibility   

PowerPoint's professional look and vibes contribute to the overall credibility of your presentation. The polished design and layout options help create a sense of professionalism, which can enhance your message's impact. By using PowerPoint, you can convey your ideas with authority and leave a lasting impression on your audience.  

Multimedia integration   

Incorporating multimedia elements is a breeze with PowerPoint. You can easily insert images, videos, audio clips, and animations into your slides, making your presentation more dynamic and engaging. Visual and auditory aids can significantly enhance the audience's understanding and retention of information.  

Presenter support and notes   

PowerPoint offers several features to support presenters during their delivery. The presenter view provides a helpful tool for managing your presentation, displaying speaker notes, and previewing upcoming slides. You can also add speaker notes to individual slides, ensuring that you don't miss any crucial points during your presentation.  

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Disadvantages of PowerPoint   

Overreliance on visuals   

While visuals can enhance a presentation, overreliance on them can be a disadvantage. When too much emphasis is placed on visuals, the audience may become distracted or miss essential information. It's crucial to strike a balance between visuals and textual content to ensure the message is effectively conveyed.  

Potential for information overload   

Powerpoint Presentations have the potential to overwhelm the audience with excessive information. Presenters may feel compelled to include every detail on the slides, leading to information overload. It's important to prioritise key points and keep the content concise and focused to prevent overwhelming the audience.  

Lack of interactivity   

PowerPoint is primarily a one-way communication tool, limiting interactivity during presentations. While you can incorporate interactive elements, such as hyperlinks or quizzes, the level of interaction is often limited. This can hinder audience engagement and participation, particularly in scenarios that require active involvement.  

Limited customisation options   

While PowerPoint provides various design templates, the customisation options may be limited compared to dedicated design software. Presenters seeking highly customised and unique designs may find PowerPoint's options somewhat restrictive. However, for most presentations, the available templates and customisation features are sufficient.  

Technical glitches and compatibility issues   

Technical glitches and compatibility issues can occasionally occur when using PowerPoint. File corruption, formatting inconsistencies, or software compatibility problems can disrupt the smooth delivery of your presentation. It's crucial to test your presentation on the actual equipment or platform to minimise the risk of technical difficulties.  

Dependency on the presenter   

Powerpoint Presentations often rely heavily on the presenter's ability to deliver the content effectively. A presenter who lacks public speaking skills or fails to engage the audience may negatively impact the overall effectiveness of the presentation. Developing strong presentation skills and practising delivering your presentation is important to ensure a successful outcome.    

Not suitable for all presentation types   

While PowerPoint is a versatile tool, it may not be the best choice for all presentation types. For instance, highly technical or data-heavy presentations may require more specialised software or tools that offer advanced data visualisation capabilities. It's important to assess the specific requirements of your presentation and choose the appropriate tool accordingly.  

Accessibility challenges   

Powerpoint Presentations may pose accessibility challenges for individuals with disabilities. Issues such as small font sizes, lack of alt text for images, or inadequate colour contrast can make it difficult for visually impaired or hearing-impaired individuals to fully engage with the content. It's important to follow accessibility guidelines and make accommodations to ensure inclusivity.  

Copyright and intellectual property concerns   

When using images, videos, or other media in Powerpoint Presentations, it's essential to respect copyright and intellectual property rights. Failure to obtain proper permissions or give proper attribution can lead to legal issues. It's crucial to use licensed or royalty-free media or obtain explicit permission from copyright holders before including them in your presentations.  

Risk of boring and monotonous presentations   

Powerpoint Presentations have earned a reputation for being boring and monotonous if not designed and delivered effectively. The reliance on bullet points and text-heavy slides can result in a lack of variety and engagement. It's important to employ storytelling techniques, incorporate multimedia elements, and vary the presentation format to keep the audience interested and attentive.  

Conclusion       

We hope you read this blog and understand the Advantages and Disadvantages of PowerPoint. PowerPoint's versatility and compatibility make it a powerful presentation tool. With support for various media formats and easy file conversion, it allows users to create engaging presentations and share them seamlessly. PowerPoint is a valuable resource for effective communication and impactful presentations.  

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Learning from PowerPoint: is it time for teachers to move on?

Director, First Year Learning Initiative at University College and Professor of Psychological Sciences, Northern Arizona University

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Michelle Denise Miller is a partner in Rhizome Learn LLC and consults for Minds-Online.com.

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For a brief period in the history of teaching, using PowerPoint automatically qualified you as a tech-savvy professor – an innovator who wouldn’t settle for the usual combination of staticky black-and-white overhead films and hand-scrawled chalkboard notes.

Now, it’s hard to believe that PowerPoint was once considered innovative by anyone. Popular criticism includes everything from tongue-in-cheek comments about death by PowerPoint to serious claims that it fundamentally degrades how we think and communicate.

But much of today’s college instruction isn’t in face-to-face classrooms, a setting in which PowerPoint was traditionally used. It’s in the burgeoning field of online learning .

So if more learning is moving online, does that mean that teaching with PowerPoint is becoming a thing of the past?

Surprisingly, the answer is no.

Passive learning through PowerPoint?

Even though there’s little research that directly addresses whether PowerPoint affects learning in college students, critics have questioned its value in educational settings.

Some ask whether PowerPoint might indirectly undermine the quality of teaching by reinforcing a passive learning approach .

We know that lecturing is less effective than alternative methods. It therefore makes sense for teachers in face-to-face classrooms to question how much of their class time ought to be spent on slideshows.

But the fact is “slideshows” remain a popular method for presenting content in today’s online courses.

Technically, these are often not PowerPoints, but decks generated using other types of specialized programs .

And they may differ from standard in-class PowerPoint presentations in important ways.

For example, taking advantage of the increased flexibility of the online environment, they give students more control over how quickly to go through the material and when to backtrack. They can also have more interactive features, such as quizzes, that ask students to apply material while they are learning it.

Even so, the basic – and flawed – idea is the same: put the material in front of students, and learning will happen.

What’s wrong with slideshows in online courses

As a psychologist specializing in teaching techniques and course design, when I talk to faculty about teaching effectively with technology , I sometimes tell them to follow the ABS principle: anything but slideshows.

I’m only half-kidding with that blanket statement.

After all, we learn with the same brains in online environments as we do face-to-face; the principles of learning don’t change just because the medium changes. And today’s learning theorists agree: active involvement trumps passive viewing.

Students need to grapple with challenging problems, practice skills, discuss and defend viewpoints. But for this kind of active learning to happen, instructors need to ensure they do not rely too heavily on slides.

There are alternatives: simulations , problem-based learning , even educational games are all proven methods for drawing students in. They also transplant well into online learning .

Using slideshows the right way

So do slideshows have any place in a well-designed online course? Possibly.

They can be used strategically for things they are best at: giving students an overview of new material, or providing a refresher on concepts students will need for an upcoming activity.

Slides are also great for for integrating visual illustrations. This is important because visuals – diagrams, figures, photos and the like – have a powerful impact on learning.

Visual information is almost always more memorable than sound, text or other modalities.

This isn’t because of the now-debunked idea that some people are “visual learners,” but more likely stems from how the brain codes images . There are separate systems for representing verbal and visual information in the brain. When we save information in both places, it is easier to recall.

Teachers don’t have to stick with static images, either. Even basic animations can illuminate conceptual relationships – such as cause and effect, or the unfolding of a process over time – in ways that text can’t.

Furthermore, as University of California, Santa Barbara researcher Richard Mayer has discovered , visuals and the spoken word pair up in powerful ways, so that audio plus visuals produce better learning than either alone.

Research also tells teachers some things not to do with visuals. Instructors should avoid purely decorative graphics, as these can actually hamper learning .

They should also eschew reading text verbatim , instead using a conversational, natural speaking style for voiceovers and verbal explanations.

What this means in the larger context of online learning

In sum, slideshows can be a useful part of online instruction, when used for the right things and designed in the right way. But they shouldn’t be the main, or the only, method of instruction – any more than lectures should dominate face-to-face classes.

But it’s not just instructors who need to hear this message.

Publishing and educational technology companies, who provide many of the tools that educators rely on, can do more to develop products that push beyond familiar formulas and draw on the latest learning science.

We need tools that make it easy to create assignments that ask students to apply what they have learned, in scenarios that are as realistic and challenging as possible.

These learning tools also need to be adaptive, adjusting the material and pace to the individual learner. This kind of educational technology does exist , but far more can be done to expand the available options.

Teaching in the age of technology comes with its own set of opportunities as well as challenges. And online education presents educators and tech developers with a rare opportunity to fundamentally rethink what we do.

Will we use it to explore new avenues for learning, or will we fall back on the the same old techniques that don’t work well in face-to-face classrooms?

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9 Disadvantages of Using PowerPoint Presentations!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

If you frequently have to prepare and deliver presentations you normally want to use software that is suitable for the topics you’ll be covering. The software should also allow you to shape the presentation into a style you are comfortable with.

PowerPoint might have been recommended to you but now you are wondering whether a presenting tool with such a lot of features as PowerPoint is not perhaps giving just as many issues.

The biggest drawback of PowerPoint is that it has many features and requires adequate training to use them properly. If not used correctly, it can affect the reputation of the presenter. Other disadvantages include files don’t save automatically, and PowerPoint is not free to use.

In the end, you have to decide whether you can live with these disadvantages when you compare them to the advantages. In this article, we list for your convenience 9 of the most important disadvantages of PowerPoint.

Also Read – Advantages of Using Microsoft PowerPoint!

1. Text-heavy slides

Text-heavy slides give too much information with too much text. This makes the slide boring and the audience will lose interest in the whole presentation.

Many PowerPoint presentations are unsuccessful because the presenter or compiler of the slideshow has tried to put as much content as possible in text form on the slide. A good slide should ideally only have the headings and sub-headings of what the presenter is conveying to the audience.

And if more information in text form is necessary to make it easier for the audience to follow the presenter and comprehend the content, the text should be well organized.

The use of columns or blocks and even different colors will make the slide much more interesting. Unfortunately, the slides of many PowerPoint presentations are not well-designed. 

Compilers of presentations are sometimes in a hurry and just add all the content they‘ve found on the slide without actually designing the slide. They don’t discriminate between really needed content and content that can confuse the audience.

Research has found that text-heavy slides are often used when the presenter just wants to read the information from the slides to the audience, instead of using the PowerPoint slides as a tool to emphasize certain aspects.

2. Too many features can get overwhelming

The PowerPoint developers have over time put more and more features into the software to theoretically make it possible for the compilers of presentations to complete the task without using any other tools or software.  But too many features can confuse the user.

This can cause you to spend a lot of time compiling your presentation, as you first want to look at the available features for every aspect you use and figure out how it works. 

It is overwhelming to have to pick the right feature for literary every aspect of the presentation. This is often the reason provided by users when asked why they don’t use PowerPoint. They prefer software packages with lesser choices but which are easier and simpler to use.

3. Most features usually remain unexplored

Because of the overwhelming effect of the large number of features offered by PowerPoint, most compilers of presentations using PowerPoint simplifies the process when they use it for the first time.

They search for features they understand and which seem easy to use. They then tend to stick to these features and don’t explore other features.  

Many of the slide designing features are for example not fully explored by compilers. Generally, a compiler will search for templates to use and when they have found a few they like, they are not interested in looking for more or designing their own.

PowerPoint users have indicated in surveys that a feature like the adding of video snippets into the presentation is for instance an example of features that usually remain unexplored.    

4. Can affect reputation if not used correctly

The presenter or compiler of the presentation might be trusting PowerPoint to always automatically create well-designed presentations. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

The result can be a presentation with uninteresting and poorly designed slides.  And sometimes the presenter is a very good speaker but an inexperienced PowerPoint user. The combination of a poorly designed presentation with an inexperienced PowerPoint user can affect the reputation of the speaker.

Thus, the bottom line is that a good speaker has to ensure that every slide in the presentation is interesting and conveys just enough information to keep the audience focused.

The presenter should also use the presentation without reading from the screen. Eye contact with the audience is necessary to keep them focused.

5. Real-time collaboration is not the best

Real-time collaboration allows you to work with some of your other colleagues on the same presentation at the same time! This can for example be done with Google Slides. It is a great feature that is especially helpful when working from distant locations or working from home!

Must Read – PowerPoint vs Google Slides: Which Presentation Application Should You Use?

Unfortunately, only the PowerPoint in Office 365 has this real-time feature . If you use any other version of PowerPoint you will not be able to have real-time collaboration.

6. Requires downloading

Another disadvantage of PowerPoint is that you can’t run the application on the cloud as you can do with Google Slides for instance. The Office 365 PowerPoint software is the one exception.

You have to download the PowerPoint software onto your device to be able to use it.

7. Files are not automatically saved

One of the most frustrating things when compiling a presentation is to lose some of the already created slides because they haven’t been saved.  The ideal is that the software saves continuously as you are creating the presentation.

With PowerPoint (except for Office 365) you have to save manually. To ensure that work is not lost, you have to keep on pressing Ctrl+S from time to time. (Ctrl+S is the shortcut for saving a PowerPoint file.)

User reviews indicate that this is also one of the disadvantages that let presentation compilers move away from PowerPoint. In practice, you often just forget to save files manually and unsaved work can easily be lost.    

8. Files often too large to mail

 PowerPoint presentations can quickly become very large. Although you sometimes only want to mail a few files or slides, it often happens that you have to mail the whole presentation. When it exceeds the 10 MB or 25 MB file size it becomes difficult and sometimes impossible to mail.

9. A variety of errors can occur

Although the many features of PowerPoint might be an advantage for some users, the possibility of errors is very high when there are such a large number of features built into a program.  Presentations with fewer features normally develop fewer errors.

PowerPoint online support groups are full of questions. All these questions are an indication that users constantly encounter issues or don’t understand how the features work.  If you look at the answers on these forums it becomes clear that in some instances nobody actually has the correct answer.

Compared to other presentation applications there are much more errors when you use PowerPoint. 

Credit to Nakaridore (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

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• > Death by PowerPoint: alternatives for life

Article contents

Death by powerpoint: alternatives for life.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

The use of PowerPoint has become nearly ubiquitous in medical education and continuing professional development; however, many alternatives are emerging that can be used in its place. These may confer some advantages, but they also have potential drawbacks. It is helpful that educators are aware of these new presentation options and their pros and cons, including any financial implications and issues of data protection. This article considers the role of technology in teaching and learning, identifying underlying assumptions that are often made. It identifies and appraises technology that can be used with or instead of PowerPoint to best facilitate deep learning. The potential pedagogical benefits and practical limitations of these technologies are considered, and strategies are highlighted to maximise the impact of PowerPoint where it is the software of choice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Consider the role of information communication technology in teaching and learning

Identify and appraise potential technology that may enhance the use of PowerPoint in educational settings

Identify and appraise alternatives to standard presentation software that may aid the learning experience

Since its release by Microsoft in 1990, hundreds of millions of people have used PowerPoint to deliver information and convey ideas. In educational settings, PowerPoint is commonly used for large-group teaching, but increasingly it is also being used in tutorials and small groups. Most of us have experienced the range of quality of these presentations – although some are engaging and thought-provoking, others leave the audience confused, overloaded or bored.

So much has been said about the overuse of PowerPoint that ‘death by PowerPoint’ is now a term in regular usage ( Reference Garber Garber 2001 ); the Google Books Ngram Viewer ( Reference Michel, Shen and Aiden Michel 2011) shows a sharp increase in the use of the term since 1996. There has been much debate over whether PowerPoint is a powerful teaching tool or a hindrance to learning ( Reference Undrill and McMaster Undrill 2013) . Essentially, the discussion of PowerPoint and its effectiveness in teaching is indicative of a much broader discussion of how we use technology in learning environments. Even before the advent of PowerPoint, evidence existed questioning the effectiveness of lectures in facilitating deep learning ( Reference Dunkin Dunkin 1983 ; Reference Long, Lock and Swanwick Long 2014) . In the 21st century, lecturers have access to a wide array of technological tools that can enhance the learning experience of their students. They are grappling with which technology is best to use, as well as when, why and how to use it. Although it is important to stay up to date with technological advances that could be used in medical education, it is also necessary to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of any such interventions ( Reference Hilty, Alverson and Alpert Hilty 2006) and reflect on their effectiveness and usefulness. This article seeks to address some of these themes that are prevalent for educators.

Learning and technology

The use of technology in learning environments is often presented as a fait accompli , the emphasis being on how we use technology as opposed to whether or why we should use it ( Reference Henry, Younie, Leask and Burden Henry 2015 ). Historically, efforts to introduce technology into education can be described as being a ‘solution in search of a problem’ ( Reference Selwyn Selwyn 2011 : p. 57), whereby technology is implanted into education settings, with teachers expected to make use of it. According to this model, the technology comes first and a change in learning follows. However, there is little evidence to suggest that this is the case in practice. The literature on and research into educational technology is overpopulated with in-depth studies of small-scale, well-resourced projects that are as likely to indicate the ‘Hawthorne effect’ as to provide any direct evidence that educational technology is living up to the claims made on its behalf ( Reference Buckingham Buckingham 2007 ). The Hawthorne effect refers to the sense that the novelty and enthusiasm associated with any innovation may be responsible for the perceived benefits it appears to bring about, as opposed to these benefits being directly caused by the technology. To say that information communication technology (ICT) changes or revolutionises learning is technological determinism – meaning that we see technology as causing change. ICT may play a part in change, but technologies cannot have an impact without people to use them and to appropriate them into their learning. As was found in a recent Nesta report, ‘Technology has no impact on its own – it all depends how we use it’ ( Reference Stokes Stokes 2012 : p. 8). Technology is part of the story, but in order for ICT to have a positive impact on learning, lecturers need to be informed users of it ( Reference Henry, Younie, Leask and Burden Henry 2015 ). This means discerning the best use of a tool, or combination of tools, to inform, engage and motivate learners. The different tools described below all offer ways of combining images and words. What makes a teaching session successful depends more on the teacher and the students than on the software used. Despite this, we feel that there are distinct benefits to the media below, which are worth exploring and which may confer some pedagogical advantage to teachers and learners.

Various technologies have been used, with mixed effects ( Reference Clark and Mayer Clark 2011) . Digital tools offer the opportunity to broaden and deepen the learning experience. Links to websites for all the ICT discussed below can be found in Box 1 , and many of the pros and cons are summarised in Table 1 . These tools allow for information to be presented in a number of different ways, thus catering for a variety of learning styles. The use of images, videos, mind maps, sound and interactive components can all improve engagement, recall and understanding ( Reference Clark and Mayer Clark 2011) . Reference Cantillon Cantillon (2003) suggests that the medium should be tailored to the concepts and themes being taught. Some topics lend themselves to being depicted through mind maps, whereas some greatly benefit from the inclusion of videos. For example, the inclusion of videos in teaching about catatonia can help clarify the subject to students and make it more memorable. The presentation of the differential diagnosis of psychosis as a mind map can highlight to students how the different potential diagnoses are related; this can give them a visual tool to form differentials of their own. Reference Cantillon Cantillon (2003) also suggests that the medium should encourage learning through interaction. Some options to foster interaction are discussed below.

BOX 1 Information communication technologies for teaching and learning

Coggle: https://coggle.it

FreeMind: https://sourceforge.net/projects/freemind

Google Slides: https://www.google.com/slides/about

Haiku Deck: https://www.haikudeck.com

Keynote: https://www.apple.com/mac/keynote

Popplet: www.popplet.com

PowToon: https://www.powtoon.com

Presentation Free 2013: www.ksosoft.com/product/presentation-free.html

Prezi: www.prezi.com

RawShorts: www.rawshorts.com

TABLE 1 Advantages and disadvantages of alternatives to PowerPoint

There are three main challenges when using ICT. First, the technical skill and experience of the lecturer may be a limiting factor – any change to using a different medium or technology may require significant amounts of work in the early stages.

Second, the technical ability within the student body may vary – ‘millennial’ students approach learning differently from previous generations, being more comfortable with using technology ( Reference Beebe, Gurenlian and Rogo Beebe 2014) ; however, teachers must not assume that this is always the case. Active steps must be taken to induct students into use of the new technology, and information technology (IT) support should be made available to staff and students. Although research has been conducted in this area, it is still in its infancy and lacks clear guidelines.

Third, any new technology can sadly run into technical problems, often at the most inopportune times. This can often be the case with new software ( Reference Beebe, Gurenlian and Rogo Beebe 2014 ; Reference Duffy, Gurandel and Casey Duffy 2014) . It must be noted that there are serious limitations to presenting directly from files saved on the internet; even with a reliable connection, alerts, emails and software upgrades can interfere with a lecture. Whenever possible, the presentation should be saved as a local copy and should not be dependent on the internet.

‘Resuscitation’ of PowerPoint

The influence PowerPoint has had on education cannot and should not be underestimated. It has enabled us to convey information in new and varied ways. It can be used to clearly express ideas in a visual and engaging way. Presentations can be used as learning resources; hard copies of the slides are easy to create as handouts, and for many students they have partly replaced textbooks. Although people have been critical of PowerPoint, it is a powerful tool with huge potential. It is estimated that between 20 and 30 million PowerPoint presentations are given daily ( Reference Craig and Amernic Craig 2006) . As it stands, everything else either builds on PowerPoint or is an alternative to it. In this section, we aim to cast light on ICT that can help realise the full potential of PowerPoint.

Interactive technology

Personal response systems (PRS) or electronic voting systems have been developed that allow students to answer questions and take polls en masse during a lecture. For example, a lecturer may pose the question: ‘What are the potential causes of cognitive decline?’ Students can be presented with array of options and can vote from a range of answers. PRS have been incorporated into PowerPoint lectures ( Reference Revell and McCurry Revell 2010) . It has been suggested that PRS facilitate active learning, foster participation, provide both students and lecturers with instant feedback and improve attendance ( Reference Duncan Duncan 2005 ; Reference Revell and McCurry Revell 2010) . It has been said that today's students may learn in different ways compared with previous generations ( Reference Beebe, Gurenlian and Rogo Beebe 2014) and consequently the provision of instant feedback with interactive technology is more important for ‘millennials’. This argument, although it has merit, fails to recognise the potential strength of interactive technology. A PRS can allow the lecturer to get a sense of how well students understand what they need to – in real time, during the lecture, when they can actually do something about it. Gaining an understanding of students’ ability and their current level of knowledge can greatly benefit a lecture and can help teachers avoid either cognitively overloading them ( Reference Sweller Sweller 1994 ) or covering information they already know. Students have expressed a strong desire to have interactive lectures even in large-group settings ( Reference Roopa, Geetha and Rani Roopa 2013) . It is important to consider the attention span and the baseline level of knowledge of the audience. Students’ retention of knowledge in a lecture has been shown to reduce after 20 minutes ( Reference Bligh Bligh 2000 ; Reference Long, Lock and Swanwick Long 2014) . The inclusion of interactive components in presentations improves attention and can increase overall learning ( Reference Wessels, Fries and Horz Wessels 2007) . Encouraging student participation can be difficult and intimidating for both teachers and students in larger groups. A PRS may be an easier way of facilitating this.

One of the leading current providers of electronic voting systems is TurningPoint. It was initially developed to work with a small hand-held response device. However, with the ubiquitous nature of smartphones, ResponseWare has been developed to link the TurningPoint software with smartphones rather than the hand-held ‘clickers’. Many universities, including Bath, Ulster and Leicester, are currently using this software.

Animation technology

Technological advances and modern applications have made animation tools usable by and available to a wider audience. This type of software allows teachers to generate brief animations, not just movement during transition between slides. Although including animation can be more expensive and time-consuming, spectacular presentations can be produced. We have included animation software in this section on enhancing PowerPoint, as animations can be linked to or embedded in a presentation, but they can equally stand alone. Practically speaking, animations are more useful in replacing short 3–5 min presentations – for example, as an introduction to a conference, for an online video for students, or in providing patient information. With many medical schools moving to online lectures, animated videos may complement video lectures. They can also form part of a lecture by providing a brief visual aid as part of a longer lecture, potentially helping more visual learners and keeping students’ attention ( Reference Long, Lock and Swanwick Long 2014) . Three animation software options are discussed below: PowToon, RawShorts and VideoScribe.

PowToon allows users to generate short animated presentations relatively easily. Straightforward tutorials are available on the PowToon website. Once created, presentations can be uploaded to YouTube and then incorporated into a PowerPoint presentation. This requires internet access, unless the videos are downloaded in advance. PowToon operates on a ‘freemium’ basis. This means there is a basic package that is available for free, but additional features have to be paid for. Although monthly subscriptions are expensive, large discounts are available for teachers and students, with packages starting from US$1 per month. PowToon is ideal for short presentations that aim to communicate one or two simple ideas (for example, ‘What is the CAGE questionnaire?’ or ‘Helpful ideas to improve adherence’). It is less suitable for longer presentations and it would be time-consuming to use for more complex topics.

RawShorts is another animation software, much like PowToon, for making short animated videos. These will not replace the hour-long lecture but are ideal for a quick presentation to introduce a lecture or to put on a website. RawShorts also works on a freemium basis, although the free package is quite basic. The free version has a RawShorts watermark, and its videos are low-resolution and cannot be downloaded, only exported to YouTube. The paid-for packages can be purchased as a monthly subscription; alternatively, there is the option to pay on the basis of the number of presentations you plan to export, which is a very useful option when initially evaluating the usefulness of the software. RawShorts is a tool well worth spending some time experimenting with to see where it could be of use.

VideoScribe

VideoScribe is an impressive software tool that can be used to make visually engaging presentations. This software allows the user to create an animated sequence to go with a recorded audio lecture. It is probably best suited to short presentations but has been adapted very successfully to longer lectures and can be of great benefit to more visual learners. When done well, the engaging nature of the visual media makes the presentation very memorable. As with all of the animation softwares, the creation of these presentations may be quite time-consuming. Although a free trial is offered, there is no freemium version of VideoScribe, but it is possible to become a lifetime member for US$480.

Blackboards/whiteboards

When looking at ways to maximise the learning experience with PowerPoint, an often overlooked option that should be mentioned is the physical blackboard/whiteboard. Presentation-based software mainly appeals to students who have visual and auditory learning styles. Students with reading/writing, interpersonal, intrapersonal or kinaesthetic learning styles may benefit from a more tutorial-based or interactive presentation ( Reference Gardner Gardner 1999 ). Blackboard-based teaching can be an important component of this interactive teaching. A recent study has demonstrated the effectiveness of combining PowerPoint with blackboard-based teaching for large groups ( Reference Meo, Shahabuddin and Al Masri Meo 2013) . Students who received integrated teaching using both PowerPoint and a blackboard had significantly better test results compared with students who received teaching with either method alone. Teaching using blackboards can be a great way of creating an interactive space during a lecture, an important component of effective learning.

Alternatives to PowerPoint

In this section, alternatives to PowerPoint are discussed. For convenience these are divided into two groups, although this is somewhat artificial. First, we discuss ICT that can be utilised to generate mind maps or flow diagrams, including a discussion on the potential educational benefits of this style of presentation. Second, we look at other slide-based software options similar to PowerPoint.

Many companies have created software that can be used to create multimedia presentations. Although unfamiliarity may be a challenge, these offer a variety of advantages, from cost to ease of the user interface. One of the potential disadvantages, which cannot be overemphasised, is the fact that many online sources will be blocked in certain hospitals and academic institutions. The other significant possible drawback is that some of this software will generate files that cannot be opened on certain computers. In these instances, it is important to save the document as a PowerPoint or PDF file; in fact, where possible this is always preferable. It is vital to ensure that the laptop or storage device is compatible with the computer in question. The safest way of doing this is to test it in the classroom before the lecture is delivered ( Reference Long, Lock and Swanwick Long 2014) .

Mind-mapping software

Mind-mapping software, such as Prezi, allows students and teachers to create spider diagrams or visual representations of information. This presentation style may have many pedagogical advantages. The visual structuring of information may help to shape or modify a student's underlying internal knowledge structure or schema ( Reference Good and Brophy Good 1990 : p. 187). For example, seeing differential diagnoses visually displayed and grouped by their ICD-10 categories may help students to remember each of the different categories (organic, substance-related, psychotic illness, affective illness, etc.) when formulating a differential diagnosis. A well-formed structure of knowledge is important in the application of that knowledge to problem-solving ( Reference Kaufman, Mann and Swanwick Kaufman 2013) .

Although learning style theory has its critics ( Reference Coffield, Moseley, Hall and Ecclestone Coffield 2004) , individual students each have their different style of learning; over-relying on one type may disadvantage students who use different learning styles ( Reference Stitt-Gohdes Stitt-Gohdes 2001 ). Mind-mapping technology can be very useful when trying to cater to both convergent and divergent thinkers ( Reference Hudson Hudson 1966 ). Convergent thinkers tend to follow a linear, logical argument to a single correct answer. Divergent thinkers, on the other hand, think in many varied directions; their thought process is more flexible. It is important to cater to both styles of learning, as there is some evidence that both convergent and divergent learners learn better from teachers who use the style that the students use themselves ( Reference Joyce and Hudson Joyce 1968) . The linear nature of PowerPoint tends to appeal more to the convergent mind. Mind maps may allow students to approach learning from the perspective they find easier to use. They can start with a single symptom and work towards a range of different diagnoses. For example, presented with the symptom of bizarre behaviour, the student can form the differential diagnosis of mania, psychosis, drug intoxication, etc. Alternatively, students can start with a range of signs and symptoms and work towards a single diagnosis. This can all be depicted visually using mind-mapping technology.

Reference Pask Pask (1976) suggested two similar learning styles: serialistic and holistic. Serialists – similar to convergent learners – grow their schema from basic concepts and simple facts, and holists develop an overall framework. Mind-mapping technology can appeal to both learning styles, whereas PowerPoint presentations more closely fit the serialist's learning style.

Prezi's presentation software was launched in 2009 and now has over 50 million users. It allows presenters to create a mind map or spider diagram on a large canvas like a blackboard; each area of this canvas can be zoomed in on in turn. Prezi was first mentioned in the medical literature in 2012 ( Reference Tam and Eastwood Tam 2012) . A brief study looking at students’ experiences of using Prezi has highlighted some of it strengths and weaknesses ( Reference Duffy, Gurandel and Casey Duffy 2014) . The main benefits of Prezi are its useful overview and its ability to engage students. The main drawbacks are technical problems resulting from students’ unfamiliarity with the software. To date, the objective benefits of using Prezi have not been investigated.

A large potential benefit of this presentation style is that the relationship between different topics can be depicted visually by their proximity to each other and by arrows connecting them. This can help to build and refine cognitive schema ( Reference Good and Brophy Good 1990 : p. 187). The relative importance of different topics can also be depicted by the physical size of the information on the Prezi canvas. This second point is especially useful in the light of cognitive load theory ( Reference Sweller Sweller 1994 ; Reference van Merriënboer and Sweller van Merriënboer 2010) . This theory states that working memory, or short-term memory, relies on the content of our long-term memory. Presenting too much new information that is not related to information currently in long-term memory can inhibit learning. The visual depiction of overviews of topics and knowledge can allow a student to learn the overall structure without becoming overloaded by the finer details. The relative importance of each slide can be represented by its size or position on the overall canvas. This may help students to give more likely differential diagnoses before rarer but more memorable ones. Students can also return to the lecture later and review the more complex additional information.

Prezi works on a freemium basis, requiring a monthly subscription for advanced features. Unlike many other presentation tools, the basic free package is very useful and allows the creation of excellent presentations. When using the most basic package, all presentations are visible to the public. Individuals involved in education and students can subscribe to receive a basic education package for free; this allows private storage. It is easy to use, and video tutorials are available on the Prezi website. Existing PowerPoint presentations can be easily imported into Prezi; however, lectures cannot be exported as PowerPoint slides, although they can be exported as PDF slides for handouts. Useful tips for creating a Prezi presentation are included in Box 2 .

BOX 2 Good practice when using Prezi

Creating a prezi.

Make use of online tutorials available on the Prezi website

Carefully plan the visual layout and make it logical – use size and position to demonstrate the relative importance and ‘connectedness’ of different ideas

Avoid prioritising form over content

Keep movement to a minimum to avoid distraction and confusion

Use multimedia clips – these may require internet access if they are being streamed from the internet

Save local copies of presentations in the event of problems with the internet connection

Check the privacy settings to prevent sensitive information from being freely accessed

Prezi for student use

Spend time introducing students to the software and make IT support available to them

Provide students with a printable version of lectures

Advise students to create a Prezi account, as this will allow them to download and edit presentations

Some other softwares

Other free mind-mapping tools include Popplet, FreeMind and Coggle. These are excellent tools for creating flow charts and decision trees, and for depicting the structure of an organisation or the relationship between different topics. Two of the better (but not free) tools on the market are Mindjet and XMind.

Slide-based presentation software

Apache openoffice.

OpenOffice is is free, downloadable software. It is run by the the Apache Software Foundation, a volunteer-based foundation established in 1999. As the software can be installed on a computer, documents can be created and edited offline. OpenOffice is highly compatible with PowerPoint: files can be both imported and exported as PowerPoint files. This is a great option for people who prefer open-source software.

Google Slides

Google Slides is free cloud-based software. It is straightforward to use and does not require downloading any software onto a computer, as the user works on the presentation online. Files created using Google Slides can be exported both as PDF files or PowerPoint presentations. It is also possible to store data online, which is advantageous for sharing lecture content with others but could cause problems in relation to data protection. Therefore it may not be ideal for case presentations or presentations that include patient information.

Haiku Deck is a great piece of software. It is useful for making quick, simple, visually impressive presentations in which the presenter will be verbally conveying the majority of the information, rather than for creating text-heavy slides. This software is free, and slides can be stored privately in a cloud without having to pay a monthly subscription. There is no limit to the storage capacity. It is worth noting that even if files are stored privately in cloud storage, local data protection agencies may need to be contacted if patient information is included in slides. One of the main drawbacks is that there is no straightforward way to convert PowerPoint files into a Haiku Deck. It is possible, but it is very time-consuming. Presentations can be exported as PowerPoint slides or saved as PDF files.

Keynote is a useful alternative for Mac users. Its templates are aesthetically superior to those in PowerPoint. Some advantages of this software have been described in radiology, where the use of high-resolution images from different sources is necessary ( Reference Ghoshhajra, Techasith and Choy Ghoshhajra 2011) . It is worth noting that it is possible to convert Keynote presentations into PowerPoint, but it can be problematic for all but the simplest of presentations. There are some subtle differences between Keynote and PowerPoint: the latter is superior at handling vector graphics, which means that images may appear clearer and higher-resolution images may take up less storage space. On the other hand, Keynote has better typography.

Connecting an Apple computer to a projector is not always a straightforward task. Most Apple laptops currently in use have a Mini DisplayPort that connects to the VGA port on a projector – consequently, a Mini DisplayPort–VGA adaptor will be needed. Occasionally, there will be a need for an adaptor connecting a Mini DisplayPort to an HDMI or DVI port; this is more likely where a flat-screen television is being used in place of a projector. The safest course of action is to test your laptop in the appropriate location well in advance of the presentation.

Presentation Free 2013

Presentation Free 2013 is free software that can be downloaded onto your computer. It is possible to edit and store files offline, so this software is appropriate for presentations that contain patient information, and it is not dependent on internet access. It is fully compatible with PowerPoint.

Conclusions

PowerPoint can be a useful tool in supporting a well-planned lecture. However, we should not limit ourselves to PowerPoint. There are alternatives that may be more appropriate, and there are also tools that when used in conjunction with PowerPoint enhance and broaden the learning experience. There are alternatives to PowerPoint with a range of strengths and weaknesses. Individuals considering using alternative technologies should be mindful of the issues of cloud-based storage and freemium payment options, and consider strategies for supporting students in using new technologies. Software that facilitates the generation of mind maps may confer pedagogical advantages in certain contexts and may suit a wider range of learning styles. Animation-based software may be a good addition to a PowerPoint presentation or may be used to replace shorter presentations. Interactive technology is an exciting emerging area and has the potential to provide teachers with real-time data on their students’ understanding, and to provide learners with instantaneous feedback. Technology, however, is no substitute for a well-prepared, passionate lecturer who cares deeply about the topic and the students.

Select the single best option for each question stem

a are safer to use for presentations including sensitive information

b are much easier for students to use

c are often free or have additional features that PowerPoint does not have

d offer freemium subscriptions, which means you only pay for the services that you need

e use cloud-based file storage, so you do not need internet access to edit your presentation.

a extensive use of movement helps to engage learners

b students should not need advice on how to use the software, as modern students are highly computer literate and Prezi is very intuitive

c internet access is never needed to present a lecture

d educational packages are not available for students and teachers

e consideration should be given to the suitability of Prezi if there is patient information in a presentation, as presentations are stored online.

a is a good option for long, complex topics

b greatly reduces the time required to prepare a presentation

c is not well developed enough to make it easily accessible to the user

d includes many high-quality packages that are available free of charge

e can be useful for creating an introduction to a topic.

a do not give the lecturer real-time information on students’ understanding

b are able to provide the student with real-time feedback

c encourage passive learning

d are easy to set up

e are free to download.

a is expensive and complicated to use

b is only of benefit when the learner has a well-formed structure of knowledge

c is more likely to result in cognitive overload compared with standard presentations

d can help to develop cognitive schema

e disadvantages visual learners.

MCQ answers

• Consider the role of information communication technology in teaching and learning

• Identify and appraise potential technology that may enhance the use of PowerPoint in educational settings

• Identify and appraise alternatives to standard presentation software that may aid the learning experience

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• Volume 22, Issue 6
• Richard M. Duffy and Marian Henry
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.114.013078

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Disadvantages & Advantages of a Powerpoint Presentation

Part of the Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint is used to create presentations for personal, professional and educational use. The software comes with numerous advantages when it comes to making engaging presentations, collaborating and sharing information. Even better, little training is needed to get started. Despite these advantages, you should consider concerns such as cost, possible technical problems, and the potential for ineffective presentations. Understanding all the PowerPoint presentation pros and cons can help you use this software more effectively.

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Basics of PowerPoint Presentations

Video of the Day

PowerPoint presentations feature slides where you can put text, images, videos, audio, tables of data and mathematical formulas. You have control over placing and formatting the content and can annotate slides, make custom drawings, and record narration that goes along with the presentation. The software comes with a variety of animations and transitions and gives users control over whether they want to use an automated slideshow or present the slides manually.

Advantages of PowerPoint Presentations

When considering making a PowerPoint presentation, consider the benefits that using the software can offer:

• Flexible uses : Individuals, businesses and educators often use PowerPoint presentations to share information in slideshows, but the uses go far beyond that. For example, you can use PowerPoint to create graphics such as banners, brochures, charts and logos for a business. Other uses include calendars, photo albums and collages, invitations, screen recordings, brainstorming maps and resumes.
• Engaging presentations : PowerPoint gives you the tools to make engaging presentations that go beyond only text and images to include videos, narration and animations. When used correctly, such presentations help teachers and trainers keep their learners interested and appeal to multiple learning styles.
• Detailed customization : PowerPoint gives you full control over your slides' appearance so that you can align content, add annotations, use lists and highlight important information visually. You can also control the slide size to fit your needs.
• Suitable for beginners : While training helps with using PowerPoint's advanced features, beginners can quickly get started thanks to the program's huge selection of templates. These templates come with a variety of backgrounds, layouts and themes. You can search by project types such as resumes, posters or charts.
• Easy sharing and collaboration : Microsoft Office comes with tools that let you share your PowerPoint presentation to the cloud where others can view and work on it with you easily.

Disadvantages of PowerPoint Presentations

While PowerPoint can offer many benefits for personal, educational or professional use, keep in mind these disadvantages of PowerPoint presentations:

• May not always engage users : Although you can make engaging PowerPoint presentations that use multimedia effectively, not all presentations end up that way. Sometimes, the presentations hinder learning when the slides contain distracting elements or contain only text and narration that viewers tune out.
• Technical issues : Using PowerPoint can create some headaches when you face compatibility issues, corrupted files or internet problems. For example, Microsoft included a compatibility mode in the program to open older files, but some elements might not work correctly. You might also face hard drive problems that cause you to lose your presentation file if you haven't backed it up, and internet outages make it impossible for users to see your presentation when you share it online.
• Potential cost : While Microsoft offers a free basic version of PowerPoint online, you likely need to pay for an annual subscription if you want to use the desktop and mobile apps and gain access to all features. The price depends on whether you need a home or office version of Microsoft Office and how many users you have.
• Lack of flexibility during slideshow presentations : Once you start a slide show, you can't easily make changes or annotate any slides during the presentation. Instead, you control moving through slides or ending the presentation. So, you need to ensure your presentation is ready to go beforehand.
• Drexel University: Advantages and Disadvantages of Powerpoint Presentations in Business
• 24 Slides: 30 Amazing Things You Can Do and Create in PowerPoint
• Commonwealth of Learning: Facilitating Using Powerpoint
• Brandon Gaille: 10 Pros and Cons of Powerpoint Presentations
• Microsoft: Buy Office
• Microsoft: What Is Powerpoint?
• Microsoft: Work Together on Powerpoint Presentations

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Pros and Cons of Using PowerPoint in the Classroom

There is a lot of buzz around schools using PowerPoint in the classroom to teach their students. The presentation software of choice is usually PowerPoint. It is the most widely accepted presentation software after all.

Should You Jump on The Bandwagon of Using PowerPoint in the Classroom?

Everything has its Pros and Cons. What are the Pros and Cons of using PowerPoint in the classroom?

You can use this knowledge to decide what to teach using PowerPoint and what to teach without using PowerPoint. Lets get started with some of the biggest Pros and Cons of using PowerPoint in the classroom.

Pro: Great For Introducing New Topics

Using PowerPoint can make the topic look a lot more interesting to the students. That is why it is a very useful tool when introducing a new topic.

Pro: Use of Custom Multimedia is Possible

You can include illustrations, images, even audio and video to the presentation to help the students get a nice introduction and overview of any new topic. It can also be used for specific lessons or the whole course.

Pro:   Use of Custom Animation is Possible

Simple custom animations can be used to move things on the screen and reveal more of an image or data as you talk more about it.

Pro: The Slides Can Be Shared With All Students Easily

The school’s LMS can be used to provide students with the slides. The files can also be uploaded to a file hosting website.

This way, the students will be able to access the slides and study from them on pretty much any phone, tablet, or computer device connected to the internet. They won’t need to print or photocopy anything. However, the slides can be printed if needed.

Con: Using A Lot of Text Can Make Using PowerPoint Less Useful

If you like using a lot of text in your classroom Presentations, then its better to just use a textbook or printed notes instead.

Con: Using The Wrong Font and Colors Makes Things Hard To Read

This one is really important. Because, sometimes people make presentations that are really hard to read. Make sure that this does not happen to you. Read the instructions included in this link .

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Using PowerPoint for Presentations

If you want to make visually captivating and professional-looking presentations, understanding PowerPoint and the benefits of PowerPoint is vital for you. Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular presentation tool used by students and professionals daily. 

Using PowerPoint has made communicating complex ideas and data easier and more engaging, thanks to its user-friendly interface and customizable presentation templates . While there are many benefits of powerpoint, it also has some drawbacks. This article examines what PowerPoint presentations offer and what they don’t. If you are still determining whether it is the right tool for your next presentation, we will help you decide.

What is Microsoft PowerPoint and How Does It Help Create Presentations?

Microsoft PowerPoint is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite developed by Microsoft Corporation. It is a widely used tool for making slideshows or presentations, including images, video, text, animation, and other multimedia elements. Users can use PowerPoint to effectively present their ideas and data to a broad audience in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.  It also helps in creating presentations real quick! So, let us see how it helps with the same: 

• Visual Appeal : Visual appeal is one of the main benefits of PowerPoint. Incorporating PowerPoint graphics , images, and multimedia elements facilitates the creation of visually appealing and engaging presentations in PowerPoint.
• Customization : One of the many benefits of PowerPoint presentations is the freedom to customize the template. It offers various customizable templates with different designs, tools, and effects that help the users or presenters to tailor their slides or presentations to the subject matter and audience.
• Multimedia Integration : To improve the quality and impact of the presentation, users can integrate multimedia elements in PowerPoint, like high-quality videos, audio, animations., etc.
• Audience Engagement : PowerPoint provides various tools and features, such as interactive polls and quizzes, to engage the audience and promote participation during the presentation.
• Accessibility : Accessibility is one of the advantages of PowerPoint that allows users to create presentations accessible to a broad audience, including those with hearing or visual impairments, through features such as closed captions and alternative text descriptions.

What Are The Top 10 Benefits Of Using PowerPoint For Presentation?

The benefits of using PowerPoint are not limited only to efficiently conveying ideas in a meeting, college or school presentations. Apart from students and business professionals, people in the creative field also use PowerPoint to create mood boards or to ideate any creative project. So, if you are wondering what are the benefits of using Microsoft PowerPoint then keep on reading: 

Offers Excellent Data Visualization

• Great Audience Engagement 

Create Visually Stunning Slides Quickly

Multiple interactive features, gives accessibility to different features, has various designs, and you can even create yours, highly collaborative tool.

• PowerPoint Presentations Can Be Saved In Various Platforms
• Helps To Communicate With The Audience Professionally

Offers Consistency To Each Slide

Great audience interaction.

PowerPoint Presentation Can Be Saved In Various Formats

Helps communicate with the audience professionally.

Now that we have discussed the advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint, let us jump onto seeing some of its disadvantages.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Using PowerPoint For Presentation?

Apart from the various benefits of Microsoft PowerPoint, it also has some disadvantages. Let us see some of the drawbacks of using PowerPoint for presentations: 

• Over-Reliance on Slides

Information Overload

• Files are not saved automatically
• Lack of originality
• Most features usually remain unexplored

Over Reliance on Slides

Files are not saved automatically, lack of originality, most features usually remain unexplored, when should i use powerpoint to create presentations.

Due to the diverse benefits of Microsoft PowerPoint, there are various instances when a user can use PowerPoint for Presentations. For example, when a user wants to present complex information or wants to include visual aids to support the information or wants to present to an audience that is not physically present or intends to propose an idea in a business meeting or conference. Here is a table showing how different professionals can use PowerPoint: 

Final Thoughts

Presenting visually appealing and engaging presentations can be achieved with PowerPoint. In addition to offering a wide range of design tools and features, it offers several communication tools that help presenters effectively communicate their ideas to a wide audience. 

However, apart from the benefits of a PowerPoint presentation, it’s imperative to remember that it also has disadvantages. The disadvantages include the potential for information overload, lack of originality, and the risk of disengaging the audience if not used appropriately. 

When choosing PowerPoint for a presentation, the decision should be based on the presentation’s goals and needs. In addition, the audience and the presenter should have their preferences taken into consideration.

Can I rely solely on PowerPoint to deliver an effective presentation?

How can i avoid information overload in my powerpoint presentation, can i use powerpoint presentations for remote presentations or online meetings, is it necessary to use templates for my powerpoint presentations, how can i ensure my powerpoint presentations are accessible to all audiences.

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• DOI: 10.3108/BEEJ.2003.02000004
• Corpus ID: 62016839

The use and abuse of PowerPoint in Teaching and Learning in the Life Sciences: A Personal Overview

• Allan Jones
• Published 1 November 2003
• Education, Biology
• Bioscience Education

90 Citations

The reasons of using of powerpoint in language classrooms, the effectiveness of powerpoint presentations in the accounting classroom, attitudes of efl learners and instructors towards the application of power point presentation in iranian classroom context, powerpoint use in teaching, powerpoint presentation technology and the dynamics of teaching, factors affected the effective usage of powerpoint software in presenting university courses, bulletproof from delivery to interactivity when teaching with powerpoint, integrating microsoft (ms) powerpoint in teaching and learning process: an appraisal of lecturers competence in electronic teaching, experiential learning and peer teaching to develop powerpoint slide formatting skills.

• Highly Influenced

An ICT-Based Approach to Teaching Civilisation to EFL Learners

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What are the advantages and disadvatages of PowerPoint

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• Presentation design

PowerPoint is one of the most popular software for presentations. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite and can be used for personal, business, and educational purposes. Most known for its templates and easiness of use, PowerPoint had conquered the presentations game. 

From beginners to professional speakers, this software allows you to build your own presentations using text, images, video, audios, tables of data. There are a variety of animations and transitions that can help in delivering the presentation the way you want. 

We’ve been working for five years in Presentation Design, and most of our work is done using PowerPoint.

Even though I’ve been using it over the past 5 years, I’m learning something new every once in a while. I’m always looking to improve my process, do things differently or executing the wrong command. Some mistakes are good too, eh? I feel like PowerPoint is a tool which is overlooked by many people in the design industry. When I switch to other software, I’m thinking <<oh, I could have done this a lot faster in PowerPoint>>. I like order and precision. Through PowerPoint’s  grid and guides features, I’m able to satisfy these cravings of mine and create consistent and neat presentations.

Bogdan, Visual Hackers Designer

Advantages of PowerPoint

1. It can be used virtually anywhere

Put your presentation on a USB flash drive or in any cloud storage app and you will have your PowerPoint presentation at hand anytime. It is also included in standard professional settings, so with your user license, you can access your presentation from anywhere.

2. It is a collaborative solution

Work from home is now a normal thing to do. Tools that provide solutions for working together with your team even if you are in different locations are in high demand. PowerPoint adapted to this situation and with its online cloud storage, you can now work on presentations at the same time, or work on the same presentation without sending it to each other. 

3. You can choose to create your own design or use existing ones

PowerPoint offers you full control over your slides’ appearances. You have the freedom to customize your presentation with your own design. As it is easy to modify and play with the elements given by this software, you can create the perfect presentation for yourself. 

There are also templates already integrated into the software for visually appealing presentations and for those who want a quick and nice design. Furthermore, PowerPoint will give you design ideas with the images and elements you chose to have on slides.

If you customize the slides you have the Master Slide, it will help you set the fonts, images (logos), and other preferences for all the slides. The master slide is the top slide in the thumbnail pane on the left side of the window.

4. Multiple uses 

An adaptable and perceptive tool is how our founder described PowerPoint in a previous article. That is because this software is not only for presentations (even though it is most known for them), but also for other types of materials, such as flyers, marketing materials, gifs, videos, or CVs. We do PowerPoint infographics, our social media posts, and presentations for clients. 

89% of people use PowerPoint to create presentations.

Read more about how you can use PowerPoint:

PowerPoint is more than just a presentation tool

5. Export in different formats

With PowerPoint, you can export your materials in other formats than .pptx. We talked previously about all the types of materials you can create in this software and for them, it offers alternatives of saving you work. 

Presentations can be saved also in .pdf, this will reduce their size, videos can be exported as mp4 and for gifs, there is the specific option to save them as Animated gifs. Of course, there is also the option of saving a slide as .png or .jpg.

6. It facilitates an effective way of communication with the audience

Most of the time, PowerPoint is used for presenting to a larger audience (a few things have changed in 2020, but a zoom presentation looks just as good), as it is easier to be projected. Choose your communication style, do you want to rely more on images, text, or videos, all of them can be easily integrated into PowerPoint.

65% of the population are visual learners

7. You can insert multimedia formats

Visuals are the key in PowerPoint. Images and videos help you explain your idea better and in an engaging way in any presentation. There are some basic sounds that you can use or insert your own audio for the desired effect. 

Play with all the functionalities of this tool and use it to its maximum. 

8. Extremely efficient tool

Once you get familiar with the software, there are all kinds of features that you can use to become an expert in PowerPoint. We can even name 84 shortcuts that will change the way you use it and will also save you a lot of time.

Learn for yourself:

84 PowerPoint Shortcuts To Improve Your Presentation Game

9. It is accessible for all categories of users

Most of the time employees/staff have already the Microsoft license on their work computers, with PowerPoint included. Also, universities acquire the suite so students and teachers cand use reach out and use them.

Disadvantages of PowerPoint

1. High risk of technical issues

It can happen anytime, there are a lot of variables that intervene when you are about to use PowerPoint for presenting. Your computer can stop working, get an update right before you start, or lose power in the middle of the presentation. There is always the connectivity issue, do you use HDMI, VGA or do you have an adaptor. PowerPoint also has some specifics ada[ted for your computer, like fonts or videos, and if you don’t embed them or you don’t put them in a folder with the presentation they won’t work on somebody else’s computer.

2. Overuse of information 

After you accommodate with the software it becomes very easy to get lost in all the options you have. How much text is too much? Are there enough images? What font to use? How many fonts to use? By adding a lot of things you will lose sight of the purpose of the presentation. 

We know that there is a lot of important information you want to transmit, but leave some mystery for the delivery part. 

3. Predisposal to death by PowerPoint

PowerPoint presentations are very common in conferences, business meetings and universities, therefore your audience has seen quite a lot of presentations before yours. You need to catch your audience’s attention from the beginning with your presentation looks or with your way of presenting, otherwise, they will get bored and won’t listen to you present.  Make sure you put enough time into preparing your PowerPoint material, a good presentation with a fine speech will hit the target. 

Avoid templates as much as possible if you want to impress, or work on them and add your unique style to them. 

4. Presenters rely too much on slides 

Sometimes when you are too focused on preparing the slides you may forget to actually prepare to deliver the presentation and you will end up reading from the slides. The audience wants to hear more from the speaker than what is presented on the slides, otherwise they could have looked over the presentation themselves.

5. Overuse of presentations 

There are situations when you get so used to the tool that you will start making a presentation for everything. Every report or status will become easier to do in PowerPoint for you, but it won’t be that fun for your colleagues and will cost you time. 

We recommend using Powerpoint for all kinds of materials, not just presentations. This tool can give you freedom in design and also help you with predefined elements. 

If you want to make a presentation yourself, invest time, look for tutorials or just reach out to an agency to help you create the right presentation. 

Here’s When You Really Need A Presentation Design Specialist

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What Are the Key Benefits of Using PowerPoint in Teaching and Learning?

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The Importance of PowerPoint Presentation in Teaching

An education-based PowerPoint presentation templates have become an integral part of teaching in today’s classrooms. They provide educators with a versatile tool for delivering engaging and interactive lessons. PPT presentations also offer numerous benefits for students, including the ability to improve concentration and comprehension levels.

Additionally, by using PowerPoint slides in conjunction with other instructional materials, such as textbooks and handouts, teachers can ensure that all students are able to access the information being presented in class. PowerPoint presentations can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning when used effectively.

The main reason behind this is that PowerPoint presentations enable you to interact with your audience psychologically. So, here we’re going to discuss the power of PowerPoint in education.

In most cases, presentations are designed for businesses and applied very commonly in business areas. Moreover, presentation slides are likewise used in the education sector and can make your educational or research content compelling.

Let’s get started. Scroll now to read the key benefits of using PowerPoint in teaching and learning .

Why PowerPoint Templates Are the Best Tool for Teaching?

PowerPoint templates are an excellent tool for teaching. They provide a consistent and professional look to your presentations and help keep your ideas organized. Presentation templates also make updating and changing your slides easy, so you can always keep your presentations fresh and up-to-date.

When teaching a subject like biology, getting your audience interested in what you have to say is essential. PowerPoint templates can help you set the tone for your presentation and reinforce the type of content you will discuss. There are various templates out there, so you can find one that will let you teach your subject efficiently and keep things neat and organized.

In addition, PPT slides can be easily shared with other teachers so that you can collaborate on projects and assignments. Overall, PowerPoint templates are a versatile and valuable tool for any teacher. With their help, you can create engaging and informative presentations to help your students learn and succeed.

How PowerPoint Templates Let You Engage Your Students or Audience?

At present, it’s more important than ever to be able to engage your audience. Whether you’re giving a PPT presentation to a group of students or speaking to a potential client, you need to be able to capture their attention and keep them engaged.

One way to do this is by using PowerPoint templates. With templates, you can create visually appealing and informative presentations. By using engaging visuals and helpful content, you can ensure that your audience stays interested in what you’re saying.

In addition, templates can help you save time when creating presentations. All you need to do with everything already laid out for you is add your content. Accordingly, templates can help you create professional and effective presentations.

Although presentation skills are essential for everyone, they are particularly important for educators. After all, a large part of a teacher’s job is to present information to students engagingly and effectively. Fortunately, there are some simple tips that can help to improve any presentation.

• First, it is important to be well prepared. This means clearly understanding the material that will be covered and knowing how to effectively communicate it to the audience.
• It is also significant to be aware of the audience’s level of knowledge and adjust the presentation accordingly.
• Finally, it is significant to be confident and keep the presentation interesting using various techniques such as humor, stories, or multimedia elements.

By following these tips, any teacher can deliver a successful presentation.

How to Create an Educational Presentation Quickly?

PowerPoint templates are a great way to teach your students detailed data. For your lessons to be practical, you need your students to focus and pay attention, so having templates allows them the tools they need to learn more effectively.

It’s a wise way of helping children in school hone their PowerPoint skills. Many children feel overwhelmed when they have to start creating presentations from scratch-templates give them a structure they can follow and tweak to make their own.

Additionally, templates can be reused multiple times, which saves you time in the long run. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder that PowerPoint templates are becoming increasingly popular in educational settings.

If you’re finding a way to help, your students learn more effectively, consider using PowerPoint templates in your next lesson.

However, you can create an informative and engaging presentation with some preparation and organization. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Choose a subject that is interesting and relevant to your audience.
• Gather information and resources on the topic.
• Outline your presentation content.
• Create visuals or slides to accompany your presentation content.
• Practice giving your presentation.
• Time yourself so you can keep it within the desired time frame.

Let’s walk through the best practices to create a unique educational PPT presentation.

Choose a Subject That Is Interesting and Relevant to Your Audience

When creating an educational PowerPoint, choosing a subject that is interesting and relevant to your audience is essential.

This will help engage the audience and ensure that they learn from the presentation.

Also, choosing a relevant topic will help keep the audience’s attention focused on the PowerPoint. There are a few different ways to determine what subject would be most exciting and pertinent to your audience. One way is to consider the age range of the audience.

Another way is to think about what type of information would be most helpful to them. Additionally, you can research the interests of the audience ahead of time. Considering these factors, you can choose a subject for your PowerPoint that will be both interesting and relevant to your audience.

Gather Information and Resources on the Topic

If you want to create an educational PPT presentation, it’s essential to gather information and resources on your topic first. This will ensure that the PowerPoint is informative and accurate.

There are a few different ways to go about gathering information. One option is to do some online research. Another option is to visit a library and look for books or articles on the topic.

Once you have brought together all the necessary information, you can start putting together your PowerPoint presentation. Remember to include only appropriate information and to present it in an organized and visually appealing way.

If a little effort is put into creating a PowerPoint, you can come up with an educational presentation that you will like.

Outline Your Presentation Content

You will need to describe your content thoroughly when creating educational PowerPoint slides. This will be useful to organize your thoughts and ensure that your presentation is cohesive and informative. Begin by brainstorming the main points that you want to cover.

Then, create an introductory presentation outline, including an introduction, body, and conclusion. Once you have a general overview of your content, you can begin to flesh out the details. In the body of your presentation, include supporting evidence for each point you make.

In conclusion, summarize the key points of your presentation and leave your audience with something to think about. By wisely and efficiently editing and structuring your content, you can create a captivating and interactive PowerPoint lesson that is both informative and interesting.

Create Visuals or Slides to Accompany Your Presentation Content

You must include visual components to reveal information in an instructional PowerPoint presentation. It will help to engage the audience and provide them with a more immersive experience.

Additionally, visuals can help clarify and strengthen the key points you are trying to communicate. If used effectively, they can also help to add interest and excitement to your presentation.

When choosing visuals, be sure to select ones that are high quality and relevant to your topic. Avoid using too many visuals, as this can overwhelm your audience.

Instead, focus on choosing a few useful visuals to support your presentation and help your audience understand your message better.

Practice Giving Your Presentation

Whether you are allowed to give a speech, practice builds expertise. By practicing your presentation, you can ensure that you are delivering your material in the most effective way possible.

Being careful with your delivery, body language, and overall clarity is essential when practicing. Remember that eye contact is key and that you want to project confidence in your ability to speak on the topic at hand.

It can also be helpful to tape-record yourself so that you can listen back and identify areas that may need improvement. With a bit of practice, you will be capable of giving an educative and memorable presentation.

Time Yourself So You Can Keep It Within the Desired Time Frame

If you’re planning for an educational presentation, it’s important to time yourself stay within the desired time frame. This can be exceptionally important if you’re giving a presentation to a group of students who have a limited attention span.

You can ensure that your presentation stays on track and doesn’t run over by timing yourself. There are a few different ways to time yourself. One option is to use a stopwatch or timer.

Another option for keeping track of where you are in your presentation is periodically checking the clock.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you give yourself enough time to practice to stay within the desired time frame when giving your presentation.

How an Educational PowerPoint Presentation Skyrocket Your Success

A well-designed PowerPoint slide can be the key to success in any educational setting. A PowerPoint presentation can help students grasp complex concepts and remember key points by organizing visually appealing and easy-to-understand information.

Additionally, a PPT presentation can add excitement and interest to a dull lecture or dry text. When used effectively, a PowerPoint presentation can engage students and encourage them to participate actively in learning.

As a result, an investment in a professional educational PowerPoint presentation can pay off handsomely in terms of student success.

PowerPoint templates are must-haves for both inexperienced and veteran educators. One of the top reasons is that it saves hours of manual work and struggles.

For instance, if you’ve picked a premium customizable education PPT template, it only requires a couple of minutes to edit and craft your presentation layout. It means you can develop professional PPT presentation infographics within half an hour.

There are countless templates that educators can use for a wide variety of subjects, including maths, science, humanities studies like literature and history, and many more.

It allows your children to have a hands-on, experiment-based curriculum where they can visualize key concepts while paying attention to multimedia elements tools provided by PowerPoint templates along the way.

Now, let’s walk through the top tips to present an impactful educational PPT presentation that will comprehensively drive knowledge to your potential audience.

• Arrange your presentation objective in a way that attracts your audience and familiarizes the area of discussion in seconds. You can use animated PPT templates or other visual aids to make it attractive and appealing.
• Try to insert at least one brief one-liner highlighting the relevance and benefits of learning that particular topic.
• Include self-image or videos to personalize your presentation content.
• Add animations and slide transitions to explain the key learning steps.
• Include charts, maps, infographics , images, and graphs that illustrate your topic at hand. A well-organized chart could be vital to driving your point home. Regarding corporate PowerPoint presentations , adding Gantt Charts and other business-related details is better.
• Avoid having several ideas on one single slide. It may overwhelm your viewers.
• Leave a little more white space around each element in your PPT slide.
• No need to add every sentence you intend to speak on your PowerPoint slide. Instead, add sharp points that are easily read and comprehended. Then, explain it.

It is not surprising that technology has fundamentally changed education. In former times, the only way to learn about a topic was to hear a lecture from a professor in a classroom. Today, virtual presentations have become an essential tool for educators. There are many reasons why online presentations are so valuable in education. So, learn how to create virtual presentations that capture your audience’s attention .

Advantages of Purchasing Fully Editable PowerPoint Presentation Templates for Teaching

As we discussed above, PowerPoint templates are a great teaching tool for many reasons. They allow the presentation to maintain a uniform look and feel, which is key for understanding the message. Moreover, it can quickly add sense to your teaching.

It is the only wise choice to purchase a fully-editable premium PowerPoint presentation layout for teaching purposes. Then, you can professionally teach your audience the way you want to educate them.

Here are the top reasons why one should turn to fully editable premium education PPT infographics:

• Fully editable PPT themes for education will let you overcome the stress of starting with a blank slate each time.
• All premium education PowerPoint layouts are made with plenty of ideas and unique designs to effectively present your education or research topic.
• When you have a fully editable PPT theme, you will easily add videos, images, and your brand logo.
• You can edit and customize anything in the layout without losing quality in minutes. There is no need to have any design skills to edit and customize them.
• These editable PowerPoint presentation templates will help you save hours of manual work and confusion.

Top Points to Keep in Mind While Preparing a PowerPoint for Teaching

Characteristics that your students like about education PowerPoint slides are:

• Graphs, charts, and maps can increase the understanding of content.
• Bulleted lists that let them focus on the top ideas.
• Animations and slide transitions are the best visual aids.
• Cliparts and creative layouts.
• Present your ideas in short phrases rather than lengthy paragraphs.
• Spoken words with images are better than pictures with text.

Note: Cliparts are the perfect choice to get your audience’s attention in seconds. It is helpful in education PowerPoint presentations for small children and students. However, try to avoid Cliparts if your presentation is for technical students or medical students.

Characteristics that your students don’t like about education PowerPoint slides are:

• Too many ideas on a single slide.
• Templates with too many colors.
• Irrelevant images and WordArts decrease understanding and learning compared to presentation layouts with no picture or animation.

Find the Best Education PowerPoint Presentation Slides for Teaching

PowerPoint presentations have a great power to share your ideas comprehensively, especially for educational purposes. Therefore, picking the suitable PowerPoint presentation template that fits well will help you significantly convey your presentation.

Moreover, choosing the appropriate theme or design is the base part of the entire PPT presentation.

There may be several PPTs available in the free source, but always remember that they may not assure you the quality and features needed for a powerful PowerPoint template.

Therefore, it will be wise to pick a premium PPT template designed by professionals . Selecting an ideal template for creating an attention-grabbing educational presentation is crucial if you wish to make your presentation’s tone professional. Thus, say goodbye to typical, boring PowerPoint templates that ruin your presentation.

Explore the top highlights of our exclusive educational PowerPoint presentation template below:

• 100% Fully editable PowerPoint slides & design elements.
• 2 Aspect ratio (4:3 & 16:9).
• One-time purchase (Free download for life).
• Unlimited downloads (Come back anytime to download the files again).
• Lifetime free updates (We update by adding more slides regularly).
• Lifetime free customer care support.

There you can view the best-in-quality education or research topic presentation themes designed by our expert graphic designers.

You can find a selection of creative, unique PPT themes here at FlySlides , in addition to education PowerPoint templates or research presentation PPT slides. All our premium PowerPoint templates are fully customizable and come with unlimited download and update options.

Besides our PPT templates, we also have a tremendous selection of fully customizable Keynote presentation templates and Google Slides themes . So it’s up to you to select your preference. With FlySlides, you can quickly create your education presentations on PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides.

You can also refer to:

• Tips to Develop a Powerful Business Presentation .
• 10 Proven Tips to Make a Great Sales Presentation .

What’s more, Look into our library and take a look at our templates. They’re available in as many presentations as you want and skyrocket your success as a PowerPoint presenter. Why waste your precious time? Just explore our top selection of PowerPoint presentation layouts for education and find the best templates for your next presentation .

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Disadvantages Of Teaching With PPT (PowerPoint)

Because of the usefulness and versatility, PowerPoint has gained popularity and become a top brand of various presentation programs for institutions, individuals and organizations. It is indeed useful in making a presentation a successful one. In fact, this amazing presentation tool has a lot of advantages but like any other institutional tool, this software has some disadvantages that teachers and students must know and understand before making any investment of resources and money.

Complete knowledge of various disadvantages of teaching with PPT (PowerPoint) will surely help teachers and students in making a wise decision whether they should use this presentation tool or not. Let us now discuss a few common disadvantages.

• It is vital to know that if you are planning to give poetry recitations, commencement speeches or technical reports than PowerPoint is not the correct option to choose for your presentation because these types of presentations need in-depth information or details.
• No doubt Power Point is a useful software but it also lacks flexibility. By making use of this program, you can format, create and edit items, however you would not be able to change anything from within the content that you are using or the format during your presentation.
• Since, PowerPoint presentation tool gives you the liberty to use various graphics, animations, background pictures and visuals so it could possibly distract your audience and leave your audience unsatisfied. But because the primary purpose of giving a presentation is to take out the major details and message in front of the students, so you must know what to use and how much.
• Although we have been talking about PowerPoint Presentation’s usefulness but again it also may affect the value of your actual report. Possibilities are that there could be a few students who may get lazy while you are giving presentation and they read text of your report as it is mentioned in the slides. Your audience may lose interest in what you are saying as slides are just the source to add some value into your presentation but it is a presenter who has to bring all the important information about the subject in front of the students.
• You must be aware that a successful PowerPoint presentation has various requirements such as computer, electricity, speakers and some other so whether you are planning of giving presentation for a small, medium or large audience, you must note that breakdown in any of these sources may ruin your presentation completely.
• Presentation slides contain too much details or information because of this reason the students may get confused about the actual message that has to be conveyed. They would lack the ability to understand what a teacher wants to say. To save your presentation and the hard work you have put in your presentation, you must put only the major information to retain the interest of your audience.

Read our article on: Different Presentation Techniques for Diverse Audiences .

Consider all the advantages and disadvantage of using power point presentation program and then make a good decision for your next presentation. Also see our compilation of the Best Presentation Software And Tools .

One comment on “ Disadvantages Of Teaching With PPT (PowerPoint) ”

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